ABILENE, Tex. - Seattle U volleyball opens the 2023 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) schedule in the state of Texas, facing off with Abilene Christian and Tarleton. The Redhawks begin the week with the Wildcats on Thursday at 4 p.m. pacific time in Abilene, Texas, before traveling to Stephenville, Texas, for their contest with the Texans at 11 a.m. pacific time on Saturday. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live stats available.
FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS
The Redhawks finished off the non-conference schedule last weekend at the Patriot Invitational, finishing with a record of 2-1 after victories over George Mason and Albany.
Seattle U came out strong in the first set against George Mason, claiming a commanding 25-16 set win. After dropping the second and third set, the Redhawks battled back to claim the fourth set (25-20) and the fifth set (15-9).
Arianna Bilby posted her sixth double-double of the young campaign with 10 kills and 10 digs, while Merima Smajlovic (eight kills, 15 digs) finished just two kills shy of a double-double of her own.
Marley Hardgrave set new career-highs in kills (10) and points (13.5) to go along with five total blocks (two solo, three assists). Naima Foster (eight kills, three digs) accounted for 9.5 points, while Yasemin Elmas (six kills, four total blocks) notched 8.5 points.
Elif Teksoy continued her strong performances at setter, assisting on 32 points to go along with seven digs, two total blocks and one service ace. Katlyn Sipes (12 digs) continues to play very well at libero, registering double digit digs in all but one contest this season.
After the five set thriller, the Redhawks had another contest with Albany about a half hour following. After starting off slow and dropping the first set, Seattle U rattled off three straight close set wins to make it two wins in a row.
The Redhawks tied their best total block (11) and overall digs (64) performance and set a season-high in block assists (20).
Bilby snatched her seventh double-double of the year, recording 18 kills, 12 digs and scoring 19.5 points. Foster (11 kills) finished in double figure kills for the ninth time this season, while Hardgrave has another strong performance with eight kills and five block assists. Bilby and Hardgrave both hit over .300 in this contest with the former hitting .300 and the latter hitting .353.
Teksoy grabbed her second double-double of the year with 40 assists and 10 digs to go along with five block assists and one kill. Smajlovic logged 13 digs to go along with three block assists, while Sipes finished with 11 kills and Erin Goya grabbed her first double figures match of the year. Elmas finished one block shy of tying her career-high of six total blocks.
After the tournament, Arianna Bilby was named to the All-Tournament team, taking home her third all-tournament honor out of three tournaments this fall.
Bilby ranks first in the WAC in attacks per set (11.12), second in total attacks (456), third in kills per set (3.85), points per set (4.28) and total kills (158) and fifth in points (175.5).
Foster ranks fifth in the WAC in attacks per set (9.78), total attacks (401) and ninth in kills per set (2.93).
Teksoy ranks fourth in the WAC in assists per set (9.12) and total assists (374).
Sipes ranks ninth in the WAC in total digs (143).
The Redhawks are 0-1 all-time against Abilene Christian, dropping the first ever matchup between the two last season.
The Redhawks are 0-3 all-time against Tarleton.
This is Michelle Cole's fourth season at Seattle U and sixth overall as a head coach
The 2023-24 academic year marks the 25th season of SU volleyball since the program was reinstated in 1999. This will be their 16th season as a NCAA Division I member and 12th as part of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
Seattle U added Felipe Nogueira as an assistant coach this offseason. Nogueira spent the past two seasons as the head coach of the Grand View men's volleyball program, receiving the AVCA Thirty Under Thirty award and guiding the Vikings to a 2022 NAIA National Championship and an overall record of 47-11.
COME SUPPORT
Season ticket packages for the upcoming season are on sale now. Season ticket benefits include up to a 40% discount off single game prices, priority access to NCAA Tournament tickets and special offers only available to season ticket holders. For more ticketing information go to Goseattleu.com/tix or call 206.398.4678
Stay connected with Seattle U volleyball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.
FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS
- Thursday, September 21 at 4 p.m. pacific time
- Seattle U (5-6, 0-0 WAC) at Abilene Christian (5-7, 0-0 WAC)
- Abilene, Texas
- Live Stats
- Live Stream
- Saturday, September 23 at 11 a.m. pacific time
- Seattle U at Tarleton (9-5, 0-0 WAC)
- Stephenville, Texas
- Live Stats
- Live Stream
The Redhawks finished off the non-conference schedule last weekend at the Patriot Invitational, finishing with a record of 2-1 after victories over George Mason and Albany.
Seattle U came out strong in the first set against George Mason, claiming a commanding 25-16 set win. After dropping the second and third set, the Redhawks battled back to claim the fourth set (25-20) and the fifth set (15-9).
Arianna Bilby posted her sixth double-double of the young campaign with 10 kills and 10 digs, while Merima Smajlovic (eight kills, 15 digs) finished just two kills shy of a double-double of her own.
Marley Hardgrave set new career-highs in kills (10) and points (13.5) to go along with five total blocks (two solo, three assists). Naima Foster (eight kills, three digs) accounted for 9.5 points, while Yasemin Elmas (six kills, four total blocks) notched 8.5 points.
Elif Teksoy continued her strong performances at setter, assisting on 32 points to go along with seven digs, two total blocks and one service ace. Katlyn Sipes (12 digs) continues to play very well at libero, registering double digit digs in all but one contest this season.
After the five set thriller, the Redhawks had another contest with Albany about a half hour following. After starting off slow and dropping the first set, Seattle U rattled off three straight close set wins to make it two wins in a row.
The Redhawks tied their best total block (11) and overall digs (64) performance and set a season-high in block assists (20).
Bilby snatched her seventh double-double of the year, recording 18 kills, 12 digs and scoring 19.5 points. Foster (11 kills) finished in double figure kills for the ninth time this season, while Hardgrave has another strong performance with eight kills and five block assists. Bilby and Hardgrave both hit over .300 in this contest with the former hitting .300 and the latter hitting .353.
Teksoy grabbed her second double-double of the year with 40 assists and 10 digs to go along with five block assists and one kill. Smajlovic logged 13 digs to go along with three block assists, while Sipes finished with 11 kills and Erin Goya grabbed her first double figures match of the year. Elmas finished one block shy of tying her career-high of six total blocks.
After the tournament, Arianna Bilby was named to the All-Tournament team, taking home her third all-tournament honor out of three tournaments this fall.
Bilby ranks first in the WAC in attacks per set (11.12), second in total attacks (456), third in kills per set (3.85), points per set (4.28) and total kills (158) and fifth in points (175.5).
Foster ranks fifth in the WAC in attacks per set (9.78), total attacks (401) and ninth in kills per set (2.93).
Teksoy ranks fourth in the WAC in assists per set (9.12) and total assists (374).
Sipes ranks ninth in the WAC in total digs (143).
The Redhawks are 0-1 all-time against Abilene Christian, dropping the first ever matchup between the two last season.
The Redhawks are 0-3 all-time against Tarleton.
This is Michelle Cole's fourth season at Seattle U and sixth overall as a head coach
The 2023-24 academic year marks the 25th season of SU volleyball since the program was reinstated in 1999. This will be their 16th season as a NCAA Division I member and 12th as part of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
Seattle U added Felipe Nogueira as an assistant coach this offseason. Nogueira spent the past two seasons as the head coach of the Grand View men's volleyball program, receiving the AVCA Thirty Under Thirty award and guiding the Vikings to a 2022 NAIA National Championship and an overall record of 47-11.
COME SUPPORT
Season ticket packages for the upcoming season are on sale now. Season ticket benefits include up to a 40% discount off single game prices, priority access to NCAA Tournament tickets and special offers only available to season ticket holders. For more ticketing information go to Goseattleu.com/tix or call 206.398.4678
Stay connected with Seattle U volleyball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.