The Chanticleer

Issue date: 11/10/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Chris Yow Senior Suzi Terrell and the Gamecocks had a block party this past weekend.

For the final home stand of the 2005 season, you might expect the JSU volleyball team to make sure their seniors, Kim Halbach, Suzi Terrell and Kisha West went out in style. That would be the understatement of the year as the Gamecocks crushed UT-Martin and Murray State over the weekend, cruising to 3-0 victories over both OVC opponents.

The Gamecocks (14-10, 11-3 OVC) rolled through the Friday night match with UT-Martin in the most one-sided victory of the year, winning 30-12, 30-16, and 30-14. Terrell, along with Shari Weyer and Abbey Breit, led the charge for Jacksonville State, topping the double digit mark in kills yet again. Terrell's 14 was a game high while Weyer and Breit each contributed 12. Rebekah Nichols added 8, but it was her .889 hiting percentage that stood out.

The Skyhawks never had a chance against a more talented and powerful team. UT-Martin's overall .067 hiting percentage was one of the lowest by any JSU opponent this year.

While offense was the story on Friday, it was defense that stole the show Saturday as JSU had 10 team blocks along with Shari Weyer's 5 blocking assists on the way to a 30-13, 30-17, and 30-26 victory over Murray State.

"We've spent a lot of time with our blocking over the past three or four weeks," said JSU coach Rick Nold. "I think we were, at one point, dead last in the conference in blocking. Since then, we've made some huge strides. I think the weekend we played SEMO and Eastern Illinois was our first time stepping into that. That's something that can make a big difference for us in the conference tournament. We're getting to the point where they're understanding and seeing the things we're talking about in practice and we're seeing some success for it."

Saturday, the Gamecocks also honored their three seniors before the game.

Halbach, a native of Burlington, WI, has suited up for JSU 110 times and has recorded over 560 kills and 140 assists. Defensively, the fifth year senior has picked up 200 digs and 175 blocks.

"She was here the year before I got here, so we've been through a lot together," Nold said of the fifth year senior. "As a player, she's done a great job for us, especially on the right side, but the great things about her is she's filled in a lot of different positions for us. I probably keep her head spinning in circles by moving her, but it's just her flexibility as a player to be able to do different things."

Continued...

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