THE STRETCH DRIVE: The second half of the conference schedule begins this weekend, and Seattle U’s slate is favorable, with five of the seven matches at home for the Redhawks. Seattle U swept the weekend the first time it faced Chicago State and Missouri-Kansas City this season, but neither match was easy, and the Redhawks should expect two hard-fought contests in the rematches.
THE PREVIOUS WEEK: Seattle U closed out the first half of the conference season with a split of its matches over the weekend. Thursday night, the Redhawks controlled the vast majority of their match against UTRGV, eventually winning the match 3-1 (25-12, 25-16, 23-25, 25-11). In the three sets the Redhawks won, they hit .321, dominating the Vaqueros in kills (47-31) and team blocks (12-3). Seattle U also collected 14 service aces, the most against a Division I program and the most in any match in eight years. Martina Samadan led the Redhawks with 12 kills and nine total blocks, while Jelena Vujcin tied the single match record for service aces with eight to go along with her first double-double of the season, earning 11 kills and 10 digs. Playing as the libero, Iris Ivanis set a new career high with 17 digs. Saturday, the Redhawks took a 2-1 lead over WAC-leading New Mexico State, but the Aggies rallied for a 3-2 victory (25-23, 22-25, 14-25, 25-18, 15-13). Samadan again led the way with 19 kills and a .405 hitting percentage, while Matea Mamic collected 17 kills, six digs, and four block assists. Vujcin contributed 16 kills, three service aces, six digs, and four total blocks, and Ivanis once again posted a new career high with 18 defensive digs.
NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS: As of Oct. 19, Seattle U is fifth in the country in aces per set (1.90) and 50th in blocks per set (2.47). Individually, Jelena Vujcin is now second in the country in service aces per set (0.61), while Martina Samadan is now ninth in Division I in hitting percentage (.435). Vujcin’s eight aces against UTRGV are tied for second in Division I in a four-set match and tied for third in all matches.
PLAYING FOR A CAUSE: The home match against Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday, Oct. 24, has been designated as the annual Dig Pink match, as the Redhawks join the fight against breast cancer. All donations will go to the Side-Out Foundation, an organization designed to help people with breast cancer regain control of their lives, similar to a side-out in volleyball allowing a team to regain control of the ball. More information about the organization can be found online at www.side-out.org. To make a donation before the Oct. 24 match, go to this website: https://www.side-out.org/cb/campaigns/campaign/10835. All fans attending the match against UMKC are encouraged to wear pink.