University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Ready to Rebound Against Manhattan
10/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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STORRS, CT (October 18, 2001) -- After playing four consecutive BIG EAST matches, the Huskies have a break from conference play this week. They faced Rhode Island of the Atlantic 10 Wednesday evening, falling 1-3 to the Rams and ending a two-match winning streak. UConn hopes to rebound against MAAC opponent Manhattan in the Huskies’ first-ever match up with the Lady Jaspers.
Scouting Manhattan
While Manhattan and UConn have never faced off in the two programs’ histories, the Lady Jaspers are no stranger to BIG EAST teams, having played St. John’s, Seton Hall and Providence this season. Manhattan is still looking for its first win against the BIG EAST this season, having lost to St. John’s in four games and Seton Hall and Providence in five. For the season, the Lady Jaspers are 7-12 overall.
Manhattan is led on the attack by junior outside hitter Amy O’Dorisio, who possesses an impressive all-round game with 4.21 kills and 4.12 digs per game. Senior middle hitter Kim Frederick also makes an impact for the Lady Jaspers with 2.93 kills and 2.51 digs per game, second on the team behind O’Dorisio in both categories. Junior middle hitter Lauren Belcher rounds out the potent offensive trio, averaging 2.82 kills per game. The Lady Jaspers’ setter is junior Bridgett Geddes with 10.72 assists and 2.23 digs per game.
A Look Back: Road Trip Ends
UConn hit the road for a 7 p.m. contest against Rhode Island Wednesday, its third consecutive “away” match. The match-up featured a pair of regionally-ranked teams, as the Rams and the Huskies are ranked No. 3 and No. 9, respectively, in the Northeast. The Huskies hoped to go undefeated during their road stint after weekend wins against conference opponents Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
Rhode Island had other plans, attacking Connecticut from the beginning of the match behind the sharp offensive displays of Brooke Ecklund and Amy Kauppila. The Rams took the first two games before the Huskies could rebound with a third set victory, posting a .422 hitting percentage in the game. URI responded to the Husky challenge by claiming the fourth set, 30-24, for its eighth consecutive victory.
While the loss was a disappointment, junior (Ridgecrest, CA) continued to play well for UConn, posting a team-high 19 kills and tying a career-high with 17 digs. Sophomore (Stockton, CA) narrowly missed a triple-double with nine kills, 21 assists and nine digs, and sophomore (Marshall, MN) added 16 kills with a .519 hitting percentage.
On a Tear
Junior (Ridgecrest, CA) has been dominant in the Huskies’ last five matches. Wooley was named BIG EAST Co-Player of the Week for October 15 for her efforts against Pittsburgh and West Virginia, which included a career-high 28 kills against the Panthers. She continued her strong play against Rhode Island, posting a team-high 19 kills and 17 digs. Over the past five matches, Wooley has racked up 97 kills (5.39 a game), leading the Huskies in kills in each match, 51 digs (2.83 a game), 11 blocks (0.61 a game) and 11 service aces (0.61 a game). Her remarkable average of 6.57 kills per game against Pittsburgh and West Virginia propelled the 6’0 outside hitter into first place in the BIG EAST in kills per game in conference matches with an average of 4.78.
Near Misses
Sophomore (Stockton, CA) has narrowly missed a volleyball milestone in two of the Huskies’ last three matches. Against Pittsburgh on October 12, Erbez was one kill short of a trible-double with nine kills, 28 assists and 10 digs. She nearly achieved the impressive feat again against Rhode Island, registering nine kills, 21 assists and nine digs. Erbez has never posted a triple-double in her collegiate career and, according to the AVCA, only 43 triple-doubles have been recorded among NCAA Division I teams this season. Alison Lungstrum of Yale has the only quadruple-double of the season with 12 kills, 56 assists, 14 digs and 10 blocks against Harvard on October 12.
Career Win #75
UConn head coach , in just her fourth season at the helm of the Huskies, achieved a career milestone in a 3-0 sweep over West Virginia last Sunday. The Huskies’ win over the Mountaineers gave the squad 13 victories this season, bringing Myers’ career total to 75 wins. Myers began the season with a career record of 62-33 and, after UConn’s 13-5 start, her career record now stands at 75-38. Last season Myers notched her 50th career victory in a 3-0 blanking of Brown on September 23.
