Muskingum Volleyball ranked 14th in final AVCA Top 25 Poll of the 2019 season

The Muskingum volleyball team was ranked 14th in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll of the year. The Muskies were ranked as high as 11th this season. The AVCA Division III Top 25 Poll is selected by Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. 

 

Muskingum finished the season 27-4 overall with an 8-1 slate in the OAC. This season, the Muskies secured their best campaign since 1999, a share of the Ohio Athletic Conference Regular-Season Championship for the first time since 1999, and their 10th appearance in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament. The Muskies also clinched the team's first NCAA Tournament triumph since 1999. 

 

This season, the Muskies surrendered just 25 sets, claimed 18 straight-set victories, and recorded a 13-game winning streak. As a team, Muskingum logged 1,524 kills, 1,390 assists, 2,112 digs, 161 service aces, and 188 total blocks. The Muskies ranked ninth in the NCAA Division III in kills per set with 13.73. The Muskies also ranked 16th in assists per set with 12.50. Muskingum finished the year ranked second in the conference in kills per set (13.73), total attempts (4,307), hitting percentage (.234), assists per set (12.52), digs (2,112), digs per set (19.03), solo blocks (80), and points per set (16.9). The Muskies were also ranked third in kills (1,524), assists (1,390), and points (1,872.5). 

 

Fatheree, a First Team All-OAC honoree, guided the Muskies with a team-high 367 kills on the year, averaging 3.31 kills per set. She finished second on the team in digs with 428 (3.86 digs per set) and first on the team in points with 416.5 (3.8 points per set). Fatheree finished the year ranked third in the league 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 1,118. Throughout her three years for the Muskies, Fatheree has amassed 1,175 digs, 120 total blocks, and 78 service aces. Fatheree was named the OAC Volleyball Player of the week twice this year. She was also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Great Lakes All-Region Team and coined AVCA Division III Honorable Mention All-American.

 

Dickson, a First Team All-OAC award winner, directed the Muskies with a team-high 979 assists, ranking fourth in the conference with 9.32 assists per set. Dickson secured 84 kills, 220 digs, and 26 total blocks this year. This season, Dickson moved to fourth all-time in career assists with a total of 2,948 (averaging 9.57 assists per set). Throughout her three years for the Muskies, Dickson has tallied 267 kills, 58 service aces, and 109 total blocks. This year, Dickson was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Great Lakes All-Region Team and named AVCA Division III Honorable Mention All-American. 

 

McGee, a Second-Team All-OAC honoree, finished the year second on the team in kills with 318, ranking seventh in the league with 3.09 kills per set. McGee also tallied 68 digs and locked in 45 total blocks. McGee was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Great Lakes All-Region Team. McGee was also coined AVCA Division III Honorable Mention All-American for her outstanding performance this season. 

 

Junior Jessica Cottle anchors the Muskie backline with a team-best 553 digs in 110 sets played, averaging 5.03 digs per set. This season, Cottle registered her 1,000th career dig against Hiram. Cottle was also named the OAC Volleyball Player of the Week earlier this year. Junior Brynn Guist has locked in 259 kills this season, ranking third on the team in kills and kills per set. She also dished out a team-high 84 blocks, 21 service aces, and 113 digs. Guist finished the year ranked sixth in the OAC in blocks per set with 0.79. Guist was named Honorable Mention All-OAC for her phenomenal play this year.