BACK IN A FAMILIAR PLACE: After five consecutive matches away from home that spanned over two weeks, Seattle University returns to the Connolly Center for its first conference home matches of the 2014 season. The Redhawks will face Texas-Pan American Thursday, a match that has been designated as a RedOut, with the first 100 students through the door receiving free T-shirts. Saturday, preseason conference favorite New Mexico State comes to town on Jersey Day, as all children 12 and under wearing their youth jersey receives free admission to the match. This is a key stretch for the Redhawks, as five of their next seven matches take place in front of the home crowd.
LAST WEEK: Seattle University went 0-2 over the past week, first losing to #13 Oregon in three sets (25-13, 25-13, 25-21) before dropping a heartbreaker to Utah Valley in the WAC opener Saturday, 3-2 (26-24, 21-25, 28-26, 20-25, 15-12). Neither Martina Samadan nor Matea Mamic played against the Ducks due to injury, leaving Iris Ivanis to lead the Redhawks with eight kills and nine digs. Stephanie Stoll also had a solid match with five kills and five total blocks. The Redhawks were at full strength against the Wolverines, but 19 service errors, five block errors, and three ball-handling errors led to too many free points for Utah Valley, as Seattle U earned more kills than its opponent (61-55). The Redhawks lost a five-set match for the first time since Oct. 5, 2012, having won seven five-set matches in a row, including two against Utah Valley last season. Ivanis notched her second double-double of the season with 17 kills and 13 digs, plus she earned three service aces and four total blocks. Mamic finished with 15 kills, two service aces, eight digs, and three block assists, and Samadan contributed 12 kills and six total blocks. Stoll added nine kills and seven total blocks to the Redhawk effort, while libero Shelby Babcock tied Ivanis with 13 defensive digs.
ACCESS TO THIS WEEKEND’S MATCHES: Links to live video and live stats of both matches this week will be available on the volleyball schedule page of GoSeattleU.com.
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 TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN: The Broncs enter the weekend with a 3-12 overall record, including a 1-1 conference record after losing to Bakersfield and defeating Grand Canyon at home last weekend. As a team, UTPA is hitting .155 and averaging 11.98 kills, 1.18 service aces, 15.51 digs, and 2.11 blocks per set. Haley Durham leads the team with 151 kills and 59 total blocks, while current WAC Player of the Week Alisha Watson has 122 kills along with a team-high 15 service aces. Mary Kate Clark had been the team’s primary setter for most of the season, averaging 8.12 assists per set, but Maisy Munson received the start against Grand Canyon and is averaging 4.57 assists per set. Macey Singleton leads the Broncs with 137 defensive digs.
SEATTLE U VS. TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN: These teams first met as conference rivals last season, with Seattle U sweeping the season series over UTPA. On Oct. 4, 2013, in Edinburg, Texas, the Redhawks won the first two sets, dropped the third set, and rebounded to win the fourth set and the match, 3-1 (28-26, 25-21, 18-25, 25-21). Iris Ivanis notched a double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs, Stephanie Stoll earned 11 kills, and Lani Beadle collected 22 digs. Back at the Connolly Center on Halloween night, the two teams split the first two sets before the Redhawks won sets three and four for another 3-1 victory (25-18, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17). Sarah Jaeckel led Seattle U with 14 kills, plus she earned eight digs and three blocks, while Beadle finished with 15 digs.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE: The Aggies have rebounded from a slow start to the season, winning five matches in a row for an 8-5 overall record, including a 2-0 mark in the WAC after wins over Bakersfield and Grand Canyon. As a team, New Mexico State is hitting .194 and averaging 13.13 kills, 1.24 service aces, 16.11 digs, and 2.73 blocks per set. Bradley Nash leads the team with 111 kills, plus she is tied for the team lead with nine service aces and third on the squad with 99 digs. Taylor Livoti has been one of the team’s setters throughout the season (6.44 assists/set), with Nathalie Castellanos taking over as the second setter (3.03 assists/set). Defensively, Gwen Murphy leads the team in total blocks with 51, including 15 solo blocks, and Hannah Walker leads the way with 206 digs.
SEATTLE U VS. NEW MEXICO STATE: This is the fifth meeting between Seattle U and New Mexico State, with the Aggies winning all four previous contests. Last season in Las Cruces, N.M., Seattle U won the first set, but the Aggies rallied to win the next three sets and the match, 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-14, 25-21). Matea Mamic notched a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs. In the rematch in Seattle, the teams split the first two sets, but New Mexico State won a tight third set and used that momentum to complete the 3-1 victory (23-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-13).