Volleyball at Temple (L 3-0)/UConn (W 3-2)

Young team is really showing some momentum lately and is currently tied for 6th. Let’s see if they can finally get a road win this year (0-6 so far). Houston is up to 195th in the RPI; Temple is 76th while UCONN is 176th.

http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/102517aac.html

Temple
• The Owls enter Friday with an 8-2 conference record and 12-6 overall mark.
• Temple ranks second in The American in hitting percentage (.247), kills per set (13.78), assists per set (12.90) and blocks per set (2.43).
• Senior Kyra Coundourides ranks second in The American in assists per set (10.02). Seniors Janine Simmons (1.16) and Izzy Rapacz (1.08) rank fourth and sixth in the league in blocks per set, while Rapacz also ranks sixth in kills per set (3.55). Junior Mia Heirakuji ranks eighth in the league in digs per set (4.09).
• The Owls claimed a 3-2 win over the Cougars in Houston on Oct. 1.
• Temple is under the direction of seventh-year Head Coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam.
• The Owls were picked third in The American Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

UConn
• The Huskies, who host Tulane on Friday, are 3-7 in league play and 10-12 overall on the season.
• Sophomore Kayla Williams leads The American in aces per set (0.53) and ranks second in kills per set (4.01), while Junior Emma Turner ranks fourth in assists per set (9.87). Junior Kennedy Arundel leads the team in digs per set (3.78), while redshirt freshman Genna Florig holds the top mark in blocks per set (0.83).
• Houston swept UConn on Sept. 29 for its first conference win of 2017.
• Head Coach Kris Grunwald is in his fourth season at the helm of the Huskies and sixth overall as a head coach.
• UConn was tabbed seventh in The American Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/102717aao.html

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Senior setter Keandra McCardell recorded her third double-double of the season and 32nd of her career in a 14-assist, 10-dig effort.
• Freshman setter Abby Irvine finished with a team-high 17 assists.
• Senior outside hitter Brianna Lynch led Houston with 11 kills, her 10th time to lead the team on the season.
• Senior outsider hitter Sarah Afflerbaugh tallied eight kills and 10 digs.
• Defensively, sophomore libero Katie Karbo recorded a match-high 18 digs, her 14th time to lead all players in digs on the season.
• Temple outhit the Cougars, .278-.184.

They did it! They finally got that road win! Nice job, ladies.

http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/102917aaa.html

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Afflerbaugh recorded her sixth double-double of the season and 13th of her career with a 15-kill, season-high 18-dig effort. Afflerbaugh’s 15 kills also tied her season high. She added two service aces.
• Freshman setter Abby Irvine recorded her team-leading seventh double-double of the season with a 27-assist, 15-dig effort.
• Sophomore outside hitter Megan Duncan led all with 16 kills, her 10th time to lead the team on the season.
• Senior middle blocker Brianna Gardner and freshman outside hitter Silvia Pertens finished with eight kills and three blocks (all assisted), respectively. Duncan (two solo, one assisted) and redshirt junior middle blocker Chenelle Walker (all assisted) also finished with three blocks, while Gardner led the team with three service aces.
• Defensively, sophomore libero Katie Karbo recorded a match-high 23 digs, her 15th time to lead all players in digs on the season.
• Senior setter Keandra McCardell finished with 14 assists and five digs.
• Redshirt freshman defensive specialist Kylie Napoleon finished with 10 digs.
• The victory was Houston’s first in a five-set match in 2017.