CAT (AND HORNET) ATTACK: After opening the season by splitting four matches in Wyoming, the Seattle University volleyball team heads across the state of Washington to Pullman for the Cougar Challenge. The Redhawks will face the Wildcats of Weber State Friday afternoon, followed by a contest against the host Washington State Cougars Friday night. The tournament wraps up for Seattle U Saturday against the Alabama State Lady Hornets. With the extended conference schedule on the horizon, this will be the last in-season tournament for the Redhawks, the first time since 2007 that Seattle U has participated in as few as two in-season tournaments.
LIVE STATS/VIDEO: Live stats will be available for all three matches over the weekend. Links to all online offerings are available from the volleyball schedule page on GoSeattleU.com.
ON THE BENCH: Shannon Ellis will not be with the team in Pullman this weekend. Teron Uy will serve as acting head coach until Ellis returns from her maternity leave later this season.
ISN'T SHE LOVELY?: Seattle U head volleyball coach Shannon Ellis and her husband Brian welcomed Edith Daemera Ellis into the world Monday, August 27, at 3:01 a.m. Edi weighed seven pounds, eight ounces, and measured at 19.25 inches. Both mom and newborn are doing well.
THE WYOMING TOURNAMENT: Seattle U headed to Laramie, Wyo., last weekend for the UniWyo Wyoming Invitational. For the first time since 2006, the Redhawks opened the season with two victories, defeating Presbyterian College and Eastern Washington on the first day of the tournament. Both matches followed the same path: an easy first-set victory, a closer second set that still went Seattle U's way to give the Redhawks a 2-0 lead, the opponent fighting back to win the third set, and a competitive fourth set in which Seattle U pulled through to clinch the match. Sarah Jaeckel led the Redhawk offense in both matches, earning 11 kills agains Presbyterian and 19 kills against the Eagles. Saturday, the Redhawks struggled in the morning match against San Francisco, hitting .000 in a 3-0 loss. After Wyoming took the first two sets in the evening match, Seattle U pulled out a 27-25 victory in the third set and had the lead late in the fourth set before the Cowgirls recovered for the match victory.
ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Redshirt senior Kaytlyn Dill was named to the All-Tournament Team at the UniWyo Wyoming Invitational during the weekend of Aug. 24-25 in Laramie, Wyo. Over the span of four matches, Dill collected 55 kills, six service aces, 34 defensive digs, and five total blocks. She averaged 3.67 kills and 2.27 digs per set. Dill collected 21 kills during the match against Wyoming, the third time in her career that she has earned at least 20 kills in a single match.
WAC INDIVIDUAL STATS: After three matches involving WAC schools this past Tuesday, redshirt senior Kaytlyn Dill finds herself fifth in the conference in kills per set (3.67) and fifth in service aces per set (0.40). Dill is fourth in the conference in points per set (4.23). Junior Sarah Jaeckel is seventh in the league in kills per set (3.50) and eighth in the conference in points per set (3.82). Setter Jacquie Brice is currently sixth in the WAC in assists per set (9.40). Karina Miastkowska is tied for eighth in the league in service aces per set (0.29), just ahead of freshman McKenzie Daniels in 10th place with 0.27 aces per set.
WAC TEAM STATS: As a team, as of Wednesday, Aug. 29, Seattle U is fourth in the WAC in service aces per set (1.27), sixth in kills per set (11.87), tied for sixth in assists per set (10.60), seventh in opponent hitting percentage (.189), ninth in hitting percentage (.118), and tenth in both blocks per set (1.53) and digs per set (10.80).
SCOUTING WEBER STATE: The Wildcats come into the weekend with a 1-2 record after participating in the Utah State Invitational. Weber State defeated Portland in four sets before losing to Utah and Utah State in three sets. The Wildcats are hitting .059 as a team and are averaging 9.6 kills, 0.8 service aces, 8.8 digs, and 2.8 blocks per set. Audrey Biggs leads the team with 25 kills, followed by Rebecca Fuchs with 22 kills. The setting duties have been split between Caitlin Penrod (43 assists) and Whitney Hunt (35 assists). Briana Wilms leads the team with 12 total blocks, and Laurel Bodily paces the squad with 31 defensive digs.
SEATTLE U VS. WEBER STATE: The Redhawks and the Wildcats have met twice previously, with Weber State winning both meetings. On Nov. 1, 2008, in Ogden, Utah, Seattle U won the first set before Weber State took the next three sets for a 3-1 victory. Kaytlyn Dill was a freshman for the Redhawks in 2008 and finished with nine kills, six digs, and three total blocks. Seattle U went back to Ogden Oct. 17, 2009, and was swept by the Wildcats, 3-0. Dill led the Redhawks with 13 kills, Kelly Biette finished with four total blocks, and Karina Miastkowska contributed five kills.
SCOUTING WASHINGTON STATE: The Cougars are also 1-2 entering the weekend, defeating Montana before losing to Pacific and Idaho at the Idaho Nike Invitational in Moscow, Idaho. As a team, Washington State is hitting .153 and averaging 12.64 kills, 1.27 aces, 16.91 digs, and 2.23 blocks per set. Jaicee Harris leads the team with 51 kills and is second on the squad with eight total blocks as well as third on the team with 30 digs. Marcelina Glab leads the team with 14 total blocks and is one of three players with three service aces. Setter Camryn Irwin also has three aces to go along with 106 assists, and Kate Sommer is the third Cougar with three service aces, plus she leads the team with 51 digs.
SEATTLE U VS. WASHINGTON STATE: If this third meeting is anything like the first two meeting between the in-state rivals, Friday night should be exciting. On Aug. 30, 2008, at the Boise State Bronco Invitational, the two teams split the first two sets before Washington State won the third set, 25-9. Seattle U recovered to win the fourth set, 25-20, but the Cougars pulled out the match with a 15-12 fifth set victory. In just the second match of her collegiate career, Kaytlyn Dill collected 11 kills. Last season at the Connolly Center in Seattle, the Cougars participated in the SU Fall Volley, with the two teams meeting on Aug. 27. Again, the teams split the first two sets, but this time it was Seattle U taking control, winning the third set and going ahead 23-18 in the fourth set. The Cougars fought back to win the fourth set, 26-24, before clinching the match with a 15-12 victory in the fifth set. Dill and Sarah Jaeckel each earned 14 kills to pace the Redhawk offense.
SCOUTING ALABAMA STATE: The Lady Hornets hosted the ISTAP Collegiate Cup last weekend, but could not find any success, losing all four matches over the weekend. Alabama State posted a .093 hitting percentage as a team and averaged 9.29 kills, 1.14 service aces, 9.79 digs, and 0.86 blocks per set. Rachel Smith leads the team with 36 kills and is second on the squad with 31 defensive digs. Brooke Beasley is the team's setter, leading the way with 100 assists as well as six service aces. Amber Bennett, second on the team with 24 kills and five service aces, leads the team at the net with 10 total blocks, while Luiz Griz is the team leader in digs with 51 so far this season. This will be the first meeting all-time between Seattle U and Alabama State. In fact, it is the first time Seattle U will face any member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference on the volleyball court.
QUICK FACTS: Jacquie Brice notched her first career double-double in the Aug. 24 victory over Presbyterian, collecting 36 assists and 13 digs ... Freshmen McKenzie Daniels and Rachel Seals made their collegiate debuts during the UniWyo Wyoming Invitational ... Seattle University won its first two matches of the season for only the third time in program history, previously accomplishing the feat in 2002 and 2006 ... The Redhawks are now 4-1 against Eastern Washington all-time after defeating the Eagles Aug. 24.