Mike Gallagher

Women's Volleyball 10/18/2019 12:28:00 PM Bob Shreve, Sports Information Director

Fighting Scots Return to Action with Difficult Road Matches at Shepherd, Shippensburg

Jackson on the Brink of 1,000 Career Kills

GAMEDAY CENTRAL – Edinboro at Shepherd/Shippensburg

Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, October 20, 2019 (1 p.m.)
Site: Butcher Center, Shepherdstown, W.Va. l Heiges Field House, Shippensburg, Pa.
Records: Edinboro 10-8, 4-3 PSAC Northwest l Shepherd 19-1, 7-1 PSAC Southeast l Shippensburg 15-3, 7-0 PSAC Southeast
Edinboro Links:  Roster I Schedule I Stats
Shepherd Links:  Roster l Schedule l Stats
Shippensburg Links:  Roster l Schedule l Stats
Live Stats: Shepherd l Shippensburg
Video: Shepherd l Shippensburg

AROUND THE PSAC

PSAC Scoreboard: Click Here
PSAC Standings: Click Here
PSAC Statistics: Click Here

MATCH STORYLINES

After playing three times in a span of five days, Edinboro has had a bit of breather this week. But that ends with an extremely difficult road to face the two top teams in the PSAC Southeast – Shepherd and Shippensburg. The Rams, newcomers to the PSAC this year, come in with a 19-1 record and are 7-1 in the Southeast Division. That lone loss – to Shippensburg. The Raiders defeated Shepherd in five sets on Tuesday and is now 15-3 and 7-0 in conference play. Shepherd would rebound with a five-set win over PSAC Northwest-leading Gannon on Thursday night. Shepherd plays Mercyhurst on Friday before hosting the Fighting Scots on Saturday, while Shippensburg entertains Gannon oin Friday, Mercyhurst on Saturday, and Edinboro on Sunday.
Edinboro heads east with a 10-8 overall record, including 4-3 in the PSAC Northwest. Last week, the Fighting scots lost in four games to Gannon and Millersville before sweeping West Chester in three games.
Junior Cierah Jackson is fast approaching 1,000 career kills. The 5'8" outside hitter has led Edinboro in kills in 13 of the 18 matches, and has been in double figures in 17 of 18. She leads Edinboro with 232 kills and has boosted her career total to 975 career kills, good for ninth place all-time. Jackson was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Javelina Volleyball Invitational. She has earned second team All-PSAC honors while leading the Fighting Scots in kills each of her first two seasons. Jackson was named the PSAC Northwest Division Athlete of the Week for her efforts in the Rebich Investments Invitational.
Head coach Missy Soboleski's is in her 15th year as Edinboro's head coach and holds the career record for victories with 325. All told, she has compiled a 460-360 record while serving as a head coach for 24 years. She previously served as head coach at Mercyhurst and Gannon before taking over at Edinboro in 2005. She has led Edinboro to eight NCAA Division II playoff berths. Soboleski entered the season ranked 22nd in Division II among active coaches in victories, and is third among PSAC coaches.
Alicia Eldredge enjoyed an outstanding season as a freshman starting at setter. She finished with a team-leading 916 assists, which ranks 13^th in a season Edinboro. She ranked tenth in the PSAC in assists per set (8.88) and service aces per set (0.38). She had 40-or-more assists in eight matches. Eldredge has 608 assists this season, along with 26 service aces. Molly Breier has a team-high 227 digs, including a season-high 21 at Gannon, bringing her career total to 834. Junior Paige Morris has played well, contributing 61 kills and 41 blocks, the latter figure ranking second on the team. Jessica Giannoccaro adds 119 digs.
Soboleski is not afraid to turn to her freshmen, and two in particular have been playing a major role in Edinboro's success in 2019. Bella Burrelli, a 6'0" outside hitter/opposite, ranks second in both kills (193) and digs (164), along with a team-high 34 service aces. Erica Sharp, a 6'2", middle hitter/outside hitter, has added 122 kills and a team-high 54 blocks.

UP NEXT

The Fighting Scots will play back-to-back home matches next weekend, hosting Clarion at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 25, and Slippery Rock at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 26.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Alicia Eldredge: S; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#2 Jessica Giannoccaro: DS/L; 5' 4"; Junior

#19 Cierah Jackson: OH; 5' 8"; Junior

#6 Molly Breier: DS/L; 5' 7"; Junior

#5 Paige Morris: MH; 5' 9"; Junior

#11 Bella Burrelli: OH/Opp; 6' 0"; Freshman

#15 Erica Sharp: MH/OH; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#12 Alicia Eldredge
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: S

#2 Jessica Giannoccaro
: 5' 4"; Junior
: DS/L

#19 Cierah Jackson
: 5' 8"; Junior
: OH

#6 Molly Breier
: 5' 7"; Junior
: DS/L

#5 Paige Morris
: 5' 9"; Junior
: MH

#11 Bella Burrelli
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH/Opp

#15 Erica Sharp
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: MH/OH