University of Connecticut Athletics
Volleyball Sweeps South Florida on Senior Day
11/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
STORRS, Conn. (Nov. 9, 2008) – The University of Connecticut women’s volleyball team swept its fourth-straight BIG EAST opponent on Sunday afternoon at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies defeated South Florida 3-0 with a consistent defensive effort that held the Bulls to a .052 hitting-percentage in the match. Jessica Issac (Erlanger, Ky.) led the Huskies with a match-high 13 digs while every other UConn player on the floor at least one.
With the 3-0 win, UConn has stretched its winning streak to six matches, the longest of the season. Every win has been over a BIG EAST team and the last four have been sweeps.
The Huskies cruised to a 25-19 victory in the first set, never allowing the Bulls (15-12, 5-7) to come within any greater than three points and never relinquishing the lead from the start. The second and third set proved to be a bit more of a battle for UConn as the home team exchanged the lead with South Florida a total of 11 times in the final two sets.
Led in blocks by Megan Frey (Chaska, Minn.) and Rebecca Murray (Carmel, Ind.), UConn sent back a total of 10 in the match against the Bulls. Six players had at least one block with Chauntay Mickens (Germantown, Md.) and Jordan Kirk (Plano, Texas) earning solo blocks.
UConn (20-7, 9-3) was unable to build a lead in the second set with kills by Mickens and Frey answered by South Florida’s Marcela Gurgel and Nakia Williams. The Bulls slowly pulled away with a 6-3 lead before UConn would cut the deficit and a kill from Annie Luhrsen (Wheaton, Ill.) tied the set (8-8).
The see-saw battle continued as neither team was able to put together a run to pull away in the second set. Kirk’s kill spurred the Huskies to score seven unanswered points and lead the second set 23-17. The Bulls committed a series of errors that secured UConn’s 25-19 victory.
The Huskies’ greatest advantage on the scoreboard came with the final in the third set. UConn hit for its best effort of the match (.237) as did USF (.290) and each team fought for the decision. Following an UConn timeout, the Huskies tied the game (17-17) and then again at 19-19 before with Luhrsen serving UConn pulled away for a 23-19 lead. Frey’s kill ended the set and the match (25-22).
Prior to this afternoon’s game, Lorelle Schaub (New Brighton, Minn.) and Frey were honored for their commitment to Connecticut volleyball as the only members of the Class of 2009.
UConn resumes BIG EAST play next weekend with a pair of matches in the Midwest. The Huskies will first take on DePaul on Friday at 7 p.m. and take on Notre Dame on Sunday afternoon (2 p.m.).
Game Notes
· The Huskies have swept a total of 14 opponents this season, including six BIG EAST teams.
· Megan Frey needed just two more blocks to hit the 100 mark for her career. Frey finished the afternoon with four and now has 102 blocks.
· Annie Luhrsen had three aces in the match the most she has had recorded since serving five at West Virginia ((Oct. 26). Luhrsen leads the team with 54 this season, placing her third among UConn’s all-time single-season leaders.
