University of Connecticut Athletics
Non-Conference Foe is Ahead of Volleyball on Wednesday
10/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 20, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut volleyball team is set to take on Fairfield in non-conference action on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym. After dropping their lone match of last week, the Huskies look to refocus their efforts as they prepare for the final stretch of BIG EAST regular season play.
Fairfield (11-10, 9-1 MAAC) is riding a six-match winning streak entering the midweek contest behind the attacking and blocking efforts of reigning Offensive Player of the Week Katie Mann. Mann pulled in her fourth consecutive honor after averaging 4.00 kills per set with a .614 hitting-percentage. She had a single error in 44 combined attempts against Loyola (Md.) and Rider. Mann tied the Fairfield career block assists record while helping to send nine back last week.
Fairfield lost a single set over the weekend, winning a 3-1 match against Loyola (Md.) before earning a three-set win over Rider. Mann finished both matches with double-digits in kills, extending her streak to 11 matches. During the current six-match winning streak, the Stags have lost just two sets, sweeping four conference opponents en route to a 9-1 MAAC record.
Sophomore Samantha Arriaran (Norco, Calif.) recorded her second-consecutive double-double and seventh overall at Villanova on Saturday with 34 assists and 10 digs. She is averaging 8.96 assists and 1.98 digs per set through 22 matches this season. Tying her career-high dig mark of 35 against the Wildcats, senior Jessica Isaac (Erlanger, Ky.) led the conference with an 8.75 dig per set average. She is averaging 4.14 overall this season.
Arriaran led the team with three service aces at Villanova while Isaac contributed a pair to the UConn offense last weekend.
The Huskies (11-11, 4-3) are paced by junior Rebecca Murray (Carmel, Ind.) with a 2.57 kill per set average while three other players are contributing greater than two per set this season. Sophomore Jordan Kirk (Plano, Texas) boasts a 2.49 average while freshman Mattison Quayle (Los Angeles, Calif.) is contributing 2.31 per set. Murray has tallied double-digit kills in seven of the last eight matches this season with a .215 hitting percentage.
