MURFRESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee Track & Field continued its strong start to the indoor season over the weekend at the PNC Lenny Lyles Indoor Invitational hosted by Louisville, with three Blue Raiders setting facility records over the weekend.
Lyn’Nikka Vance, esther isa and Omamuyovwi Erhire placed first in the 60m, women’s triple jump and men’s triple jump respectively. Their scores in their events have also topped C-USA’s rankings for the indoor season so far.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION, Lyn’Nikka Vance just getting started! 👀🔥
First of the 60m ✅
Establishment file ✅
New PB of 7.47s ✅
#1⃣ in C-USA ✅#BlueRaiders | #MT ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/77grW75tNf— MT XC/Athletics (@MT_TrackField) January 29, 2022
Another week at 𝓣𝓞𝓟 for Erhire!👑
First in triple jump ✅
Installation record – 15.48m ✅
No.1⃣ in C-USA ✅#BlueRaiders | #MT ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Dohuj3qufA— MT XC/Athletics (@MT_TrackField) January 29, 2022
🥇𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑. 𝐈𝐒𝐀.🥇
First in triple jump ✅
Installation record – 12.77m ✅
No.1⃣ in C-USA ✅#BlueRaiders | #MT ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Enm4Qe080Y— MT XC/Athletics (@MT_TrackField) January 29, 2022
Groundhog Day Lunch Tickets Still On Sale
Tickets for Middle Tennessee Baseball’s Groundhog Day Luncheon on February 2 are still available for purchase! You can follow the link here to help us kick off the 2022 season with the presentation of the Railbirds jacket with a meal of pork shanks, baked beans, tomato salad, scallions, cornbread, chocolate cake and ice cream.
Groundhog Day Week! It’s not too late to buy your tickets. Come celebrate the tradition of Blue Raider baseball with us at the MTSU Student Union Ballroom.
📰 https://t.co/XJkA6Rvzke
🎟 https://t.co/vpAClCBzMK pic.twitter.com/huykgsQnEN— MT Baseball (@MT_Baseball) January 31, 2022
Signing Day Celebration Ends Action February 2
Following the Groundhog Day luncheon in the student union, the Blue Raider Athletic Association, in conjunction with the Middle Tennessee Football Program, will host the 13th annual Signing Day Celebration on Feb. 2 at the Jeff Hendrix Stadium Club. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and will feature “MT Signing Day Live” which will air live on ESPN3 beginning at 6 p.m.
The hour-long show will be hosted by Voice of the Blue Raiders Chip Walters. Highlights from signers, player interviews and a preview of 2022 will make up this year’s show.
The signing day celebration at the Hendrix Club will include refreshments, beer and wine. Fans can watch the show with members of the coaching staff and get the scoop on the next big Blue Raiders. If you have any questions, please contact BRAA today at 615-898-2210. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the head coach Rick Stockstill will address the crowd at 5:40 p.m. before being on the show.
Have a meal with #BlueRaiders Wednesday!@MT_BaseballThe annual Groundhog Day lunch begins at 11:30 a.m., and the @MT_FB The signing day celebration is at 5:30 p.m.
⚾️ https://t.co/VKn8nQoxgW
🏈 https://t.co/RgkpDTC0er pic.twitter.com/4pmthzNReb— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) January 30, 2022
Celebrating the National Day of Girls and Women in Sport
Also February 2 is National Day for Girls and Women in Sport, and MT Athletics will be celebrating the whole day across all of its social media channels.
Keep an eye on your feeds throughout the day on Wednesday for great work from our athletic communications staff!
Women’s basketball earns C-USA honors
Kseniya Malashka and Anastasiia Boldryeva earned C-USA Weekly honors on Monday, with Malashka winning Player of the Week and Boldyreva winning Rookie of the Week. The Lady Raiders swept their two games over the weekend to continue their climb up the C-USA East standings.
Malashka continued his recent dominance by leading Middle Tennessee past Eastern Division contenders Marshall and WKU. The junior forward scored 43 points in 35 minutes of action against both opponents. She averaged 21.5 points, five rebounds and two steals over the two games while shooting 64% (14 of 22) from the field, including 4 of 7 (57%) from 3-point range. She was also 11 of 11 from the free throw line. This is Malashka’s second player of the week honored this season.
Boldyreva continued her rise as one of C-USA’s top freshmen with another solid weekend. The 6-foot-6 center averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots against Marshall and WKU. The Russian international had a stellar game against Marshall with a career-high 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go along with five rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot. It was the third game in a row where Boldyreva set a new career high for points.
📢: Congratulations to @MT_WBBis Kseniya Malashka, #CUSAWBB Player of the week presented by @surfandturfgolf! 🏀
🏅2️⃣ | #TheCUSAWay pic.twitter.com/2QxLGJ8Gnj
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) January 31, 2022
📢: Congratulations to @MT_WBBby Anastasia Boldyreva, #CUSAWBB Freshman of the Week presented by @surfandturfgolf! 🏀
🏅1️⃣ | #TheCUSAWay pic.twitter.com/Ij7Vb4SVn7
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) January 31, 2022
Big Weekend Men’s Basketball Highlights at C-USA “North”
Of course, no recap of last weekend would be complete without highlighting Marshall and Western Kentucky’s men’s basketball road sweep.
Check out some of the work of MT’s creative department on their road trip to Bowling Green on Saturday… and SID Thomas DonleyThe phone camera works from the locker room in Huntington, W. Va.
Roadkill. #BlueRaiders | #To stay together pic.twitter.com/YfSTqcciUM
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) January 28, 2022
🚨🏀 KC’s Dunk of the day! 🏀🚨@MT_MBB Cam Weston just destroyed Marshall with the facial in the Blue Raiders win! @MTBlueZoo @ConferenceUSA pic.twitter.com/8LxD8IVGTB
— Kevin Connors (@kevconnorsespn) January 28, 2022
It doesn’t get old. #BlueRaiders | #To stay together pic.twitter.com/i6iaOiqXQG
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) January 29, 2022
Blue Raiders = Road Warriors #To stay together pic.twitter.com/XaSZ5MNSPJ
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) January 29, 2022
I did the job at Bowling Green.#To stay together pic.twitter.com/UUDtgLqmzg
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) January 30, 2022
Tennis Headlines Home Slate this week
At home this week, the Adams Tennis Complex is sure to be in the spotlight, as it will host six different tennis matches over the next seven days. Friday will feature a men’s/women’s double-header, with the women playing IUPUI at 1 p.m. and the men taking on Louisville at 5 p.m.
Women’s tennis will then host its own double-header with UT Martin and Alabama A&M on Saturday, before the men’s close out the weekend with a double-header on Sunday with Notre Dame and Tennessee State.
Of course, between all the tennis action, the Lady Raider will face UAB at Murphy Center on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Six tennis matches and one @MT_WBB the game is having a busy weekend!
And don’t forget Wednesday @MT_Baseball Groundhog Day Lunch and @MT_FB Signing day celebration.
🏀 https://t.co/kHdbIS5IWm
⚾️ https://t.co/VKn8nQ6Wpo
🏈 https://t.co/RgkpDTTBD1 pic.twitter.com/T3OHv6KAzj— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) January 31, 2022
The Blue Raiders show up at the Shrine Bowl
Wrapping up Monday, Blue Raiders football players Reed Blankenship and DQ Thomas made waves at the East-West Shrine Bowl, which kicks off on Thursday.
Check out some of the buzz these two players have been posting ahead of the NFL Draft cycle below.
🗣It’s a REAL #NFL practice! @_dqthomas20 | @MT_FB #ShrineBowl🏈 pic.twitter.com/4q0UEuLwJv
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) January 29, 2022
Middle Tennessee State LB, DQ Thomas… my word man #ShrineBowl pic.twitter.com/6Q2pax7GV4
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) January 29, 2022
Do you remember Reed Blankenship? The Middle Tennessee state security that first landed on your radar a year ago?
He’s making a name for himself again this year @ShrineBowl and @GrindingTheTape wants you to take note.#FrontOffice33 | #NFLDrafthttps://t.co/qKCM6waFk1
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) January 30, 2022
Man, @MT_FB S Reed Blankenship releases some pads here this morning. @owenstraley21 had a great lineup, saying he could be an early-career Brad Sorensen. Really physical. Will be a demon in special teams.
— Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) January 29, 2022