MATCH FACTS – –  The No. 2-ranked Emory volleyball team closes out the home portion of its regular-season schedule this Friday and Saturday (Oct. 28-29) when it hosts its own National Invitational Tournament.  Joining the Eagles in this weekend's action are Juniata College, Heidelberg University, Lee University and Washington & Lee.  The schedule for the Invitational is as follows:

Friday, Oct. 28
2:30 p.m. – Heidelberg vs. Washington & Lee
5:00 p.m. – Emory vs. Washington & Lee
5:00 p.m. – Lee Univ. vs. Heidelberg
7:30 p.m. – Emory vs. Juniata

Saturday, Oct. 29
10:30 a.m. – Juniata vs. Heidelberg
1:00 p.m. – Emory vs. Heidelberg
1:00 p.m. – Lee Univ. vs. Washington & Lee
3:30 p.m. – Emory vs. Lee Univ.
3:30 p.m. – Juniata vs. Washington & Lee

On Friday evening prior to the Juniata match, Emory will hold Senior Night with the program recognizing the contributions of this year's seniors – Kelsey Freeman, Ali Wright, Jessica McAlvany, Amelia McCall and Natalie Schonefeld.

THE COACHES – Emory Head Coach Jenny McDowell (Georgia, '89) is in her 16th year at the helm of the Eagles' program.  During her stint at Emory, McDowell has posted a school and career won-lost ledger of 505-125.  She achieved her 500^th victory on Oct. 8, 2011, when Emory topped Maryville College, 3-0.  She has 12 campaigns of 30 or more wins, including last year's school-record setting 36-5 record, and has directed the program to 15 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.  She has steered the Eagles to three national semifinal berths and has a national championship to her credit in 2008.

In his 12th year at the helm of the Washington & Lee program is Bryan Snyder (Washington & Lee, 1995).  During his stint with the Generals, he has compiled a 338-85 won-lost mark that includes five campaigns of 30 or more victories and eight trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Heather Pavlik (Juniata, 1995) is in her first season as the head coach at Juniata.  Prior to her appointment in January of 2011, Pavlik had served on the JC staff for 15 seasons, the last eight of those as associate head coach.

Guiding the fortunes of Heidelberg for the 12^th year is Jason Miller (Heidelberg, 1998).  Miller posted a school and career record of 234-147 heading into a Tuesday night bout vs. Ohio Northern.

Andrea Hudson (Lee College, 1984)  is in her 21^st year in patrolling the sidelines at Lee University and she will bring a school and career record of 687-226 into this weekend's fray.  She has directed the Flames to 15 30-win seasons and eight berths to the NAIA national tournament.

2011 RECORDS – Emory, ranked No. 2 in the nation in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll, takes an overall mark of 29-2 into the Invitational.  The Eagles have captured their last five matches including a 3-0 decision at Berry College on Friday.

Washington & Lee will meet Emory with a record of 25-3.  The Generals saw a 12-match win streak come to an end on Saturday when they came out on the short end of a 3-0 outcome to No. 8-ranked Christopher Newport.  

Ranked No. 12 nationally, Juniata invades Atlanta with a won-lost effort of 21-6.  The Eagles have won their last five contests including a pair at the Wid Guisler Invitational over the weekend, topping Indiana (Pa.) and Carnegie Mellon.

Heidelberg, ranked No. 5 in D-III, has enjoyed a solid season and owned a 27-2 mark prior to its Tuesday encounter against Ohio Northern.  The Berg entered that match with wins in their last 18 contests.

Lee University is riding high with victories in its last 17 affairs boosting its record to 23-2.  The Flames, ranked No. 4  nationally among NAIA teams, defeated Union College last Thursday in their most recent outing.    

SERIES RECORDS  – Emory has won 20 of the 21 meetings against Washington & Lee.  Last year, the programs met twice, including a battle in the NCAA Tournament, with the Eagles claiming both affairs.

Juniata holds a 9-4 edge in the all-time series with Emory. The teams clashed earlier this season at the Wittenberg Invitational with Emory posting a 3-1 win.

Emory and Heidelberg have met just once with the Eagles coming away with a 3-0 triumph during the 2007 season.

 Emory and Lee University have met on 28 occasions with the Flames hold a 15-13 advantage. The Eagles and Flames have already played once this season with Lee notching a 3-0 victory that ended Emory 23-win match streak.

EAGLES QUARTET SERVE AS CAPTAINS – Serving as captains for the 2011 Eagles will be seniors Natalie Schonefeld, Amelia McCall and Kelsey Freeman (Orinda, CA) and junior Breanah Bourque.

BOURQUE NAMED UAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Breanah Bourque was named the UAA Player of the Week for the first time this season and second time in her career following her effort in the team's win at Berry last Friday.  The 5-foot-11 middle tied Amelia McCall for team honors with nine kills and posted a team-best .429 hitting percentage.  Bourque also totaled five digs and a pair of block assists.

NUMBERS TO WATCH – Heading into this weekend's Invitational, Bourque leads the UAA and is second nationally among D-III players with a .455 hitting percentage (293-49—537) … Bourque, who has hit .400 or higher in eight straight contests, has posted 16 matches of double-figure kills and has hit .400 or better on 19 occasions … Amelia McCall continues to set the pace on the team with her 3.99 kills per set good for the No. 1 spot on the UAA ladder and 20^th nationally … McCall has totaled 20 matches of double-figure terminations this season and has 66 in her career … McCall has 1,404 career kills, good for 6^th place on the school's all-time chart … In addition, her 896 digs ranks 11^th all-time at Emory … In UAA and NCAA statistics released at the start of the week, the Eagles rank No. 2 in the league and 8^th nationally in hitting percentage (.293) … Emory is No. 2 both in the UAA and among all D-III programs in kills per set (13.9 kps) … Senior Jessica McAlvany stands 13^th all-time at Emory with 1,030 kills, just three shy of moving past Janet Bunning (2004-07) into the No. 12 spot … In addition, McAlvany has doled out 38 service aces this season and is tied for fifth in the UAA in service aces per set (0.43 aps) … Junior Alena Ransom quietly continues her fine season and holds down the No. 8 spot on the UAA list with a .323 hitting percentage … In her last five matches, the 5-foot-9 Ransom is hitting .488 (23-2—43) … Senior setter Natalie Schonefeld is dishing out an average of 11.01 assists per set, good for the No. 2 spot in the league, No. 5 nationally and No. 2 on the school's seasonal ladder … Emory's 29-2 record ties the 2000 team for the program's best 31-game record … Sophomore Molly Landers has chalked up 21 matches of double-figure digs and is seventh among UAA performers in that category (3.60 dps).