WELCOME TO SEATTLE: After opening the season in New Mexico, the Seattle University volleyball team will spend the next two weeks at home, starting this weekend with the Redhawk Invitational. The Redhawks will face Pacific, Lafayette, and Oregon State on three straight nights.
REDHAWK INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE:Thursday, September 4Pacific at Seattle U - 7:00 p.m. PDT Friday, September 5Pacific vs. Oregon State - 4:00 p.m. PDTLafayette at Seattle U - 7:00 p.m. PDT Saturday, September 6Oregon State vs. Lafayette - 10:00 a.m. PDTLafayette vs. Pacific - 3:00 p.m. PDTOregon State at Seattle U - 7:00 p.m. PDTTHE LOBO CLASSIC: Seattle U headed to Albuquerque, N.M., for the Lobo Classic, hosted by the University of New Mexico at the Johnson Center. The Redhawks opened the tournament and the regular season against the host Lobos and did not play well, earning as many attack errors as kills in a 3-0 loss (25-18, 25-19, 25-15). Matea Mamic led Seattle U with 11 kills and two service aces, while Martina Samadan finished with six kills and five total blocks. Just a couple of hours later, the Redhawks fought through a tough first set and then improved as the match went along, sweeping UTEP 3-0 (28-26, 25-23, 25-17). Mamic collected 14 kills, two service aces, six digs, and three block assists, while Samadan finished with 11 kills, a .556 hitting percentage, and five blocks. Kerry Lane dished out 36 assists, and freshman libero Shelby Babcock earned 18 defensive digs. The next day, Seattle U played well against nationally-ranked Texas, but the Longhorns had too much firepower, defeating the Redhawks 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-15). Mamic earned eight kills, while Alec Goodrie contributed six kills and three block assists. Mamic was named to the All-Tournament Team after collecting 33 kills, five service aces, 12 digs, and five total blocks.
REDHAWK SPORTS PASS: For just $50, the Redhawk Sports Pass will serve as a general admission ticket for volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s basketball, and baseball. Visit the ticket page on GoSeattleU.com or call 206-398-GOSU (4678) for more information.
SCOUTING PACIFIC: The Tigers come into the weekend with a 2-1 record after defeating Arkansas-Little Rock and Rider at its home tournament last weekend. Pacific took nationally-ranked USC to five sets Saturday before losing 15-10 in the deciding set. As a team, Pacific is hitting .233 so far this season and averaging 11.82 kills, 1.64 service aces, 15.18 digs, and 3.18 blocks per set. Lexi Elman leads the Tigers with 41 total kills, followed by Kat Schulz with 22 kills. The setting duties have been split between Andie Shelton (59 assists) and Kimmy Whitson (50 assists). Defensively, Gillian Howard (17 blocks), and Alicja Wilk (16 blocks) have been forces at the net for Pacific, while Katrin Gotterba leads the way in the back with 48 digs. This will be the second meeting all-time between Seattle U and Pacific. The Tigers defeated the Redhawks in three sets (25-13, 29-27, 25-12) on Nov. 25, 2011, in Stockton, Calif.
SCOUTING LAFAYETTE: The Leopards come into the weekend with a 1-3 record after losing three of four matches at a tournament hosted by Hofstra University, with the only victory coming in four sets against Saint Francis (NY). Lafayette had a chance to take its opening match against Quinnipiac, but could not hold onto a 2-0 match lead. As a team, the Leopards are hitting .048 and averaging 7.62 kills, 2.06 service aces, 10.31 digs, and 1.38 blocks per set. Jet Manzi leads the team with 37 total kills, plus she has 45 digs, five service aces, and six total blocks. Tori Smith has been the team’s setter so far this season, collecting 100 assists, plus she is one of three players leading the team with seven service aces apiece. Kelly Flynn leads the team at the net with 17 total blocks, while Lauren Pisauro paces the squad in the back with 56 defensive digs. This is the first meeting all-time between Seattle U and Lafayette College, a member of the Patriot League based in Easton, Pa.
SCOUTING OREGON STATE: The Beavers enter the weekend with a 3-0 record after winning all three matches over the weekend in Logan, Utah, including a five-set victory over host school Utah State. As a team, Oregon State has combined for a .308 hitting percentage and is averaging 13.64 kills, 0.73 service aces, 13.45 digs, and 2.95 blocks per set. Mary-Kate Marshall leads the team with 51 total kills and has posted a .322 hitting percentage. Tayla Woods leads the team with 89 assists so far this season, while Darby Reeder leads the way with four service aces and 46 defensive digs. At the net, Arica Nassar has accumulated 17 total blocks. Oregon State leads the all-time series over the Redhawks, 4-0. On Sept. 15, 2010, at the Connolly Center, Seattle U rallied from a 2-0 match deficit to force a fifth set before Oregon State pulled out the 3-2 victory by winning the deciding set, 15-10.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: As of Sept. 1, Matea Mamic is third in the WAC in both kills per set (3.67) and points per set (4.50), plus she is tied for third in service aces per set (0.56). Martina Samadan is fourth in the league in blocks per set (1.22) and 10th in the WAC in hitting percentage (.244), while Kerry Lane is third in the league in assists per set (9.00).
ACCESS TO THIS WEEKEND’S MATCHES: All of the matches in the Redhawk Invitational this weekend will feature live stats and live video on GoSeattleU.com.
SERVING BREAKFAST AND INSPIRATION: Before the Aug. 30 match against Texas, the volleyball team headed to Tim’s Place in Albuquerque for breakfast and inspiration. The restaurant is owned by Tim Harris, a young man who has competed in numerous Special Olympics competitions throughout New Mexico, winning dozens of gold medals. Tim is a national spokesperson for Special Olympics, speaking on behalf of the organization in Seattle during its annual fundraising breakfast this past May. Finley attended the Special Olympics breakfast and was moved by Tim’s story, and when he found out about the restaurant and committed to Seattle U’s participation in the Lobo Classic, he made sure that the team would eat at Tim’s Place and meet "Tim the Man". As advertised, Tim was a gracious and welcoming host, and the team gave Tim a group hug after their meal.