Eagles Volleyball To Host Emory Classic

CLASSIC FACTS - The Emory volleyball team, defending Division III national champions, will host the Emory Classic this Friday and Saturday (Sept. 4-5) at the Woodruff PE Center.  Joining the Eagles in the two-day affair are Maryville University-Saint Louis, UW-Platteville, King College and SUNY-New Paltz.  A schedule of the matches are listed below.

Friday, Sept. 4
2:00 p.m. - King College vs. Maryville University
2:00 p.m. - New Paltz vs. UW-Platteville
4:30 p.m. - Emory vs. Maryville University
4:30 p.m. - New Paltz vs. King College
7:00 p.m. - Emory vs. UW-Platteville

Saturday, Sept. 5
10:30 a.m. - New Paltz vs. Maryville University
1:00 p.m. - Emory vs. King College
1:00 p.m. - UW-Platteville vs. Maryville University
3:30 p.m. - Emory vs. New Paltz
3:30 p.m. - UW-Platteville vs. King College

MATCHES vs. UW-PLATTEVILLE & NEW PALTZ TO BE WEBCAST - Volleyball fans will be able to keep up with the Eagles during the Emory Classic as the Friday evening match vs. UW-Platteville (7:00 p.m.) and the Saturday afternoon contest against New Paltz (3:30 p.m.) will be webcast.  For more information, please go to www.emoryathletics.com for more information.

THE COACHES - Emory Head Coach Jenny McDowell (Georgia, '89) is in her 14th year at the helm of the Eagles' program.  During her stint at Emory, McDowell has posted a school and career won-lost ledger of 407-116.  She has 11 campaigns of 30 or more wins and has directed the program to 14 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.  She guided Emory to its first-ever national title in 2008 and was named as the AVCA National Coach of the Year.

Maryville University is led by Bob Crank (Missouri Baptist University) who begins his seventh year at the helm of the Saints' program. 

UW-Platteville is guided by 22^nd-year head coach Deb Schulman (UW-Milwaukee, '84). During her stint with the Pioneers, she has compiled a school and career won-lost record of 501-277 and owns 15 seasons of 20 or more victories.

Chris Toomey (King, '97) is in his third year of calling the shots at King College.  Prior to taking over in 2007, he served as an assistant at King from 1993-2006.  In his first two campaigns as head coach, he has posted a 55-24 mark.

The Hawks of New Paltz are coached by Matt Giufre (SUNY-Cortland, '98) who begins his eighth season.  He has chalked up a school record of 172-100 during his tenure and has earned SUNYAC coach of the year recognition in 2004 and 2006.  Last year, he guided the team to 32 victories and a spot in the Elite Eight of the NCAA D-III Tournament.


RECORDS - Emory heads into the weekend with a 1-0 mark after topping West Georgia by a 3-0 count on Tuesday (Sept. 1).

Maryville enters the Classic with a ledger of 0-2.  The Saints are coming off a 3-0 setback against Missouri Baptist earlier this week.

Both New Paltz and UW-Platteville will be making their season debuts on Friday.

King College was to open its season on Thursday (Sept. 3) against Tennessee Wesleyan.

SERIES RECORDS - Maryville University holds a 2-0 edge in the all-time series with Emory.  Friday's meeting between the two schools will be the first since the 1993 season.

The matches against UW-Platteville, New Paltz and King College will mark the initial meetings in volleyball.

NEWCOMERS KEY WIN OVER WEST GEORGIA - Sophomore Jessica McAlvany and freshman Alena Ransom played vital roles in the Eagles' triumph over West Georgia earlier this week.  McAlvany tied for match honors with 10 kills while registering a solid 36.8 hitting percentage (10-3-19).  Ransom came through with eight kills and finished with a 29.4 attack percentage.

EMORY TOUGH AT THE WOODPEC - Emory has proved to be a tough opponent on its home court at the Woodruff PE Center.  Since 1992, the Eagles have compiled an overall record of 235-44, good for an 84.2 winning percentage.  Since the 2004 campaign, Coach McDowell has seen her club fashion a classy 75-12 slate (.862).  Last season, Emory finished with a mark of 11-1 in home matches.

NUMBERS TO WATCH - Heading into the weekend, Alysse Meyer  is 16 kills from moving past Monica Robbins (2001-04) and into sixth place on the school's all-time list in that category ... In addition, Meyer is 11 attack attempts from moving into sixth place on the Eagles' career chart ... Sophomore Brannan O'Neill (Houston, TX) finished the West Georgia contest with a team-leading 13 digs, and moved ahead of Janet Bunning into 17^th place on the school's all-time list in that department with 581 ... Natalie Schonefeld is 49 assists from reaching the 1,500 career mark.

 EMORY NO. 1 IN  AVCA PRESEASON POLL - Emory was tabbed as the No. 1 squad among Division III programs in the recently released American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Preseason Poll.  Emory totaled 595 points and received 20 of 24 first-place votes. It marked the first time in program history that is had been tabbed No. 1 in the preseason since the poll made its debut in 2000.  

EAGLES TRIO TO SERVE AS CAPTAINS - Serving as captains for the 2009 Eagles will be senior Vista Murphy (Laguna Beach, CA), Natalie Schonefeld and junior Amelia McCall (Montgomery, AL).