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Chelsea Ross, a Murfreesboro, Tenn. native, transfers to Georgia State from Middle Tennessee State’s court volleyball team. She played outside hitter for the Blue Raiders and appeared in all 109 sets as a senior. Ross led her team in kills (512) and kills per set average (4.70). She finished the season ranked nationally in several categories and was named first-team All-Conference USA in 2014 and 2015.

Winning attitude: Leadership leads Oliver to November Unsung Hero Award

Dec 15, 2016

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Leadership isn't about statistics. Sometimes it's a can-do spirit, a determination to do what is needed and an infectious attitude that can bring one to the forefront.

That's one of the best ways to describe sophomore volleyball standout Jessica Oliver. It was her leadership skills, her commitment to the program, her willingness to work that made her an exemplary standout for the Golden Eagles, as well as the November selection for the Tech Athletics' Unsung Hero Award. ..... Photo by Jim Dillon

CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY: http://ttusports.com/sports/wvball/2016-17/releases/20161215fb4s0j

Chelsea Ross

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IRVING, TEXAS – Chelsea Ross has been named to the All-Conference USA First Team for her efforts this season. It marks the second year in a row Ross has been named to the team, and the third time in four-years she's made a post-season All-Conference Team after being named Second Team All-Sun Belt in 2012.

"Chelsea has been a big part of our program these last four years," Interim Head Coach Diane Turnham said. "She is an excellent player and an excellent person. What she's done has been remarkable. To have other teams know how good she is and how important she is to our success, and still be able to put up the numbers she has is incredible. She's been an integral part of our program during her great career."

Ross was a bright spot in a difficult season for the Raiders that saw them finish with 20 plus losses for just the 11th time in the program's 38-year history. She led the team in kills with 512, and kills per set with 4.70. She was also second on the team with 291 digs and was just one service ace away from tying for the team lead as she had 21. Ross also accounted for 562.0 of the team's points.

Her accolades earned her national attention as well as Ross finished the year in the top 15 of six national categories. She was 14th with 12.23 attacks per set, 13th with 5.16 points per set, 12th with 1333 total attacks, ninth with 4.70 kills per set, seventh with 562.0 total points, and sixth with 512 total kills.

Ross also finishes her career with 1,892 career kills. That number places her second all-time in Blue Raider history, just 136 behind KeKe Deckard who is the all-time leader with 2,028. Ross was able to pass another MT great, Izabela Kozon, for second place on that list against WKU on October 4.

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MURFREESBORO — MTSU volleyball player and former Riverdale standout Chelsea Ross was named Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week.

It is the first award in the senior's career and the first C-USA offensive weekly honor in the Blue Raiders' program history.

It was also the first time since the first week of 2013 and just the second time in program history that MTSU joined the C-USA slate.

Ross led MTSU last week with 46 kills, including a season-high 30 at Rice on Sunday in the Blue Raiders’ five-set road victory.

"It's really exciting," the jubilant Ross told The Daily News Journal. "It just shows that our teamwork pays off. Our coach said we've progressed so much in the past few weeks."

Additionally, she hit .235 and tallied 5.76 kills per set over the course of the weekend.

Ross earned a career-high six blocks against the Owls on Sunday for a total of seven on the week. The outside hitter also recorded two aces during the week, one in each match.

Ross was not the only Blue Raider who earned C-USA honors. Freshman setter Delaney Taylor was named C-USA Setter of the Week.

"I was all surprised because I thought I worked really hard and I knew Chelsea deserved to be on that list," Taylor said about the moment her coach Mike Peck texted her. "I was just really excited."

Taylor recorded 96 assists across two matches, including 62 in a 3-2 upset over Rice on Sunday and averaged 12 assists during the week.

The California native also picked up 16 digs along the back row for a 2 digs per set average.

"We were really excited as a team (against Rice) and made it a lot easier to win," Taylor said.

The award was Taylor's first C-USA honor of her career and the first setter of the week award in MTSU history.

Taylor said she's grateful for the award and that her next goal is to lead the conference in assists.

Reach Aldo Amato at 615-278-5109 and on Twitter @Aldo_Amato.

Avei Logoleo

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Angela Boudavong

Danielle Ged

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Jess Oliver

Casey Mense

#4 Casey Mense

Position: Outside Hitter/Libero
Height: 5-9
Class: Senior
Hometown: Littleton, CO
High School: Blackman High School

2013 All-SAC Honorable Mention
2012 SAC All-Freshman Team
LMU's 2012 Female Newcomer of the Year

2014 (Junior Season)
Recorded double-digit digs in 27 of her 31 appearances...ranked fifth in the SAC in digs (541) and digs per set (4.55)...broke the program's single-season record for total digs with 586, surpassing Courtney Marton's previous record of 562 set during the 2005 campaign...finished fifth in program history in digs per set...posted 20 or more scoops in 12 matches, highlighted by a season-high 30 digs in a five-setter against Newberry (10/10)...notched a career-best six service aces against Catawba (10/17)...completed season ranked second in program history with 1,499 career digs despite serving as outside hitter during freshman campaign

2013 (Sophomore Season)
All-SAC Honorable Mention selection...set the school's single-season record for digs with 586, finishing fourth in the the SAC in total digs and third in digs per set with 5.19...contributed 96 assists and a team-leading 40 service aces...posted double-digit digs in all 29 matches played, cresting the 20-dig threshold 15 times...collected a career-high 38 scoops in thrilling five-set win at USC Aiken (9/14)...compiled career-high eight assists on two occasions (at USC Aiken, vs. Wingate).

2012 (Freshman Season)
SAC All-Freshman Team selection...posted 154 total kills with 1.36 per set in 113 frames played...ranked second on the team with 371 total digs and 3.28 digs per frame...led the Lady Railsplitters with 41 service aces...notched her first career double-double with 12 kills and 24 digs against Tusculum (9/25)...notched another double-double with 11 kills and 11 scoops at Catawba (10/13)...posted 10

Career Highs (Entering 2015 season)
Kills: 12, vs. Tusculum, 9/25/13
Attempts: 43, vs. Tusculum, 9/25/13
Assists: 8, Three times, MR vs. Brevard, 10/25/14
Digs: 38, at USC Aiken, 9/14/13
Aces: 6, vs. Catawba, 10/17/14

#8 Jazzy Oates

Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 5-8
Class: Senior
Hometown: Franklin, TN
High School: Ravenwood High School

2013 All-SAC Honorable Mention

2014 (Junior Season)
Appeared in all 31 matches, making 27 starts...accounted for 1.52 kills per set and 166 total kills...ranked second on the team with a .224 attack percentage...posted 68 total blocks with a team-leading 11 solo blocks...contributed 106 digs and 0.97 digs per frame...had double-digit kills in six matches, collecting 13 kills against both Belmont Abbey (9/12) and Anderson (10/11)...hit .400 with 12 kills against Queens (10/18)...attacked at a .462 clip with seven kills in a win at Brevard (9/27)...matched her career-high with nine digs in that match at Brevard

2013 (Sophomore Season)
All-SAC Honorable Mention selection...started all 31 matches...compiled 268 kills on 2.18 per set...ranked seventh in the SAC with 90 total blocks and ninth in the league with 0.73 per frame...contributed 117 digs on 0.95 per frame...notched 12 service aces...collected double-digit kills in 12 matches, keyed by a career-high 21 putaways against Catawba (10/5)...posted a career-best seven blocks against Brevard (11/15)...hit above .400 in eight different matches.

2012 (Freshman Season)
Appeared in all 35 matches, starting 30...racked up 186 total kills with 1.41 per set....finished with a .255 attack percentage...compiled 77 total blocks, 71 block assists and 0.58 blocks per set, all of which ranked second for the Lady Railsplitters...tallied 12 kills for first career double-digit kill match against Ouachita Baptist (9/1)...added 10 kills against Brevard (11/3) and 11 versus Catawba (11/16).

Career Highs (Entering 2015 season)
Kills: 21, vs. Catawba, 10/5/13
Attempts: 39, vs. Catawba, 10/5/13
Digs: 9, Three times, MR at Brevard, 9/27/14
Aces: 3, Four times, MR vs. Newberry, 11/7/14
Blocks: 7, vs. Brevard, 11/15/13