HOME SWEET HOME: After playing its first 15 matches away from home, Seattle University finally opens its home schedule with WAC contests against Grand Canyon and CSU Bakersfield. The Redhawks are one of the hottest teams in the country, winning seven of their last eight matches to improve to 10-5 overall. After opening the weekend against the Antelopes Thursday night, Seattle U will look for a measure of revenge against the Roadrunners, the team that defeated Seattle U in the championship match of last year’s WAC Tournament. Both contests will be available online through the WAC Digital Network (www.wacsports.com/live).
THE PREVIOUS WEEK: For the first time since joining the Western Athletic Conference, Seattle University won its first two conference matches of the season, going on the road and defeating UMKC, 3-2, and Chicago State, 3-1. Against the ‘Roos, the Redhawks improved their five-set record under third-year head coach James Finley to 8-1 as Seattle U rebounded from dropping the first set to win the next two sets, and then once again rallied after losing the fourth set to control the fifth set, 15-9. Jelena Vujcin led the Redhawk offense with 18 kills and a .484 hitting percentage, while Matea Mamic notched a double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs in the first four sets before leaving the match due to injury. Kerry Lane dished out a season-high 56 assists, and Kirstin Schauble led the Redhawk defense with 16 digs. Saturday against Chicago State, Seattle U got off to a slow start, although the Redhawks did rally to win the first set before losing the second set. After the intermission, the Redhawks were on fire, hitting .789 (16-1-19) in the third set while going a perfect 11-for-11 in sideout opportunities. Seattle U continued that momentum into the fourth set to earn the victory. The Redhawks hit .350 as a team Saturday, the 10th-best single-match hitting percentage in program history and sixth-highest against a Division I opponent. Iris Ivanis notched a double-double against Chicago State with 18 kills and 14 digs, while Martina Samadan finished with 16 kills on a .462 hitting percentage along with three service aces and four total blocks.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME: With the Commitment to Equity renovation of the Connolly Center North Court continuing through the fall, the Seattle University athletics department has come to an agreement with Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences for the Redhawk volleyball team to play its home matches at Seattle Academy during the 2015 season. The entrance to the gymnasium at Seattle Academy is located at 1111 13th Avenue near the corner of 13th Avenue and East Spring Street. Parking will be available in the Seattle University visitor lot, accessible by turning into the SU campus on East Marion Street off 12th Avenue. Tickets for all home Seattle U volleyball matches are available by going to the ticketing website at www.GoSeattleU.com/sutickets or by calling the Seattle U Athletics Ticket Office at 206-398-GOSU (4678).