Emory Volleyball To Host Alabama-Huntsville

MATCH FACTS - After notching a pair of victories at the Emory Quadrangle last Friday, the Emory volleyball team returns to action on Tuesday (Sept. 22) when it entertains the Chargers of the University of Alabama at Huntsville.  Match time at the Woodruff PE Center is slated for 6:00 p.m.

The Emory - UAH match will be webcast.  Providing the play-by-play will be Michael Lyle.  The webcast can be accessed by going to Emory's web site - www.emoryathletics.com/.

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 416-114.  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.

Alabama-Huntsville is led by Laura Taube (Benedictine College, ‘83) who is in her 15th year at the helm of the Chargers' program.  During her tenure at UNA, she has compiled a school and career mark of 346-200. She has guided the program to five trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

RECORDS - Emory, ranked No. 2 nationally among Division III  teams, heads into Tuesday's contest with an 10-2 mark after capturing two of three matches last week.  The Eagles dropped a tough 3-2 verdict to Division II member North Alabama last Tuesday before regrouping to register a 3-0 triumph over LaGrange and a 3-1 win against Maryville College on Friday.

Alabama-Huntsville, a member of the 14-team Gulf South Conference, comes to town with a won-lost ledger of 6-11.  UAH went 1-1 this past weekend, topping Southern Arkansas State, 3-1, on Friday before coming out on the short end of a 3-0 outcome to Henderson State on Saturday.

SERIES RECORDS - Alabama-Huntsville owns a 2-0 edge in the all-time series with Emory.  Tuesday's meeting will mark the first time the teams have battled since the 1990 season when the Chargers captured both matches.   

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 241-45, good for an 84.2 winning percentage.  Since the 2004 campaign, Coach McDowell has seen her club fashion a classy 81-13 slate (.861).  Last season, Emory finished with a mark of 11-1 in home matches.

NUMBERS TO WATCH - Sophomore Alexandra Wright totaled a career-high 12 kills against Maryville College and finished with a 66.7 hitting percentage which stands as the highest-water mark by an Emory player this season (minimum 12 kills) ... Freshman Alex Duhl came through with a season-high 11 kills against Maryville ...  Freshman Breanah Bourque paced the Eagles with a season-high 13 kills in the LaGrange outing, her third performance of double figures in that category this season ... Senior Alysse Meyer pounded out a match-best 16 kills against North Alabama and will enter Tuesday's contest against Alabama-Huntsville with three matches of 10 or more put-aways to her credit this season ... Sophomore Jessica McAlvany has double digits in kills in eight of 11 matches and leads the team with a 3.22 kills per-set average ... The Eagles posted a season-high 46.7 hitting percentage (43-8-75) against LaGrange ... Freshman Emily Reiser played in a couple of sets in the LaGrange match and dished out 24 assists ...  The Eagles have hit 30 percent or better in nine matches ... Senior Vista Murphy chalked up a team-high 10 digs against Maryville, her sixth outing of double digits in that category this season ... Alysse Meyer has 1,378 career kills and is two shy of tying Courtney Rose (2003-07) for fifth place on the school's all-time list ... Meyer is tied with Maggie Ramm (2004-07) for 13^th place on Emory's career chart with 142 service aces ... Sophomore Brannan O'Neill, the team leader in digs (3.06 dps), ranks 15^th all-time at Emory with 663 digs and is four shy of tying Caitlin Crafts (1999-2001) for 14^th place.

ON THE HORIZON - Following Tuesday's match-up against Alabama-Huntsville, the Eagles will host the Emory Tournament on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 25-26).  Emory will play two matches on Friday when it battles Thomas More (4:30 p.m.) and Washington & Lee  (7:00 p.m.), and face two more foes on Saturday, Lynchburg at 1:00 p.m., and Shorter College at 3:30 p.m.

The Washington & Lee match will be webcast as well.  Refer to www.emoryathletics.com for more information.

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