SEATTLE - Seattle University volleyball (3-4) concludes its nonconference slate at the Zags Volleyball Classic hosted by Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash. from September 17-19. The tournament field features North Dakota State, Montana and Gonzaga, with the Redhawks kicking off the weekend against the Zags on Thursday night at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre at 6 PM.
Senior Adee Butler leads the Redhawk offense with 61 kills on the season, ranking top-25 in the WCC in kills. Fellow senior, Teagan Melton, ranks 16th in the conference in kills per set, averaging 2.65 kills through 23 sets of action on the year. Butler ranks in the top-20 alongside Melton, posting 2.44 kills per set in seven matches of play.
Junior Grace Jones cracked 100 assists following SU’s win over Southern Utah. The setter sits 13th in the WCC in assists, while fellow setter, Bella Jones, sits 15th with 82 assists. Bella Jones paces the team averaging 4.1 assists per set through six matches of action.
Guiding the Redhawks from the service line is junior Hailey McEllrath. The middle blocker ranks tied-eighth in the WCC with 12 aces. McEllrath sits fourth in the league with 0.50 aces per set, a mark that also ranks tied-62nd in the nation.
Pacing the team up front is sophomore middle blocker Lexi Jones. Jones leads the team with 33.0 total blocks, a mark that ranks fourth in the WCC. Her seven solo blocks is tied for first in the conference while her 1.32 blocks per set is third in the WCC and 53rd in the nation.
Patrolling the floor is freshman Janae Demant, who leads the team with 91 digs. The libero ranks 13th in the WCC in digs while sitting seventh in digs per set (3.5).
The Redhawks sit third in the conference in aces per set, averaging 1.62 through seven matches this season. Their 18 solo blocks and 2.19 blocks per set ranks second in the WCC.
Seattle U and Gonzaga meet for the 13th time in their shared history dating back to 1982. The two have met eight times since the Redhawks returned to Division I in 2008. The Zags lead the Redhawks in the all-time records 9-3, while recently taking both conference meetings last season in Gonzaga’s final year in the WCC. Seattle U grabbed its first win on Gonzaga’s court in 2010 and pursues its first win over the Zags since 2019.
Friday’s match will be the second of the season between Montana and the Redhawks, after last meeting in Corvallis for the ASICS Invitational. The Grizzlies secured the win in three sets to even the all-time record 3-3. Seattle U is now 1-2 on a neutral floor against Montana. SU and Montana clash at 2:30 PM.
North Dakota State claims the final match of the weekend for SU, the pair meeting for just the second time in program history. NDSU claimed the first meeting in 2023 in four sets. The two meet at 10:30 AM on Saturday.
Streaming is available for Seattle U’s match against Gonzaga. Live stats is available for all three contests.
Following the weekend, the Redhawks return home to host Portland for their conference opener on September 26 for Alumni Day with their sights set on packing the Redhawk Center at 1 PM. Tickets are available for purchase now on goseattleu.com/tix.
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