Volleyball climbs to 21st in latest AVCA Top 25 Poll

The Muskingum volleyball team climbed to 21st in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll that was released on Tuesday. This marks Muskingum's highest national ranking since 2000. Last week, the Muskies were ranked 25th. The AVCA Division III Top 25 Poll is selected by Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions.

Muskingum is 14-2 overall after spiking 18th-ranked Transylvania in three sets on Sunday. The Muskies locked in set one (25-23), dominated in set two (25-9), and secured set three (25-18). This season, the Muskies have surrendered just 12 total sets, claimed 10 straight-set victories, and recorded a 10-game winning streak. As a team, Muskingum has registered a total of 795 kills, 711 assists, 1,065 digs, 82 service aces, and 87 total blocks. The Muskies are currently ranked seventh in the NCAA Division III in kills per set (13.95) and team attacks per set (39.72). Muskingum also ranks first in the OAC in kills per set (13.95), digs per set (18.68), and solo blocks (45).

Junior Brooke Fatheree leads the Muskies with a team-best 194 kills, averaging a league-best 3.4 kills per set. Fatheree has also recorded 37 assists, 229 digs, and 18 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 registered a team-high 462 assists in 53 sets played, ranking fifth in the OAC with 8.72 assists per set. Throughout her two years for the Muskies, Dickson has recorded 229 kills, 481 digs, and 94 total blocks. Dickson has also notched 2,431 assists, making her fifth all-time in career assists at Muskingum.

Junior Maddie McGee has logged 147 kills this season, while freshman Alexis Hall has notched 102. Junior Brynn Guist guides the Muskies with a team-best 46 blocks on the year, making her fourth in the conference with .84 blocks per set. Guist has also logged 123 kills and dished out 56 digs. Junior Jessica Cottle anchors the Muskie backline with a team-best 268 digs, averaging 4.79 digs per set. Freshman Emma Conrad is second on the team with 148 assists, averaging 2.64 assists per set.

Muskingum next hosts Kenyon on Thursday, October 3. Start time is slated for 7:00 p.m