University of Connecticut Athletics
Volleyball Prepares for Quarterfinal Match Against Cincinnati on Friday
11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 19, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Connecticut volleyball team practiced at the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) on Thursday in preparation for Friday's quarterfinal match against Cincinnati. For the fourth-consecutive season, the Huskies garnered a berth in the BIG EAST Tournament.
The No. 7 seed this season, UConn will face the No. 7 Cincinnati seed on Friday at 12:30 p.m. The Huskies lost a three-set decision to the Bearcats in the second-to-last regular season match in Ohio less than a week ago.
Although they are recent opponent of the Huskies, the Bearcats and Cincinnati have never faced each other in the BIG EAST Tournament. UConn trails in the all-time series (4-1) in the regular season. The Huskies have a 9-32 record in the conference tournament with their most recent victory a 3-0 win over West Virginia in 1999.
Last season, UConn was eliminated after a three-set loss to No. 5 Notre Dame in the quarterfinals as the No. 4 seed.
Junior Rebecca Murray (Carmel, Ind.) continues to lead the team in kills with a 2.65 kill per set average while three others are averaging well above two kills per set. Sophomore Jordan Kirk (Plano, Texas) is recording 2.45 kills per set. Senior Chauntay Mickens (Germantown, Md.) and freshman Mattison Quayle (Los Angeles, Calif.) round out the group with kill averages of 2.29 and 2.21, respectively.
The Connecticut career leader in digs, senior Jessica Isaac (Erlanger, Ky.) will bring her 4.19 dig per set clip to the tournament. She is second in the conference with a 5.31 dig per set average in BIG EAST contests this season.
Murray as well as junior Lauren Lamberti (Cary, Ill.) are among the leaders in kills against Cincinnati since the 2004 season. Both have recorded 25 kills each. Mickens and Kirk are also among the leaders in matches against the Bearcats with 23 and 22 kills, respectively.
Match time is set 12:30 p.m. at the KICC on Friday. The winner of this contest will take on winner of the Pittsburgh-South Florida quarterfinal match.
