SEATTLE - Following a three match sweep at the Courtyard by Marriott Seattle U Invitational, the Seattle University volleyball team (5-1) turns its sights to a three match weekend in Edwardsville, Illinois for the SIUE Cougar Classic from September 11 through September 13 at First Community Arena. The Redhawks revisit Air Force (6-0) for their first match of the weekend on Thursday night.
The Redhawks have posted their best start through six matches in their Division I program history, securing their first tournament sweep since 2022 this past weekend. Sophomore Madyn Cervellera took home tournament MVP, while redshirt sophomore Teagan Melton earned a spot on the all-tournament team.
Cervellera leads the Redhawks through six matches, tallying 78 kills to rank tied third in the West Coast Conference, averaging 3.39 a set. On the defensive end, she ranks second on the team with 46 digs, while also accounting for 11.0 blocks so far this season.
Melton’s 56 kills and .351 hitting percentage that ranks fourth in the WCC bolsters the Redhawk offense, providing 2.43 kills a set. The Ohio native has also contributed 14.0 blocks through 23 sets played.
Guiding the offense are sophomore setters Anae Asuncion and Grace Jones. Jones paces the team with 122 assists, averaging 5.30 a set. She’s tallied five aces and 37 digs through all 23 sets played this far. Asuncion follows right behind with 97 assists, averaging 4.41 a set.
Redshirt junior Yasemin Elmas poses a threat on both ends, ranking second on the team with 29.0 blocks while accounting for 46 kills on a .330 hitting percentage. Junior Taniyah Pruitt leads all Redhawks with 31.0 total blocks, including seven solo blocks.
Freshman Katelynn Albano paces the team with 6 digs on the season, averaging 2.96 through all 23 sets. The freshman libero is second on the team in aces with seven. Fellow freshman Petra Fritz leads all Redhawks with 11 aces. Her .48 aces per set ranks fifth in the conference.
As a unit, Seattle U has combined for 283 kills, averaging 12.30 a set, 262 assists, 35 aces and 246 digs through 23 sets played.
Most notably, the Redhawks have combined for 63.0 blocks through two weeks, a mark that ranks first in the WCC. Their 16 solo blocks and 94 block assists all pace the league as they average 2.74 a contest. San Diego and Pepperdine trail with 59.0 and 52.0 total blocks respectively.
Seattle U met Air Force in the finale of the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic in week one, falling to the tournament’s eventual victor, the Falcons in three sets. The Falcons have also won their last three straight matches as the pair converge on the court for the second time this year. The Redhawks still lead the overall series 3-1.
On Friday, SU meets Austin Peay for the first time in program history. The Govs secured their first win of the season against Murray State last weekend, clinching the win in five sets. The win was first for first-year head coach Evan Amstutz.
The Redhawks square off with tournament host SIUE to conclude the weekend, meeting the Cougars for the third time in program history. SIUE leads the series 2-0 dating back to 2008. The pair meet for the first time since 2017. That season the Redhawks made the trip out to Edwardsville, falling to the Cougars in four sets. SIUE plays for the first time at home this season, accumulating a 2-4 record after collecting its first two wins last weekend at the Northern Illinois tournament.
Following the weekend, the Redhawks travel for their final non-conference tournament, taking on both Montana and Eastern Washington at the Eastern Washington Tournament. Seattle U starts conference play, making its WCC debut on Thursday, September 25 on the road at LMU. The Redhawks host Washington State at the Redhawk Center on October 2 for their first WCC home match. Tickets are available for purchase at goseattleu.com/tix.
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