University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Set to Host UConn Autumn Volleyball Classic
9/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
STORRS, CT (Sept. 25) - The University of Connecticut women’s volleyball team will host Florida Atlantic, Maryland-Baltimore County and Maine for the UConn Autumn Classic to be held in Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27. The Huskies recently suffered a 3-1 loss to Northeastern on Sept. 24, but in the weekend prior they went 3-0 at the Maine Invitational on Sept. 19-20 where they took the tournament title, and Jamie Hadenfeldt (Benicia, CA) earned Tournament MVP honors. The first match-up of the weekend will feature Maine vs. UMBC at 5:00 pm on Friday, and UConn’s first match will follow as they take on Florida Atlantic at 7:30 pm. Saturday’s matches will feature UConn vs. UMBC at noon, Florida Atlantic vs. Maine at 2:30 pm, UMBC vs. Florida Atlantic at 5:00 pm, and in the final match, UConn will host Maine at 7:30 pm.
Connecticut Huskies
Overall Record: 7-6
2002 Overall Record: 14-15, BIG EAST Record: 9-4
Players to Watch: Megan Crawley, Jamie Hadenfeldt, Xaimara Coss, Julie Erbez
The Huskies have had an up and down season so far in 2003, but enjoyed a measure of success in their most recent tournament that they hope will set a standard for their performance this weekend. After losing four of their first five matches of the season, UConn has since gone 6-2, including a 3-0 weekend at the Maine Invitational where they took the tournament title after wins against Maine, Denver and Yale. Sophomore Megan Crawley has been a consistently strong performer for the Huskies, and having already totaled 166 kills (3.53 per game), she has well surpassed her 99 total kills as a freshman. Crawley also leads the team in hitting accuracy with a percentage of .325, and is also the leader in blocks with 49 (1.04 per game). Crawley has been named to the All-Tournament Team at each of the four tournaments UConn has played in this season. Junior Jamie Hadenfeldt was recently named the Tournament MVP at Maine after three strong matches which included two kill-dig double-double performances. Hadenfeldt has notched 160 kills (3.48 per game), and has also been a force in the backcourt with 165 digs (3.59 per game). Senior Xaimara "Xai" Coss is the defensive leader for the Huskies, and her 231 digs (4.91 per game) rank her ninth in the nation among Division I players. Senior setter Julie Erbez has racked up 426 assists (9.06) and 102 digs on the season. As a team, UConn ranks 11th in the nation in digs per game with 18.47, and second in the BIG EAST in blocks per game with 2.48.
Florida Atlantic Owls
Overall Record: 4-7
2002 Record: 14-7, A-Sun Record: 8-3
All-Time Record Against UConn: 0-1
Players to Watch: Abby Miner, Cayse Kaveny, Iana Andonova, Jeana Boyle
The Owls struggled early on in 2003, losing five of their first six matches, but have come out on top in three of their last four matches, all by scores of 3-0. Most recently the Owls defeated in-state rival Stetson 3-0 on Sept. 19. Blocking has proved to be a weakness for Florida Atlantic who have totaled just 56.5 while their opponents have tallied 96.5. But the Owls have faced strong competition early in the season, and have gained experience they hope will lead to success at this weekend’s tournament. Senior Abby Miner leads the team in kills with 117 (3.25 per game) in also leads in digs with 98 (2.72 per game). Junior Casey Kaveny has notched 102 kills on the season (2.76 per game), and leads the team in blocks with 27. Sophomore middle blocker Iana Andonova has 100 kills (2.70 per game), leads the team in service aces with 22 and ranks second in blocks with 26. Senior setter Jeana Boyle has tallied 389 assists (10.51 per game) and 81 digs (2.19 per game).
Maine Black Bears
Overall Record: 6-7
2002 Record: 9-21, America East: 3-9
All-Time Record Against UConn: 2-3
Players to Watch: Leah Guidinger, Carmen Gabriel, Shelly Seipp, Brittany Howe
The Black Bears have struggled in recent matches, and went 0-3 in their last two tournaments including their own invitational. Prior to the two weekends, Maine enjoyed a successful 3-0 run at the Sacred Heart Invitational. Sophomore Leah Guidinger has been strong for the Black Bears on offense, and leads the team with 173 kills (3.26 per game), and has also tallied 103 digs. Junior Carmen Gabriel has been strong and consistent all-around for Maine, and has put up high numbers in many areas. Gabriel ranks second in kills with 142 (3.09 per game), second in assists with 199 (4.33 per game), first in digs with 154 (3.35 per game), and third in total blocks with 26. She was named the America East Setter of the Week earlier this season. Freshman setter Shelly Seipp has tallied 391 assists (7.38 per game) in her first year at Maine, and has also notched 124 digs (2.34 per game). Junior Brittany Howe has 103 kills on the season, and ranks second in total blocks with 40. Howe was Maine’s lone representative on the All-Tournament Team at the Maine Invitational last weekend.
Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers
Overall Record: 7-6
2002 Record: 17-12, NEC Record: 7-2
All-Time Record Against UConn: 0-4
Players to Watch: Jocelyn Teoh, Jennifer Davis, Megan Gross, Amy Starosta
The Retrievers followed every win with a loss early in the season, but recently enjoyed a three-game win streak until a loss at Villanova on Sept. 20. UMBC went 2-1 at their own invitational to take second place, and matched that record at the Villanova Invitational the following weekend. Junior Jocelyn Teoh has been a force for the Retrievers at the net, notching 225 kills so far this season for a per-game average of 4.79. Teoh also ranks third on the team in digs with 120. Graduate student Jennifer Davis has tallied 137 kills (2.85 per game), leads the squad in hitting accuracy with a percentage of .334, and is tied for the lead in total blocks with 33. Both Teoh and Davis represented UMBC on the All-Tournament Team at the Villanova Invitational. Sophomore setter Megan Gross has dished out 553 assists for a per-game average of 11.29, and also leads the team in digs with 131 (2.67 per game). Freshman Amy Starosta is having a strong debut year with the Retrievers, and has recorded 117 kills (2.49 per game) along with 118 digs and 20 blocks.
