SCOUTING THE OPPONENT UConn • The Huskies enter Friday with a 1-1 conference record and 8-6 overall mark. • UConn defeated Memphis, 3-1, before falling 3-0 to No. 24 Wichita State last week. • Sophomore Kayla Williams leads The American and is seventh in the nation in assists per set (0.53), also ranking sixth in the conference in kills per set (3.47). Senior Tosin Adeniyi ranks third in the league in hitting percentage (.371), while junior Emma Turner ranks third in assists per set (9.63). • 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.
Temple • The Owls, who visit Tulane on Friday, are 1-1 in league play and 5-5 overall on the season. • Temple fell 3-1 against Wichita State to open conference before sweeping Memphis last week. • The Owls lead The American and rank 16th in the nation in blocks per set (2.87). • Seniors Izzy Rapacz (1.34) and Janine Simmons (1.32), and junior Iva Deak (1.25) lead the league in blocks, while Deak also ranks sixth in hitting percentage (.323). • Temple is under the direction of seventh-year Head Coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam. • Temple was picked third in The American Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Holy crap!!! Talk about unexpected. Maybe this team is putting it together and about to go on a run. They’re looking good, just needed to learn how to finish.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE • Duncan led Houston with 15 kills, her fourth time to lead the team on the season with all coming in the last five matches. She (two solo, two assisted) and senior middle blocker Brianna Gardner (one solo, three assisted) also recorded four blocks apiece. • Cougars Chenelle Walker and Pertens each finished with six kills. Walker also led the team with five blocks (three solo, two assisted). • Freshman setter Abby Irvine recorded 17 assists and eight digs, while senior setter Keandra McCardell finished with seven assists and seven digs, respectively. • Defensively, libero Katie Karbo recorded a team-best 12 digs. • The Cougars recorded 11 blocks as a team, tying for their second most on the season and most in conference play. • Houston outhit UConn, .206-.158.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE • Senior setter Keandra McCardell posted her first double-double of the season and 30th of her career with a 25-assist, 12 dig effort. With 25 assists, she also moved into sixth all-time at Houston with 2,840 career assists, passing Donna Sellen (2,822; 1999-2002). • Duncan led Houston with a season-high 16 kills, her fifth time to lead the team on the season with all coming in the last six matches. • Freshman outside hitter Silvia Pertens (career high) and redshirt junior middle blocker Chenelle Walker (season high) recorded 13 kills apiece. Walker added three blocks (one solo, two assisted). • Senior outside hitter Brianna Lynch finished with 11 kills. • Senior outside hitter Sarah Afflerbaugh finished with 11 digs and seven kills, while Gardner tallied nine kills and a team-best four blocks and two service aces. • Freshman setter Abby Irvine recorded 32 assists and seven digs. • Defensively, libero Katie Karbo recorded a match-high 22 digs, her ninth time to lead all players in digs on the season. • The Cougars recorded seven blocks as a team. • Despite being outhit .259-.240, Houston out-killed Temple, 71-64.
