University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies on the Road for BIG EAST Play
10/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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After spending the past two weeks at home for a six-game homestand, its longest since 1995, the University of Connecticut volleyball team hits the road this weekend for a pair of BIG EAST showdowns against Pittsburgh and West Virginia. During the Huskies’ homestand, the squad went 4-2 with impressive sweeps against Brown, Fairfield and Syracuse, and the team hopes its recent success can continue during its upcoming three-game road trip.
Scouting Pittsburgh and West Virginia
Although Pittsburgh and West Virginia sport a combined record of 10-18 this season, the Huskies won’t be quick to overlook the two BIG EAST foes. For one, Pittsburgh, whom UConn faces in a 7 p.m. match Friday night, dominated the Huskies in a 3-0 victory last season. The Panthers are paced by Wendy Hatlestad. Hatlestad ranks second in the conference in kills per game with an impressive 4.87. Also impressive on the Panthers’ frontline is Dionne Hayden, whose .340 hitting percentage is third highest in the conference. Heather Haff adds 1.22 blocks per game for Pittsburgh.
Likewise, West Virginia battled UConn in a five-set match last season, with the Huskies prevailing in the final set, 15-13. West Virginia is led on the attack by Dimitra Havriluk, who averages 2.67 kills per game (as of 10/8). Havriluk notched a career-high 21 kills in a 1-3 loss to Robert Morris Wednesday night. She also has 3.70 digs per game (as of 10/8), good for fourth in the category in the conference.
A Look Back: BIG EAST Play Resumes
UConn faced a pair of tough BIG EAST foes last weekend in its first BIG EAST matches since September 23. On Friday night, the Huskies avenged a 2000 loss to Syracuse by defeating the Orangewomen, 3-0. Junior outside hitter (Ridgecrest, CA) had 12 kills while sophomore outside hitter (Stockton, CA), recently finding a niche for herself within the offense, added 10 kills. Husky senior setter (Fairview Park, OH) had her fourth consecutive double-double with 37 assists and 13 digs.
The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, ranked No. 22 nationally, poised a bigger challenge for the Huskies. Although Connecticut hung tough and took the second game, 30-25, off the Irish, Notre Dame’s game was too much for UConn. Melissa Wooley again led Connecticut with 20 kills, 12 digs and a .326 hitting percentage, while Shaker notched her fifth consecutive double-double with 45 assists and 12 digs.
Best Against West
Several Huskies have notched career highs against the Mountaineers of West Virginia. In particular, sophomore middle hitter (Marshall, MN) had the best game of her career in last season’s win against West Virginia. Birath just missed a triple-double with 19 kills, 26 digs and seven blocks. Junior middle hitter (Lancaster, CA) also registered a career-high with 16 kills in the same match while senior setter (Fairview Park, OH) added a career-high 20 digs.
Alive at Five
After a 45-assist, 12-dig performance against Notre Dame, senior setter (Fairview Park, OH) has five consecutive double-doubles. The streak started with a season high 61-assist and 17-dig performance in a 1-3 loss to Northeastern. Shaker added double-doubles against Brown (44 assts, 10 digs), Fairfield (36 assts, 12 digs) and Syracuse (37 assts, 13 digs).
Movin’ On Up
With 20 kills and one service ace against Notre Dame Sunday, junior outside hitter (Ridgecrest, CA) cracked the top ten on the Huskies’ career kills and service aces charts. Wooley is now tenth in career kills with 781 and tied for tenth in career service aces with 93. The 6-0 outside hitter ranks in top five in the BIG EAST in total kills (199) and service aces (24) this season. Jenelle Koester is No. 1 on the UConn career kills chart with 1,724 while Heather Sokol tops the service aces list with 186.
Return to Sender
Junior middle hitter (Lancaster, CA) and sophomore middle hitter (Marshall, MN) comprise a tough Husky defense at net. The two are ranked ninth and tenth in conference, respectively, in blocks per game. Lambert, who averages 1.14 blocks per game this season, led the Huskies in blocks per game last season with 1.24. In conference matches, she averaged 1.58, good for first in the conference. Birath averages 1.02 blocks per game this season.
Going for 75
UConn head coach , in just her fourth season at the helm of the Huskies, is aiming for career win #75. Myers began the season with a 62-33 career record, and with the Huskies 11 wins this season, Myers now has 73 career wins. With victories against Pittsburgh and West Virginia, Myers could reach career win #75. Last season Myers notched her 50th career victory in a 3-0 blanking of Brown on September 23.
