HEADED FOR THE DESERT: After opening the 2010 season with two victories in three matches at home, the Seattle University volleyball team hits the road for the first time, traveling to Tempe, Ariz., for the ASU Sheraton Classic. The Redhawks will face host school Arizona State as well as WAC member Utah State and San Diego State of the Mountain West Conference. That is followed by a Labor Day contest against Oregon, the third straight year a Pac-10 school has come to the Connolly Center for a match.
INVITATIONAL AT SEATTLE: The opening weekend of the season started with a close four-set loss to defending Big Sky regular season champion Portland State. The Redhawks had three opportunities to win the first set, but the Vikings turned back every chance and eventually earned the 28-26 victory. After Portland State took the second set, 25-22, Seattle U again had multiple chances to win the third set, finally converting to force the fourth set before Portland State closed out the match. Cristin Richards led the Seattle U both offensively and defensively with 16 kills and 19 digs. Karina Miastkowska collected 10 kills, four service aces, and three total blocks, while Julia Bonadio, earning the starting nod in her first collegiate match, finished with nine kills and nine defensive digs. The next day, Seattle U came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Eastern Washington in five sets, winning the fifth set 15-13. Richards finished the afternoon with 22 kills, two service aces, and 15 digs, while Bonadio continued to make an immediate impact on the Redhawk program, earning 17 kills and a match-high 21 digs during the contest. Later Saturday evening, Seattle U closed out the weekend by sweeping Mercer University (25-14, 25-18, 25-21). Richards led the way with 20 kills and 15 digs, and Jamie Mellies's 39 assists included her 3,000th career assist, the second player in school history to reach that mark.
SCOUTING ARIZONA STATE: The Sun Devils enter the weekend with a 1-2 record, losing to Western Michigan and Dayton before pulling out a five-set victory over TCU at the University of Dayton Invitational last weekend. Sarah Reeves leads the team with 53 kills, averaging 4.08 kills per set, with Ashley Kastl contributing 34 kills (3.40 kills/set). Cat Highmark has collected 141 assists (10.8 assists/set) so far this season, plus she leads the team with six service aces. Sarah Johnson paces the backline with 70 defensive digs, and Erica Wilson blocked seven attack attempts during the opening weekend.
SCOUTING UTAH STATE: The Aggies bring a 3-0 record into the weekend after winning the Utah Classic in Salt Lake City with victories over UC Davis and Utah, followed by a home victory over Weber State Tuesday. Liz McArthur leads the offense for Utah State, posting 55 kills, 5.5 kills per set, and a .447 hitting percentage. Chelsea Fowles has collected 120 assists, four aces, 24 digs, and six total blocks. McArthur and Josselyn White lead the Aggies with five service aces each, Christine Morrill leads the backline with 45 digs, and Katie Astle and Shantell Durant have earned nine total blocks each.
SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE: The Aztecs won the Aztec Invitational championship after defeating Cal State Northridge, Northern Colorado, and Cincinnati over the weekend. Kyley Sexton leads the team with 39 kills, while Paije Pearson earned Mountain West Conference Player of the Week honors after earning 34 kills and 27 digs. Johnna Fouch has 130 assists so far this season, while Kristi Jackels paces the team with four service aces and 29 digs. Andrea Hannasch leads the team at the net with 12 total blocks, followed by Lauren Salisbury with eight total blocks.
SCOUTING OREGON: The nationally-ranked Ducks moved to 4-0 Wednesday with a sweep of Florida Gulf Coast at Mac Court. Oregon defeated Santa Clara, UC Riverside, and Fresno State last weekend. Heather Meyers leads the team with 49 kills, six service aces, and 10 total blocks, followed by Katherine Fischer with 47 kills, five service aces, and 10 total blocks. Lauren Plum has 139 assists, while Haley Jacob leads the squad in the back with 44 defensive digs.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS: Seattle University will be facing Arizona State and Utah State for the first time ever. Seattle U lost to San Diego State during the 2009 Invitational at Seattle, 3-0. The Redhawks have made two trips to Eugene, Ore., to face the Ducks, losing to the Pac-10 squad in both 2008 and 2009.
MOVING UP CAREER CHARTS: In the career kills list, Cristin Richards moved into seventh place during the team's sweep of Mercer Aug. 28:
5. Libby Graff (2005-08) 775
6. Janeen Fitzgerald (2002-05) 770
7. Cristin Richards (2008-present) 744
8. Nicki Wolfert (1999-01) 739
9. Amelie Krahn (2001-04) 680
In the all-time digs category, senior Emily Deleissegues moved into fifth place with her first dig of the season, with Jamie Mellies moving into ninth place as well:
4. Erika Brunson (2001-04) 1,145
5. Emily Deleissegues (2007-present) 948
6. Lora Burris (2000-03) 918
7. Cassey Hussey (2000-03) 874
8. Nikole Thompson (2004-07) 869
9. Jamie Mellies (2007-present) 729
10. Marissa Vierra (2002-06) 727
Current SeattleU players Jamie Mellies and Janet Beckerman are in the top ten list for total blocks, with Mellies sitting in fifth place and Beckerman advancing into seventh place last weekend:
4. Amelie Krahn (2001-04) 232
5. Jamie Mellies (2007-present) 202
6. Sarah Sommerman (2002-05) 177
7. Janet Beckerman (2007-present) 166
8. Josie Christiansen (2004-07) 158
9. Erika Brunson (2001-04) 149
10. Emily Powell (2006-08) 147
REACHING A MILESTONE: With a kill by Janet Beckerman to make the score 9-6 in Seattle U's favor in the third set of the Aug. 28 match against Mercer, Jamie Mellies picked up her 3,000th career assist, becoming the second player in school history to reach that mark. She joins Erica Brunson, who played from 2001 to 2004, in that exclusive club. Mellies has 3,009 career assists entering the weekend tournament at Arizona State, 895 assists behind Brunson (3,904) on the Seattle U all-time list. With at least 29 matches remaining in the 2010 season, Mellies needs to average 31 assists per match to pass Brunson.
FRESH FACES: Eight newcomers, including seven freshmen, join the Seattle University volleyball program for the 2010 season. Seattle University is tied for 11th among Division I volleyball teams with seven freshmen. Penn State, San Diego State, South Carolina, UMBC, Auburn, and UNLV all have nine freshmen on the 2010 roster.