JOURNEY TO THE SOUTH: The Seattle University volleyball team will make its first journey to Louisiana and Texas in program history, closing out the first half of the conference schedule with matches at Louisiana Tech (Thursday, Oct. 11) and at UT Arlington (Saturday, Oct. 13). Currently sitting in ninth place in the league standings, the Redhawks are facing the team currently in tenth place (LA Tech) and the team in a tie for seventh place (UTA), presenting a good opportunity to move up in the standings. After a favorable early WAC schedule, Seattle U will now play seven of the final 11 conference matches away from home.
LIVE STATS/VIDEO: Live stats and live video will be available for both matches, with the live video requiring separate fees for each contest. Links to all online offerings are available from the volleyball schedule page on GoSeattleU.com.
THE IDAHO MATCH: Seattle University rallied from a third-set loss to win the fourth set, pushing its match with Idaho to the deciding fifth set, but the Vandals were able to close out the contest for a 3-2 victory (25-16, 19-25, 25-18, 19-25, 15-13) last Friday night in a Western Athletic Conference match at the Connolly Center. Kaytlyn Dill picked up her fifth straight double-double, and seventh on the season, with 22 kills and 17 digs, while freshman Andi Lowrance collected a season-high 13 kills on a .524 hitting percentage. Jacquie Brice notched her fifth double-double of the season with 55 assists and 14 digs, and Lani Beadle earned a career-high 30 defensive digs to lead all players. Down two sets to one, Seattle U took the lead for good in the fourth set on a kill by Lowrance right before the media timeout, followed by two errors by Idaho. Kills by Sarah Jaeckel and Karina Miastkowska started a 5-0 Redhawk run that extended the lead, and a service error by the Vandals clinched the set for Seattle U, forcing the deciding fifth set. Idaho took an early four-point lead at 7-3 on a block by Alyssa Schultz and Julia Church. After a block by Schultz and Allison Baker put the Vandals ahead, 12-8, Seattle U stormed back, with a kill by Jaeckel, a block from Miastkowska, Lowrance, and Dill, and two kills from Dill pulling the Redhawks into a 13-13 tie. Baker notched a kill to set up match point for Idaho, and an attack error from Seattle U gave the visitors the overall victory.
SCOUTING LOUISIANA TECH: The Lady Techsters come into Thursday's match with a 3-16 overall record, including an 0-7 record within the Western Athletic Conference, sitting in 10th place in the league standings. Louisiana Tech has lost 21 straight conference matches dating back to Nov. 18, 2010. As a team, LA Tech is hitting .131 and averaging 10.32 kills, 0.98 service aces, 14.15 digs, and 1.92 blocks per set. Clara Vido leads the Lady Techsters with 142 kills, plus she is tied with Stephany Salas for the team lead in service aces with 11 apiece. Vido is also third on the squad with 155 digs, behind Salas's 196 digs and Ana Rodrigues with 157 digs. Maria Coelho has been the team's setter this season, collecting 519 assists so far this year. At the net, Coelho and Caitlin Germany each have 43 total blocks to pace the team. This will be the first meeting all-time between Seattle U and Louisiana Tech.
SCOUTING UT ARLINGTON: The Mavericks enter the weekend with a 6-13 overall record, including a 2-5 record in Western Athletic Conference play to currently sit in a tie for seventh place in the league standings. UT Arlington has lost three straight matches entering Thursday's contest against Idaho. As a team, the Mavericks are hitting .171 and averaging 12.07 kills, 1.03 service aces, 15.47 digs, and 1.97 blocks per set. Shelby Dickson leads the team with 186 kills and 255 digs, with Taylor Gross contributing 164 kills on a .255 hitting percentage. Setter Amanda Welsh leads the team with 668 assists and 18 service aces. At the net, Ashley Bennett leads the team with 66 total blocks. Seattle U and UT Arlington are meeting on the volleyball court for the first time ever.