University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Gear Up for Busy Week
10/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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STORRS, CT (October 23, 2001) -- The Huskies play three home matches this week, including two against BIG EAST rivals Seton Hall and St. John’s. The match against St. John’s will be pivotal for a UConn bid in the BIG EAST Tournament. Currently, St. John’s and Connecticut are tied for fourth place in the conference with the top four teams being invited to the tournament, which will be held Nov. 16-18 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Scouting Fordham
The last time, and only time, the Huskies faced off against their foes from Bronx was in September of 1987 when UConn claimed a 3-0 victory over the Rams in the Central Connecticut Tournament. While much about the two programs has obviously changed in the past 14 years, Connecticut hopes the results will be much the same. The Huskies have gone 2-1 against their counterparts from the Atlantic 10 this season, with their only loss coming against Rhode Island last week.
Fordham is paced by its two big guns on offense, sophomore Roxanne Hill, a 6-2 middle hitter, and junior outside hitter Beth Crockett. Both average more than three kills a game, with Hill registering 3.65 a game with a .249 hitting percentage and Crockett averaging 3.28 kills and 2.82 digs per game. Sophomore right side Mele Misi has also been a big contributor for the Rams with 2.69 kills and a team-leading 3.01 digs per game. Junior Kristyn Daly is Fordham’s primary setter; she averages 9.19 assists and 2.94 digs per game.
A Look Back: Mixed Results
Heading into last week, the Huskies hoped their recent strong play in the BIG EAST would transcend to victories over nonconference opponents Rhode Island and Manhattan. Wednesday night Rhode Island had different plans, defeating UConn, 3-1. Connecticut returned home to Gampel Pavilion to rebound against Manhattan of the MAAC.
Although the match was not pretty, Manhattan proved to be just what the doctor ordered, as the Lady Jaspers were overmatched against the Huskies throughout the match. UConn rolled to a 3-0 victory, but not before falling in an early deficit in game one and commiting 12 service errors and four ball handling errors during the match.
Despite the Huskies’ mental errors, several players had impressive outings for UConn, including junior (Lancaster, CA), who led the Connecticut effort with 13 kills and seven blocks. After notching a season-high 16 kills against Rhode Island, sophomore (Marshall, MN) added nine kills with a .412 hitting percentage for UConn.
Hot-Hittin’ Raftyn
Sophomore (Marshall, MN) had a big week for UConn last week, registering a season-high 16 kills with a .519 hitting percentage in a 1-3 loss to Rhode Island Wednesday. Birath continued her hot-hitting ways Sunday against Manhattan with nine kills and a .412 hitting percentage. In both matches, Birath recorded only two errors. For the weekend she hit .477, raising her season hitting percentage in the process from .221 to .258, the third-highest percentage on the team.
Lam Slam
Opposing hitters are seeing a lot of their attacks come back at them courtesy of UConn junior (Lancaster, CA). This season Lambert registers 1.29 blocks a game, good for fourth in the conference. Overall, she has 84 blocks this season, jetting her career tally to 232 and placing her seventh on UConn’s all-time list. Other Huskies who are moving up the career charts include senior (Fairview Park, OH), who is fourth in all-time assists with 2,222, and junior (Ridgecrest, CA), who cracked the top ten in career kills and service aces two weeks ago. The 6-0 outside hitter is now ninth in career service aces with 99 and, with 857 career kills, is one kill away from tying Heather Kohnken for ninth on the kills list.
Home Sweet Home
The Huskies find themselves in the middle of a four-match homestand, a situation they wouldn’t mind seeing more often. UConn is 9-2 in Gampel Pavilion this season, bringing their all-time record in Gampel to 90-19 for a .826 winning percentage. After the Fordham match, UConn has three remaining home matches: Seton Hall and St. John’s this weekend on Friday and Sunday and a November 10 matchup with Providence, the Huskies last home match of the season and Senior Night for UConn’s lone senior, setter (Fairview Park, OH).
