LAST CALL: After a split of last weekend’s road matches, Seattle University finds itself in a virtual tie for third place in the WAC standings, but the Redhawks are still within striking distance of second place and the WAC Tournament bye that goes along with it. Seattle U welcomes UMKC, the current leader in the WAC, Thursday evening before celebrating Senior Day against Chicago State Saturday afternoon.
LAST WEEK: Seattle University split its weekend road trip to the Southwest, losing to New Mexico State 3-1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-19, 25-20) before defeating UT Pan American in straight sets (25-20, 25-21, 25-20). Against the Aggies, Matea Mamic led Seattle U with 13 kills, while Martina Samadan earned nine kills, a .474 hitting percentage, and four total blocks. Mary Orbeta played libero Thursday night and led Seattle U with 11 digs. Saturday morning before its match, the Redhawk volleyball team cheered on the cross country teams at the WAC Cross Country Championships being hosted by UTPA. A few hours later, Mamic collected a career-high 17 kills, hitting .371 in the match, plus she tied for the team lead with eight digs. Sydney Schafer, making the first start of her collegiate career, also earned eight digs as the Redhawks held the Broncs to a .060 hitting percentage.
WAC DIGITAL NETWORK: Saturday’s match against Chicago State is scheduled to be broadcast live online by the WAC Digital Network. To access the live stream, visit this website: http://www.vistaworldlink.com/WACdigitalnetwork/.
SENIOR DAY: Before Saturday’s match, seniors Alec Goodrie and Stephanie Stoll will be honored in Senior Day ceremonies. Goodrie has been a consistent member of the team over the past four years, starting in her freshman season of 2011 when she earned 87 kills and 38 blocks. Last season, Goodrie finished with 137 kills and 64 total blocks. Stoll, a transfer from the University of Tennessee, has been a force at the net over the past two seasons, collecting 240 kills and 185 total blocks for the Redhawks. Both players are on track to graduate in June: Goodrie in sport and exercise science and Stoll in nursing.
SCOUTING MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY: The Kangaroos come into Thursday’s match with a 21-4 overall record, including a 9-1 record within the league that has UMKC at the top of the WAC standings. UMKC saw its 17-match winning streak snapped by Grand Canyon as the Antelopes won a five-set thriller Saturday night, 16-14 in the fifth set. As a team, the Kangaroos are hitting .227 and averaging 13.65 kills, 1.38 service aces, 17.95 digs (fourth in Division I), and 2.49 blocks per set. UMKC runs a balanced offense, with five players averaging at least 1.8 kills per set. Jessica Hendin leads the team with 287 kills and 33 service aces, plus she has 307 digs. Sydney Crimmins has contributed 264 kills, 309 defensive digs, and 80 total blocks. The setting duties have been split between Kaylyn Brandt (625 assists) and Nicole Wemhoff (497 assists). Defensively, Melissa Hartsel leads the team with 117 total blocks, followed by Emma Hagedorn with 113 total blocks, and Taryn Miller is tops on the team and fourth in the country with 5.79 digs per set, totaling 585 defensive digs.
EARLIER THIS SEASON: UMKC defeated Seattle U on Oct. 11 at the Swinney Recreation Center in Kansas City, 3-1 (25-17, 14-25, 25-19, 25-17). After the Kangaroos won the first set, the Redhawks used a 17-4 scoring run to pull away with the second set and tie the match. However, UMKC was able to settle down and close out the match by winning the final two sets. Matea Mamic led Seattle U with 15 kills and a .448 hitting percentage, while Iris Ivanis notched a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. Sydney Crimmins earned her own double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs, while Emma Hagedorn also had 13 kills and Taryn Miller led all players with 17 digs.
SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE: The Cougars enter the weekend on a 12-match overall losing streak, posting a 6-20 record in all matches and an 0-10 record in WAC contests. As a team, Chicago State is hitting .127 and averaging 10.55 kills, 1.46 service aces, 12.44 digs, and 1.85 blocks per set. Elli Woinowsky leads the team offensively, averaging 2.71 kills and 0.40 service aces per set. Sarah Metcalfe is averaging 7.37 assists and 0.27 service aces per set. Defensively, Essence Jackson-Jones leads the team at the net with 1.12 blocks per set, and Julia Menhart is tops on the team with 3.92 digs per set.
EARLIER THIS SEASON: Seattle U defeated Chicago State in four sets on Oct. 9 in Chicago (26-24, 25-14, 18-25, 25-17). Iris Ivanis led the team with a season-high 20 kills, plus she hit .421 and earned two service aces, six digs, and five total blocks. Kerry Lane notched a double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs. Elli Woinowsky led Chicago State with 15 kills, and Julia Menhart led all players in the match with 15 defensive digs.