Volleyball split its final home series of the regular season against Middle Tennessee State with a 3-1 win in the series opener, and a 3-1 defeat in the series closer, at the Convocation Center on Nov. 8-9.
With the conclusion of this series, the Owls end the 2024-2025 regular season with a 5-7 record in home matches.
Junior outside hitter Manu Johnsen led the way for the Owls with a combined 40 kills in the series, including a game-leading 20 in each game. She also contributed a series leading four aces in the series’ opening game for the Owls.
Junior defensive specialist Leah Freeman led the Owls with a total of 24 digs for the series, while also adding on six assists and two aces.
Sophomore middle blocker Maggie Byrd had an Owls’ leading 11 blocks, while also totaling two aces in the series closing game.
Redshirt sophomore setter Kourtney Brown led the Owls with a combined 47 assists for the series, while also adding on two aces and eight digs in the series opening game.
Both games in this series saw the winner of the game’s opening set go on to lose the game, with both teams losing the next three sets in their respective losses.
The Owls will be heading on the road for their final series of the 2024-2025 regular season, when they face the University of Texas at El Paso Miners on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16.
The Miners will be hosting this series after winning both games of their two-game road series against Liberty
Heading into this matchup, the Owls hold a 13-14 record overall for the season, while being 10-6 in Conference USA play.
This record ties the Owls with Sam Houston State for fourth place among CUSA teams for overall record on the season, and ties them for third place in conference play with New Mexico State.
As the season nears an end, Owls’ coach Keith Schunzel will be looking to prepare the team for not only their final series against the Miners, but for the CUSA Championship Tournament as well.
The Owls will find themselves in familiar ground for the tournament as it will be hosted by their final regular season opponent, the Miners, in El Paso, Texas.
The Miners, ahead of their matchup with the Owls, find themselves with the best overall season record of all CUSA teams at 24-4, while also holding the second best record against CUSA opponents at 14-2, trailing only Western Kentucky who holds a 16-0 record in CUSA play on the season.
The eight team tournament will start with its first match on Nov. 22, and will conclude on Nov. 24.
The tournament’s seeding is yet to be determined, as teams across CUSA finish up their final series of the regular season.
