MY PRIVATE IDAHO: The Seattle University volleyball team will play its final three regular season matches on the road, starting with Friday’s match in Moscow, Idaho, against the Vandals. The Redhawks have already clinched their spot in the WAC Tournament, but now positioning is key for them to get the best matchups possible as they head to the postseason tournament in Phoenix.
LAST WEEKEND: Seattle University started last weekend by clinching a spot in the WAC Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Texas-Pan American (25-18, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17) last Thursday. Sarah Jaeckel led the Redhawks with 14 kills, plus she posted a .324 hitting percentage, collected eight digs, and earned three total blocks, including two solo blocks. Iris Ivanis contributed 12 kills and eight digs, Stephanie Stoll earned seven kills without an attack error, and Alec Goodrie came off the bench and added eight kills. Lani Beadle led all players with 15 digs, including the 1,000th dig of her Redhawk career, and McKenzie Daniels added seven digs and three service aces to the winning effort. Saturday, Seattle U fought New Mexico State through the first three sets, but the WAC-leading Aggies dominated the fourth set to take the match, 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-13). Jaeckel again led the Redhawks offensively with a season-high 15 kills, with Ivanis earning 14 kills and three service aces. Martina Samadan collected 10 kills, two service aces, and three total blocks. Defensively, Daniels led the way with 16 digs, followed by Beadle with 13 digs.
WAC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT: Tickets for the 2013 WAC Volleyball Tournament are on sale now at www.gcuarena.com. The tournament will be held Nov. 25-27 at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. All-session tickets are $23. An all-session ticket is general admission seating and gets you admission to all five matches. To purchase tickets, go to www.gcuarena.com. Single session tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 25, at the arena box office. The complete tournament schedule is listed below.
Monday, Nov. 25 (First Round)Match 1 - No. 6 seed vs. No. 3 seed, 5 p.m. MSTMatch 2 - No. 5 seed vs. No. 4 seed, 7:30 p.m. MSTTuesday, Nov. 26 (Semifinals)Match 3 - Winner Match 1 vs. No. 2 seed, 5 p.m. MSTMatch 4 - Winner Match 2 vs. No. 1 seed, 7:30 p.m. MSTWednesday, Nov. 27 (Championship)Match 5 - Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4, 5 p.m. MSTSCOUTING IDAHO: The Vandals enter Friday’s match with a 14-10 overall record, including a 7-5 record in the Western Athletic Conference. Like Seattle U, Idaho split its home matches last weekend, losing to New Mexico State, 3-1, before defeating Texas-Pan American, 3-1. Jessica Hastriter leads the team with 266 kills, while Alyssa Schultz has earned 235 kills, a .370 hitting percentage, and 106 total blocks. Meredith Coba has been the team’s setter throughout the year, averaging 9.98 assists per set, while Michele Brown holds a slight lead in service aces with 22. Jenna Ellis is averaging 4.02 digs per set to lead the Vandals. Saturday will be Idaho’s final home match of the season, as the Vandals wrap up the regular season with road contests at Chicago State, at Kansas City, and at Grand Canyon.
FIRST MEETING: Seattle University dominated the first two sets before Idaho extended the match by winning the third set, but the Redhawks rebounded to finish off the Vandals, 3-1 (25-12, 25-21, 18-25, 25-20), Oct. 11 at the Connolly Center. Iris Ivanis led Seattle U with 21 kills, still a season-high, while Martina Samadan finished with 12 kills in 20 attempts for a .600 hitting percentage. Allison Farley contributed 10 kills as the Redhawks combined for a .309 hitting percentage. Kerry Lane collected 43 assists, six kills, and seven digs, Matea Mamic added seven kills and 15 digs, and Lani Beadle finished with a season-high 23 digs to go along with six assists. Katelyn Peterson and Ali Forde led the Vandals with 12 kills apiece, while Meredith Coba notched a double-double with 35 assists and 10 digs.