BACK IN ACTION: After a 12-day break from competition, Seattle University returns to the court to face Trinity Western University, from Langley, British Columbia, in an exhibition match. The Redhawks will play seven straight road matches in October before returning to the Connolly Center for three matches in early November. While Seattle U is passing the halfway point of its season, Trinity Western is kicking off its competitive schedule with this trip.
AGGIE INVITATIONAL: Coming off a hard-fought five-set victory over Gonzaga that snapped a 10-match losing streak, Seattle U started the Aggie Invitational in Davis, Calif., with a sweep of Air Force (26-24, 25-21, 25-21). The Redhawks posted a .370 hitting percentage, led by Jordan Keller's .909 hitting percentage (10-0-11), tying the single-match school record. Cristin Richards led Seattle U with 15 kills, while Kaytlyn Dill contributed eight kills, three service aces, and five digs. The next day, Seattle U suffered a loss to Hofstra, 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-21, 25-21). Richards again led the way offensively with 21 kills, while DIll notched a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs to go along with three service aces. Keller also collected three service aces to go along with seven kills, and Allison Farley and Karina Miastkowska each earned five total blocks. Megan Augustavo dished out 42 assists, and Allie Hoskins earned a season-high 21 digs. Later that day, host school UC Davis defeated Seattle U, 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-17, 25-17). After a double-double performance of 17 kills and 10 digs, Richards was named to the All-Tournament Team. Augustavo also notched a double-double with 45 assists and 12 digs.
BEATING THE ZAGS: With senior Cristin Richards back in the lineup leading the offense, and contributions from numerous sources, the Seattle University volleyball team defeated Gonzaga, 3-2 (28-26, 21-25, 25-20, 24-26, 15-12) Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the Connolly Center. Richards, seeing her first action since suffering an ankle injury before the start of the Oregon trip, collected 26 kills, the fifth-highest single-match total in program history. She also earned 11 digs, two assists, two service aces, and three block assists, plus she posted a .396 hitting percentage in the match. Jordan Keller contributed nine kills, two service aces, two digs, and six total blocks, Kaytlyn Dill also had nine kills along with eight digs, a service ace, and three total blocks, and Allison Farley posted the fourth-highest block total in a match for Seattle U with 10 total blocks.
SCOUTING TRINITY WESTERN: The Spartans are beginning their 2011-12 season with Thursday's match against the Redhawks. Last year, Trinity Western finished with a 23-9 record and claimed third place at the CIS Championships. Amy Leschied is the team's leading returning offensive player, earning 248 kills last season. Alicia Perrin finished with 209 kills and a team-high 129 total blocks last season, while Nicole Bazin earned 134 kills and 113 total blocks last year.
SEATTLE U VS. TRINITY WESTERN: This will be the third straight year that Seattle U and Trinity Western are facing each other in a match at the Connolly Center. On Oct. 1, 2009, Trinity Western won the first set before Seattle U took the next three sets for a 3-1 victory (20-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-19). Cristin Richards and Kaytlyn Dill each earned double-doubles, with both players picking up 15 kills apiece. Richards collected 12 defensive digs, and Dill contributed 11 digs. Kim Klassen led the Spartans with 11 kills and 11 digs. The next year's meeting was a complete reversal, with the Redhawks winning the first set before the Spartans swept the next three sets for a 3-1 victory (20-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-19). Sarah Jaeckel led the Redhawk offense with 17 kills, while Julia Bonadio contributed 10 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Royale Richardson led the Spartans with 13 kills, with Amy Leschied adding 12 kills and three block assists to the winning effort.
JAECKEL HONORED: Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Jaeckel was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Active Ankle Challenge, hosted by Oregon State over Labor Day weekend. In matches against Loyola Marymount, Cal State Bakersfield, and Oregon State, Jaeckel collected 34 kills and 17 defensive digs. She now leads the Redhawks with 98 kills and is third on the squad with 46 digs and 14 total blocks.
ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Senior Cristin Richards continues to expand her volleyball resume, earning All-Tournament recognition at both the 2011 Seattle U Fall Volley and the UC Davis Aggie Invitational. At the Seattle U Fall Volley, Richards finished the weekend with 51 kills, averaging 4.64 kills per set. She made only eight attack errors in 113 attempts for a .381 hitting percentage, plus she collected 25 defensive digs. At the Aggie Invitational, Richards collected 53 kills, 23 defensive digs, a .315 hitting percentage, and five total blocks.
MILESTONE WATCH: Once Seattle U hits the road, a couple players will be resuming their pursuits of school career records. Senior middle hitter Jordan Keller passed Lizzy Safranski for most career block assists during the UC Davis match. Keller needs just four total blocks and six solo blocks to move past Safranski in those categories. Cristin Richards is now 125 kills away from becoming Seattle U's all-time kills leader, with Sarah Sommerman currently holding the school record with 1,461 career kills. With 208 more attack attempts, Richards will pass Nikole Thompson to become the school's all-time leader in that category. The senior outside hitter is also in the career top-ten lists for service aces, digs, solo blocks, block assists, total blocks, and sets played.
COACHING PURSUIT: Another stat to watch when Seattle U resumes the regular season in October is Shannon Ellis' win total. With 97 career victories, Ellis is three wins away from reaching the 100-win mark for her career. Ellis is currently in her eighth season as head coach at Seattle University, leading the Redhawks to an 18-13 record during the 2010 season, the program's first winning record since making the transition to Division I.
SPEAKING OF THE WAC: Seattle University accepted an invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference starting July 1, 2012. The WAC in 2012-13 will consist of 10 members: Denver, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Seattle U, Texas-Arlington, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State, and Utah State.