Wednesday, November 8
Morgantown, W.Va.
6:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
vs
Iowa State
Photo by: Steven Prunty
West Virginia Returns Wednesday Evening
November 07, 2017 03:06 PM | Volleyball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University Volleyball team returns to the WVU Coliseum for a three-match homestand starting with No. 24 Iowa State on Wednesday, Nov. 8. First serve is set for 6 p.m. ET in Morgantown.
Wednesday's contest is Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night, as all WVU Faculty and Staff will be admitted free with a valid I.D. Tickets are available by visiting WVUGAME.com, calling 1-800-WVU-GAME or at the Mountaineer Ticket Office, located at the Gold Gate of the WVU Coliseum.
"We have to keep getting better," said third-year coach Reed Sunahara. "We have to keep building on what we are trying to do. We have to execute at a higher level. We have five tough matches coming up, but we just want to take it one match at a time starting with Iowa State on Wednesday."
The Mountaineers (15-10, 3-8) and Cyclones (17-5, 7-4) meet for the 15th time overall on Wednesday and the 12th time in league play since WVU joined the Big 12 in 2012. ISU owns a 13-1 all-time series advantage, as the Cyclones picked up a 3-1 win over the Mountaineers in their most recent meeting on Oct. 18, at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. However, West Virginia took Iowa State to five sets at home last season, dropping a 3-2 heartbreaker to the Cyclones inside the WVU Coliseum on Sept. 30, 2016.
WVU currently sits in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Big 12 standings, as Iowa State marks West Virginia's seventh opponent ranked inside the AVCA Top-25 Poll this season.
In its most recent meeting, West Virginia dropped a five-set thriller to Big 12 foe Oklahoma last Saturday inside McCasland Field House in Norman, Oklahoma. WVU finished the week hitting .268 with 97 kills and 20.5 team blocks. Iowa State snapped a five-match win streak on Saturday, with then-No. 24 Baylor collecting a 3-0 sweep at home over the Cyclones.
Through 25 matches, sophomore outside hitter Payton Caffrey continues to lead the Big 12 with 0.42 service aces per set and ranks inside the top 10 in points (seventh) and kills (10th). Sophomore setter Erin Slinde sits inside the top five in service aces (tied for fifth) and assists (fifth), averaging 0.25 service aces and 9.74 assists per set. Senior middle block Mia Swanegan also ranks fourth in the league with 1.18 blocks per set.
Iowa State's Jess Schaben leads the Cyclones with 3.20 kills per set, while Hali Hillegas leads the defense with 5.66 digs per set.
Of note, West Virginia holds a 6-3 record at the WVU Coliseum this season and is 305-227 at home all-time. WVU was victorious in its last matchup at home, defeating non-conference foe Robert Morris, 3-0, in Morgantown.
"Our kids feel comfortable playing at home, so hopefully good things will happen," Sunahara said. "We are looking forward to tomorrow night."
Up next, West Virginia will take on Texas Tech (14-10, 3-8) on Saturday, Nov. 11, in a 1 p.m. ET league tilt. The first 500 fans through the gate on Saturday will receive a free mini volleyball. Additionally, the Mountaineers will host a free youth clinic following Saturday's match.
"They [Texas Tech] are playing well right now," Sunahara said. "We play well at home, so we just have to be prepared for when they come to town on Saturday."
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Wednesday's contest is Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night, as all WVU Faculty and Staff will be admitted free with a valid I.D. Tickets are available by visiting WVUGAME.com, calling 1-800-WVU-GAME or at the Mountaineer Ticket Office, located at the Gold Gate of the WVU Coliseum.
"We have to keep getting better," said third-year coach Reed Sunahara. "We have to keep building on what we are trying to do. We have to execute at a higher level. We have five tough matches coming up, but we just want to take it one match at a time starting with Iowa State on Wednesday."
The Mountaineers (15-10, 3-8) and Cyclones (17-5, 7-4) meet for the 15th time overall on Wednesday and the 12th time in league play since WVU joined the Big 12 in 2012. ISU owns a 13-1 all-time series advantage, as the Cyclones picked up a 3-1 win over the Mountaineers in their most recent meeting on Oct. 18, at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. However, West Virginia took Iowa State to five sets at home last season, dropping a 3-2 heartbreaker to the Cyclones inside the WVU Coliseum on Sept. 30, 2016.
WVU currently sits in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Big 12 standings, as Iowa State marks West Virginia's seventh opponent ranked inside the AVCA Top-25 Poll this season.
In its most recent meeting, West Virginia dropped a five-set thriller to Big 12 foe Oklahoma last Saturday inside McCasland Field House in Norman, Oklahoma. WVU finished the week hitting .268 with 97 kills and 20.5 team blocks. Iowa State snapped a five-match win streak on Saturday, with then-No. 24 Baylor collecting a 3-0 sweep at home over the Cyclones.
Through 25 matches, sophomore outside hitter Payton Caffrey continues to lead the Big 12 with 0.42 service aces per set and ranks inside the top 10 in points (seventh) and kills (10th). Sophomore setter Erin Slinde sits inside the top five in service aces (tied for fifth) and assists (fifth), averaging 0.25 service aces and 9.74 assists per set. Senior middle block Mia Swanegan also ranks fourth in the league with 1.18 blocks per set.
Iowa State's Jess Schaben leads the Cyclones with 3.20 kills per set, while Hali Hillegas leads the defense with 5.66 digs per set.
Of note, West Virginia holds a 6-3 record at the WVU Coliseum this season and is 305-227 at home all-time. WVU was victorious in its last matchup at home, defeating non-conference foe Robert Morris, 3-0, in Morgantown.
"Our kids feel comfortable playing at home, so hopefully good things will happen," Sunahara said. "We are looking forward to tomorrow night."
Up next, West Virginia will take on Texas Tech (14-10, 3-8) on Saturday, Nov. 11, in a 1 p.m. ET league tilt. The first 500 fans through the gate on Saturday will receive a free mini volleyball. Additionally, the Mountaineers will host a free youth clinic following Saturday's match.
"They [Texas Tech] are playing well right now," Sunahara said. "We play well at home, so we just have to be prepared for when they come to town on Saturday."
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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