The Emory volleyball team will open the program's 32nd season of intercollegiate competition this Friday and Saturday (Aug. 31- Sept. 1) when it hosts the Emory Classic. Joining the Eagles in the two-day tourney will be College of Saint Benedict, SUNY-New Paltz, UT-Tyler, Illinois Wesleyan, Covenant College, Maryville College, Whittier College and Illinois Wesleyan University
A schedule of the matches is as follows:
Friday, Aug. 31
2:00 pm – College of Saint Benedict vs. SUNY-New Paltz
2:00 pm – UT-Tyler vs. Illinois Wesleyan
4:30 pm – SUNY-New Paltz vs. Covenant College
4:30 pm – Maryville vs. Whittier
7:00 pm – UT-Tyler vs. College of Saint Benedict
7:00 pm – Emory vs. Whittier
Saturday, Sept. 1
10:00 am – UT-Tyler vs. SUNY New Paltz
10:00 am – Maryville vs. College of Saint Benedict
12:30 pm – UT-Tyler vs. Covenant
12:30 pm – Emory vs. Illinois Wesleyan
3:00 pm – Illinois Wesleyan vs. Whittier
3:00 pm – Maryville vs. SUNY New-Paltz
5:30 pm – Emory vs. Covenant
5:30 pm – College of Saint Benedict vs. Whittier
Emory opens 2018 ranked as the No. 5 D-III program in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Poll.
Emory head coach Jenny McDowell (Georgia, '89) begins her 23rd year at the helm of the Eagles' program with a school and career mark of 715-160. She has 19 campaigns of 30 or more wins, including last year's slate of 30-7, and has directed the program to 22 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. She has steered the Eagles to five berths to the national semifinals and has a national championship to her credit in 2008.
2018 represents the sixth year that Chris Duarte-McDermott (La Verne, '09) has directed the fortunes of the Whittier program. During his stint at WC, he has compiled a won-lost mark of 68-69, including an 18-9 ledger last season that saw the Poets earn the program's first-ever bid to the NCAA D-III Tournament.
Entering her 23rd year of calling the shots for Illinois Wesleyan is head coach Kim Nelson-Brown (Illinois Wesleyan, '94). Nelson-Brown has enjoyed considerable success with the Titans compiling a 445-320 won-lost record. She has led IWU to four NCAA Tournament appearances including last year's squad that fashioned a final mark of 23-8.
Joanna Ehman (Covenant College, '10) starts her sixth campaign as the head coach at Covenant College. During her time with the Scots, she has five winning seasons to her credit while registering a school and career record of 111-55. Last year, she directed Covenant to a 25-8 record which included a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
SERIES RECORDS – When Emory and Whittier square off on Friday, it will mark the first time the schools have met in volleyball.
Emory holds a 5-0 advantage in the all-time series with Illinois Wesleyan. The last match-up between the programs took place at the 2017 Wittenberg Invitational where the Eagles prevailed by a 3-2 margin.
Emory and Covenant College have played 15 times with the Eagles capturing 12 of the meetings. The last match took place in 2017 with the Eagles earning a 3-0 decision at the Woodruff PE Center.
VETS TO WATCH – Among the 16 veterans back in the fold from a year ago to keep an eye on in 2018 include junior outside hitter Morgan McKnight (Manassas), junior libero Elyse Thompson (Tallahassee, FL), junior outside Sara Carr (Tallahassee, FL), sophomore Leah Saunders (Simpsonville, SC), senior setter Mady Arles (Richmond, VA) and senior middle Sydney Leimbach (Atlanta).
The 5-foot-10 McKnight earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades last season, ending the campaign tied for the team with 125 sets played while pounding out 2.88 terminations per game, good for the No. 8 spot on the league ladder. Named to All-University Athletic Association Second Team, McKnight produced 19 matches with 10 or more kills.
Thompson was an anchor of a strong Emory defense in 2017, setting a program record with an average of 5.13 digs per set. Tabbed as a Third Team All-American, Thompson totaled nine contests of 20 or more digs including six with 30 or more.
Carr, 5-foot-11, garnered First Team All-America status a year ago after leading the squad and placing third among University Athletic Association players with a 3.28 kills-per-set average, which saw her lead or share for the team lead in kills on 17 occasions. The First Team All-UAA selection led or shared for team honors in kills on 17 occasions and totaled the team's top six individual kill totals during the season.
Saunders is looking for a big follow-up season after landing 2017 UAA Rookie of the Year honors. Saunders saw action in 36 contests and averaged 2.60 kills per set, finishing with 17 outings with 10 or more terminations.
Arles looks to direct the Emory offensive attack after placing fifth on the conference chart in assists average en route to Honorable Mention All-UAA recognition. She shared the setting duties last year and registered 30 or more assists on three occasions including a career high 35 in a five-set win at Birmingham Southern, which was the second-highest total by an Eagle during the season.
An Honorable Mention All-American in 2016, Leimbach looks for a bounce back campaign after being sidelined with an injury midway through her junior season. She did manage to play in 62 sets over 19 matches, averaging 2.66 kills and 0.97 blocks per set.
EMORY CAPTAINS – Serving as the captains for the 2018 Emory volleyball team will be seniors Mady Arles Sydney Leimbach and Mila Barzdukas (Studio City, CA).
EMORY ENJOYS SUCCESS ON HOME FLOOR – The Eagles have enjoyed considerable success over the years playing at the Woodruff PE Center compiling a home won-lost slate of 371-54 (.872) since 1992.
More recently, Emory has been dominant at the Woodpec, compiling a 42-4 record at home since the 2015 campaign. In 2017, the Eagles were successful in 17 of 18 home matches.