Volleyball: WVU Hosts Syracuse and Marquette
October 28, 2011 01:57 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The West Virginia volleyball team is set to continue BIG EAST competition as it plays host to Syracuse and Marquette this weekend.
The Mountaineers will face the Orange, Saturday, at 2 p.m., and will return to action, Sunday, to take on the Golden Eagles at 2 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum. The match against Syracuse on Saturday is a designated “Dollar Day,” with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Cola products available for one dollar each. WVU will also host a free Kids’ Clinic following its match against Marquette on Sunday for all kids eighth grade and younger.
WVU is now 5-15, 3-6 on the season after going 0-2 last weekend at Louisville and Cincinnati. The Mountaineers took a set from the Cardinals for the first time since 2006 and were swept by the Bearcats.
Junior outside hitter Anke de Jong led the team with 23 kills, 3.29 kills per set and a .241 hitting percentage. The Netherlands native had a season- and career-high 16 kills against Louisville.
Recording 22 kills, senior Michelle Kopecky also had a strong weekend. The Schaumburg, Ill., native tied her season-high in service aces with five against Louisville. Kopecky also had a career-high hitting percentage of .409 with 10 kills on 22 swings and only one error.
“We have had a good week of practice leading up to this weekend’s matches,” coach Jill Kramer says. “We made a lot of improvements in our matches against Louisville and Cincinnati. Anke (de Jong) has really become a bigger part of the offense and Michelle (Kopecky) and Kylie (Armbruster) are both really starting to hit some great shots and they are getting into a good rhythm.
“Marquette is a great team, they are the only undefeated team left in the BIG EAST and we are looking forward to playing them. Syracuse has a pretty balanced attack and both teams play good volleyball. It is an opportunity for fans to come out and watch two great volleyball matches because there are only three more opportunities to watch us compete at home this season. We are excited to have two more opportunities to get us to our goal of making the BIG EAST tournament.”
Syracuse improved its record to 16-8, 5-3 after defeating Seton Hall and Rutgers last weekend. Led by preseason all-BIG EAST team selection Noemi Lefebvre, Syracuse is ranked No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the BIG EAST with 2.99 blocks per set. Lefebvre and middle blocker Sam Hinz have been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice this year.
The Mountaineers hold a 13-12 advantage over the Orange despite falling 3-2 last year in Syracuse, N.Y.
The Golden Eagles had two come-from-behind five-set victories last weekend to remain 8-0 in BIG EAST play and 18-6 on the season. Marquette also clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament with the two wins. Senior Ciara Jones and preseason all-BIG EAST team selection Ashley Beyer lead Marquette with a combined 607 kills and 3.62 and 3.24 kills per set, respectively.
The all-time series record is tied 4-4 after the Golden Eagles swept the Mountaineers 3-0 last year in Milwaukee, Wis.
For live stats and video streaming of this weekend’s matches, visit www.MSNsportsNET.com.
The Mountaineers will face the Orange, Saturday, at 2 p.m., and will return to action, Sunday, to take on the Golden Eagles at 2 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum. The match against Syracuse on Saturday is a designated “Dollar Day,” with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Cola products available for one dollar each. WVU will also host a free Kids’ Clinic following its match against Marquette on Sunday for all kids eighth grade and younger.
WVU is now 5-15, 3-6 on the season after going 0-2 last weekend at Louisville and Cincinnati. The Mountaineers took a set from the Cardinals for the first time since 2006 and were swept by the Bearcats.
Junior outside hitter Anke de Jong led the team with 23 kills, 3.29 kills per set and a .241 hitting percentage. The Netherlands native had a season- and career-high 16 kills against Louisville.
Recording 22 kills, senior Michelle Kopecky also had a strong weekend. The Schaumburg, Ill., native tied her season-high in service aces with five against Louisville. Kopecky also had a career-high hitting percentage of .409 with 10 kills on 22 swings and only one error.
“We have had a good week of practice leading up to this weekend’s matches,” coach Jill Kramer says. “We made a lot of improvements in our matches against Louisville and Cincinnati. Anke (de Jong) has really become a bigger part of the offense and Michelle (Kopecky) and Kylie (Armbruster) are both really starting to hit some great shots and they are getting into a good rhythm.
“Marquette is a great team, they are the only undefeated team left in the BIG EAST and we are looking forward to playing them. Syracuse has a pretty balanced attack and both teams play good volleyball. It is an opportunity for fans to come out and watch two great volleyball matches because there are only three more opportunities to watch us compete at home this season. We are excited to have two more opportunities to get us to our goal of making the BIG EAST tournament.”
Syracuse improved its record to 16-8, 5-3 after defeating Seton Hall and Rutgers last weekend. Led by preseason all-BIG EAST team selection Noemi Lefebvre, Syracuse is ranked No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the BIG EAST with 2.99 blocks per set. Lefebvre and middle blocker Sam Hinz have been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice this year.
The Mountaineers hold a 13-12 advantage over the Orange despite falling 3-2 last year in Syracuse, N.Y.
The Golden Eagles had two come-from-behind five-set victories last weekend to remain 8-0 in BIG EAST play and 18-6 on the season. Marquette also clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament with the two wins. Senior Ciara Jones and preseason all-BIG EAST team selection Ashley Beyer lead Marquette with a combined 607 kills and 3.62 and 3.24 kills per set, respectively.
The all-time series record is tied 4-4 after the Golden Eagles swept the Mountaineers 3-0 last year in Milwaukee, Wis.
For live stats and video streaming of this weekend’s matches, visit www.MSNsportsNET.com.
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