TEXAS INVASION: For the first time in program history, Seattle University will welcome schools from the state of Texas to the Connolly Center, as the UTSA Roadrunners and the Texas State Bobcats come to town for Western Athletic Conference matches. The Redhawks are coming off two tough road losses last weekend, coming from behind at Utah State and at San Jose State to force a fifth set in each match before falling in both of them. Seattle U has played a program-high five straight five-set matches, which have been very exciting for the fans in attendance but probably tiring for the players on the court.
LIVE STATS/VIDEO: Live stats and live video will be available for both matches over the weekend. Links to all online offerings are available from the volleyball schedule page on GoSeattleU.com.
LAST WEEKEND: Seattle U embarked on its first WAC road trip last weekend, first heading to Logan, Utah, for a contest against the Utah State Aggies. In an extremely competitive match that featured 46 ties and 17 lead changes in the final four sets, the Redhawks came back from a 2-0 deficit and had two match point opportunities in the fifth set, but they could not close out the deal as the Aggies held on for a 3-2 victory (25-23, 27-25, 23-25, 20-25, 20-18). Kaytlyn Dill set a new school single-match record with 31 kills, plus she earned 14 digs for a double-double. Setter Jacquie Brice also notched a double-double with 60 assists and 14 digs, while Lani Beadle led the Redhawks in the back with 22 digs. Saturday night, Seattle U won the first set before dropping the next two sets to fall behind San Jose State, 2-1. The Redhawks won the fourth set to force yet another deciding set, but the Spartans used an 8-0 run midway through the set to buoy them onto a 3-2 victory (16-25, 25-22, 25-22, 16-25, 15-8). Seattle U was on pace to post a season-best hitting percentage before making more attack errors (six) than kills (four) in the fifth set. Dill notched another double-double with 18 kills and 10 digs, while Sarah Jaeckel collected eight of her 11 kills in the fourth set to help Seattle U extend the match. Freshman Andi Lowrance had a solid performance with 10 kills, a .500 hitting percentage, and four block assists.
DOLLAR YOUTH DAY: For Saturday's match against Texas State, all youth in eighth grade and under will be admitted to the Connolly Center North Court for just $1.
SCOUTING UTSA: The Roadrunners come into Thursday's match with a 9-4 overall record, including a 2-1 record within the Western Athletic Conference, good enough for third place in the league standings. UTSA has won three straight matches overall and is 2-1 on the road with victories at Middle Tennessee State and at Houston. As a team, the Roadrunners are hitting .212 and are averaging 13.51 kills, 1.02 service aces, 18.06 digs, and 2.31 blocks per set. UTSA leads the conference in kills, digs, and opponent hitting percentage. McKenzie Adams, the reigning WAC Player of the Week, leads the team with 197 kills, 10 service aces, and 186 digs. Brandy Huskey has been the team's setter, averaging 10.49 assists per set. Annie Kunes is averaging 4.42 digs per set, while Kyle Schott (51 blocks) and Brittney Mallory (49 blocks) lead the team defensively at the net.
SCOUTING TEXAS STATE: The Bobcats enter the weekend with a 6-8 overall record, including a 1-2 WAC record that puts the team in a tie for seventh place in the league standings. Texas State is 2-3 in true road games with wins at Lamar and at SMU. As a team, the Bobcats are hitting .158 and averaging 11.78 kills, 1.22 service aces, 14.46 digs, and 1.82 blocks per set. Alexandra Simms leads the team with 143 kills and is second on the squad with nine service aces, behind Patti Bradshaw and Sierra Smith, who have 10 service aces apiece. The setting suties have been split between Caleigh McCorquodale (290 assists) and Caylin Mahoney (141 assists). McCorquodale is also second on the team with 119 digs behind the 130 digs from Laura Whalen. Molly Aherns (43 blocks) and Ashlee Hilbun (37 blocks lead the team defensively at the net.
SEATTLE U VS. TEXAS SCHOOLS: The Redhawks will face UTSA and Texas State for the first time ever. In fact, Seattle University has encountered a school from Texas only one time previously on the volleyball court. On Nov. 14, 2008, in Rhode Island, Seattle U lost to Houston Baptist in five sets (20-25, 13-25, 25-21, 25-10, 15-13).
CARDIAC HAWKS: Through the first 14 matches of the 2012 season, Seattle University has played six five-set matches, including five in a row coming into this weekend. In five of the six contests, Seattle U was behind, 2-1, and needed to win the fourth set in order to extend the match into a fifth and deciding set. At Utah State Sept. 20, the Redhawks dropped the first two sets and needed to win both the third and fourth sets. The only match in which Seattle U was ahead was the Sept. 13 contest against New Mexico State in which the Redhawks won the first two sets, but the Aggies took the next three for the comeback victory. The program record for most five-set matches in a single season is 11 set in 2002, when Seattle U went 10-1 in matches that went the distance. More recently, the Redhawks went the distance 10 times in 2010 with a 5-5 record, including victories over Gonzaga and Portland as well as losses to Utah State, Oregon, and Oregon State.
CONNOLLY CENTER INFO: Single match tickets for Seattle University volleyball will be available starting 60 minutes before the start of each match. Fans are to enter the Connolly Center through the lobby on 14th Avenue, not through the North Court doors on Cherry nor through the Fitness Center near the corner of 14th and Jefferson. There is an elevator available for use for any patrons needing access to the North Court from the Connolly Center lobby.