ON THE ROAD AGAIN: In what will be the toughest road trip of the 2012 season, Seattle University will leave Wednesday to head to Texas, first facing Texas State on Thursday before matches at UTSA Saturday and at New Mexico State Monday. With just seven matches left in the regular season, the Redhawks need to put together victories to help their chances of moving up in the league standings and qualifying for the WAC Tournament.
LIVE STATS/VIDEO: Live stats, live audio, and live video will be available for the matches at Texas State and at UTSA. The New Mexico State match will feature live stats only. Links to all online offerings are available from the volleyball schedule page on GoSeattleU.com.
LAST WEEKEND: Seattle University lost to both San Jose State (25-18, 26-24, 25-23) and Utah State (25-18, 25-21, 25-19) over the weekend at the Connolly Center. Against San Jose State last Thursday, Kaytlyn Dill was the offense for Seattle U, earning over half of the team's total kills with 20, including nine in the third set. Jacquie Brice compiled 34 assists and seven digs, Sarah Jaeckel contributed five kills, two service aces, and 10 digs, and Lani Beadle continued her solid play in the back with two service aces and a match-high 23 defensive digs. In Saturday's match against Utah State, Dill led the Redhawk offense with 10 kills, while Andi Lowrance contributed eight kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Sarah Jaeckel finished with seven kills and 10 digs, and Beadle led all players with 18 defensive digs as well as two service aces.
SCOUTING TEXAS STATE: The Bobcats enter Thursday's match with an 11-11 overall record. In the WAC, Texas State is currently tied for fourth in the league standings with a 6-5 mark after defeating UTSA in five sets last Saturday. As a team, the Bobcats are hitting .173 and averaging 11.96 kills, 1.24 service aces, 14.38 digs, and 1.92 blocks per set. Alexandra Simms leads the team with 227 kills and 18 service aces. The setting duties have been split between Caleigh McCorquodale (442 assists) and Caylin Mahoney (224 assists). Defensively, Molly Ahrens leads the team at the net with 74 total blocks, while Laura Whalen leads the way in the back with 225 digs. Texas State swept Seattle U in the teams' first meeting Sept. 29 at the Connolly Center, 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 27-25). Simms led the Bobcats with 11 kills, with Ashlee Hilbun contributing eight kills, eight digs, and six total blocks.
SCOUTING UTSA: The Roadrunners enter the week with a 13-8 overall record, including a 6-5 conference mark good enough for a tie for fourth place in the WAC standings. As a team, UTSA is hitting .215 and averaging 13.88 kills, 0.99 service aces, 18.27 digs, and 2.31 blocks per set. McKenzie Adams is first on the team and second in the conference with 4.01 kills per set, totaling 313 kills so far this season. She also leads the team with 14 service aces, is second on the squad with 285 digs, and is third on the team with 47 total blocks. Brandy Huskey is second in the WAC in assists per set with 10.33, plus she has 11 service aces and 216 digs. Kylie Schott is sixth in the conference with 1.08 blocks per set, and Annie Kunes leads the conference in digs per set with 4.73, totaling 317 digs so far this year. UTSA won a tough four-set match over Seattle U Sept. 27 at the Connolly Center (25-20, 23-25, 30-28, 25-23). Adams finished the match with 20 kills and 23 digs, while Kunes contributed four service aces and 22 digs.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE: The Aggies enter the week with a 14-7 overall record and an 8-3 record within the conference to currently sit in a tie for second place. New Mexico State will play at in-state rival New Mexico Tuesday and at travel partner Denver Saturday before hosting the Redhawks. As a team, the Aggies are hitting .223 and averaging 13.12 kills, 1.16 service aces, 13.60 digs, and 2.52 blocks per set. Meredith Hays leads the team and is third in the conference with 4.01 kills per set. Desiree Scott is second in the conference with a .363 hitting percentage and fourth in the league with 1.28 blocks per set. Ciara Brown leads the team with 451 assists, with help from both Taylor Livoti (272 assists) and Maggi Jo Keffury (166 assists). Stephanie Ziegler leads the Aggies with 243 digs. On Sept. 13 at the Connolly Center, New Mexico State rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Seattle U, 3-2 (21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-12). Hays finished with 18 kills and 13 digs, while Scott led everyone with 12 total blocks.