The Muskingum volleyball team was ranked 14th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll that was released on Tuesday. Last week the Muskies were ranked 11th. The AVCA Division lll Top 25 Poll is selected by Division lll head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions.
Muskingum is 26-3 overall and finished the OAC regular season at 8-1 to earn a share of the OAC regular-season title for the first time since 1999. The Muskies received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament on Monday. This will be Muskingum's 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2008.
This season, the Muskies have surrendered just 21 sets, claimed 18 straight-set victories, and recorded a 13-game winning streak. As a team, Muskingum has registered 1,426 kills, 1,296 assists, 1,926 digs, 153 service aces, and 166 total blocks. The Muskies are currently ranked fifth in the NCAA Division lll in kills per set with 13.98. The Muskies are also ranked 13th in assists per set with 12.71. Muskingum is ranked second in the OAC in kills per set (13.98), hitting percentage (.242), assists per set (12.71), digs per set (18.88), solo blocks (74), and points per set (17.1). The Muskies are also ranked third in the league in kills with 1,426.
Junior Brooke Fatheree, a First Team All-OAC honoree, guides the Muskies with 330 kills, averaging 3.24 kills per set. Fatheree is also second on the team in digs with 390 (3.82 digs per set) and first on the team in points with 377.5 (3.7 points per set). She is ranked fifth in the OAC in kills and third in the OAC in kills per set. This season, Fatheree registered her 1,000th career dig, 1,000th career kill, and moved to fifth all-time in career kills with a total of 1,081. Fatheree was named the OAC Volleyball Player of the Week twice this season. Through her three years for the Muskies, Fatheree has logged 1,137 digs, 116 total blocks, and 78 service aces.
Junior Erin Dickson, a First Team All-OAC award winner, directs the Muskies with a team-best 901 assists in 96 sets played, ranking fourth in the league with 9.39 assists per set. Dickson has secured 72 kills, 199 digs, and 23 blocks on the year. This season, Dickson moved to fourth all-time in career assists at Muskingum with a total of 2,870. Throughout her three years for the Muskies, Dickson has notched 255 kills, 57 service aces, and 106 total blocks.
Junior Jessica Cottle anchors the Muskie backline with a team-best 504 digs, ranking fourth in the league with 4.99 digs per set. Cottle registered her 1,000th career dig against Hiram earlier this year. This season, Cottle was named the OAC Volleyball Player of the week for her outstanding performance against Wittenberg, John Carroll, and Kenyon.
Junior Maddie McGee, a Second Team All-OAC award winner, is second on the team with 293 kills in 94 sets played, ranking fifth in the conference with 3.12 kills per set. McGee has also dished out 55 digs and tallied 39 total blocks. Junior Brynn Guist has secured 247 kills this season, ranking third on the team in kills and kills per set. She has logged a team-best 76 blocks, 20 service aces, and 106 digs. Guist is ranked fifth in the OAC in blocks per set with 0.78. Guist was named Honorable Mention All-OAC for her phenomenal play this year.
The Muskies will travel to the Grand Rapids, Michigan Regional, and play Wittenberg on Thursday, November 14. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
