Volleyball ranked 25th in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll

The Muskingum volleyball team was ranked 25th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll that was announced on Tuesday. The Muskies appeared on two or more ballots and received a total of 173 points in the poll. Muskingum had received votes in the previous three polls that were released. The AVCA Division lll Top 25 Poll is selected by Division lll head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions.

Muskingum is 13-1 overall after participating in the DePauw Invite last weekend where they went undefeated. The Muskies conquered St. Mary's in three straight sets and spiked DePauw in four en route to the teams best start since 2008. This season, the Muskies have surrendered just nine total sets, claimed nine straight set victories, and recorded ten consecutive wins. As a team, Muskingum has secured a total of 679 kills, 602 assists, 903 digs, and 74 total blocks.

Junior Brooke Fatheree leads the Muskies with a team-best 166 kills, averaging 3.39 kills per set. Fatheree has also recorded 27 assists, 194 digs, and 15 total blocks on the year. Earlier in the season, Fatheree was named the OAC Volleyball Player of the Week for her outstanding performance at the Case Western Reserve Invitational.

Junior Erin Dickson has locked in a team-best 371 assists in 45 sets played, averaging 8.24 assists per set. Throughout her two years for the Muskies, Dickson has recorded 222 kills, 467 digs, and 91 total blocks. Dickson has also registered 2,340 assists, making her fifth all time in career assists at Muskingum.

Junior Maddie McGee has registered 117 kills this season, while freshman Alexis Hall has recorded 102. Junior Brynn Guist guides the Muskies with a team-high 37 total blocks on the year. Guist has also logged 99 kills and dished out 51 digs. Junior Jessica Cottle anchors the Muskie backline with a team-high 220 digs, averaging 4.58 digs per set. Freshman Emma Conrad is second on the team with 147 assists, averaging 3.06 assists per set.

The Muskies next travel to Ada to compete against the defending Ohio Athletic Conference Champions and 15th-ranked Ohio Northern on Tuesday, September 24. Start time is slated for 7:00 p.m. and marks the OAC opener for both teams.