GSU looks to continue SoCon winning streak
September 27, 2012
The Georgia Southern University volleyball team looks to continue its Southern Conference winning streak on home turf against The Citadel Bulldogs on Friday and the College of Charleston Cougars on Saturday.
The Bulldogs and Cougars faced off against each other Tuesday night, with the Cougars sweeping the Bulldogs 3-0. The Cougars carry a 9-5 record, and is 2-0 in the SoCon, while the Bulldogs are 2-13 and 0-2 in the SoCon.
The Bulldogs are currently on a three game losing streak, while GSU is hoping to catch its fifth win in a row. The challenge will come against the Cougars who are on a three game winning streak.
The Eagles have a 4-1 record at home and look to continue that with CofC who has a 3-1 record on the road and The Citadel who has a 1-4 record on the road.
GSU’s offense is going to be forced to use their strong hitters to throw off the equally matched defenses of The Citadel and CofC.
GSU sophomore middle Kym Coley and sophomore outside Jamie DeRatt both recorded 10 kills in their last match against Furman University. CofC notched nine team blocks in its match against The Citadel, who tallied six.
Eagles’ freshman libero Alexandra Beecher currently averages 4.62 digs per set, while Shelton records 5.31 digs per set, and The Citadel senior libero Emily Dalton holds 3.13 digs per set.
GSU senior setter Kate Van Dyke, who currently holds the school record for career assists, averaged 11.86 assists per set in the pair of SoCon wins for the Eagles.
The Citadel is currently holding a young freshman setter, Mikeala Tracy, who recorded 20 assists and seven digs in her last match against the Cougars. Junior setter Taeler Davis represents CofC, marking 37 assists in her last match.
CofC has the reigning SoCon Freshman of the Week, Melissa Morello, who has averaged 3.0 kills per set and 2.45 digs per set. This award is the second consecutive weekly award for the Cougars after senior libero Emily Shelton was last week’s SoCon Defensive Player of the Week.