University of Connecticut Athletics
Volleyball Begins Four-Game Homestand
10/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
LIVE STATS: |
VIDEO: SMU| Tulsa
TWITTER: @UConnVB
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn volleyball team returns to home for a pair of conference matches to kick off its four-game homestand. The Huskies will entertain SMU Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.) before hosting Tulsa on Oct. 22 in a Sunday matinee (12 p.m.).
Catching Up With UConn
UConn (10-10) is currently 3-5 in conference action after splitting a pair of contests last week. The Huskies fell at UCF, 3-0, on Friday before bouncing back and taking down USF in straight sets, 3-0, on Sunday afternoon.
Redshirt-sophomore Kayla Williams is pacing all Huskies in kills and aces, tallying 274 and 30, respectively, while posting a team-high 10 double-doubles on the season. Williams leads the American with 0.43 aces per set, while her 4.55 points per set rank second overall. The outside hitter is the league leader in kills (4.82), aces (0.39) and points (5.39) per set in conference-only matches this fall. Junior setter Emma Turner sits second in the American, tallying 9.93 helpers per set.
Scouting the Competition
SMU (13-6) is second in the conference with a 7-1 clip so far this season. The Mustangs lone loss came at No. 21 Wichita State, in a 3-0 sweep. SMU currently ranks 16th in the nation with 17.58 digs per set and are second in conference play in 78 total blocks. Lauren Mills is tied for having the most double-doubles in The American with 12 this year.
The Golden Hurricane (9-11, 3-5 American) will be on the road for two American contests against Temple and UConn. Tulsa leads UConn 5-1 in the all-time series, as the two teams split the series last season, 1-1, with each team winning on the road. As a team, the Golden Hurricane currently leads the conference with 1,326 digs and 2,915 total attacks.
Did You Know
UConn returns home for the first pair of four consecutive matches played in Storrs, Conn. hosting SMU and Tulsa. Kayla Williams is 33rd in the nation with 0.43 aces per set. Seven out of 10 of the Huskies' wins have been sweep victories. Head coach Kris Grunwald is just five wins away from reaching the 100 career wins milestone.
Career Seasons
Through 20 games so far this season, outside hitter Kayla Williams is notching single season career-highs in both assists (27) and aces (30). Junior setter Emma Turner is turning in career best numbers as well, posting 56 kills after recording just six in her first two seasons at UConn.
Notables
Redshirt-sophomore Kayla Williams has been tabbed to the American Weekly Honor Roll twice this season. Williams was mostly recently named to the honor roll on Oct. 17 after notching a team-best 4.67 kills per set and 4.50 digs per set on the weekend. The outside hitter tallied her first distinction of the season on Oct. 2, following a team-best 5.00 kills per set performance.
Junior libero Kennedy Arundel was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week on August 28, following her performance at the St. John's Invitational. Arundel played in all 12 sets during the invitational, recording a team-high 65 digs and 5.42 digs per set, while picking up three assists and two aces.
