PREVIEW: Volleyball - No. 5 Southwestern & Texas Lutheran (9/30) | Schreiner & No. 4 Trinity (10/1)
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FIRST SERVE
The University of Dallas volleyball team takes on the other side of Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) in the first cross-divisional of 2017 held at Texas Lutheran University on September 30th – October 1st. Dallas will play two opponents ranked in the top five of the American Volleyball Coaches Association and host school over this slate.
On Saturday, the Crusaders start with No. 5 Southwestern at 10:30 a.m. and Texas Lutheran at 5 p.m. The start of the next month features Schreiner University (12 p.m.) and No. 4 Trinity University (4 p.m.).
Dallas (5-10, 0-3 SCAC) are seeking its first conference victory after a 0-3 start last weekend at Austin College.
UD NOTABLES
- Diana Hassink (Tulsa, Okla.) is first in the SCAC in digs-per-set (5.52) and total digs (298). The libero now has 1,410 digs in her career.
- Mary Scholz (Fallon, Nev.) is the top hitter with 168 kills and 3.23 per set third in the league.
- UD has outscored its opponents 318-299 in the first sets this year.
- Stephanie Janysek (Sinton, Texas) and Elizabeth Smith (Broken Arrow, Okla.) have contributed 288 and 112 assists, respectively. Smith combined for 11 kills in the past two contests.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Photo Gallery vs. Colorado College (UD Athletics Flickr)
BY THE NUMBERS
- Dallas went 1-2 last season against the Bulldogs, which included a setback in the SCAC Tournament. UD is 5-8 overall.
- The Crusaders defeated Schreiner in both matches last season and are 8-15 in the all-time series.
OPPONENT NOTABLES
(Southwestern University)
- The Pirates are 14-2 (2-1 SCAC) this season. They fell 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 27-25, 16-25, 16-18) to Our Lady of the Lake last Tuesday. Their other setback was to top-five ranked Trinity.
- A quartet of players have surpassed triple-digits in kills with Kate Mitchell headlining the bunch with 172 (3.13 k/s). Jamison Duck (137), Brittany Hohit (133), and Piper Sisemore (108) also are in that unit.
- Megan Grimes has notched 545 assists and is averaging 9.40 (2nd in SCAC).
(Texas Lutheran University)
- The Bulldogs are 7-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
- Both setbacks last weekend were to top-5 schools in the AVCA, but TLU did chase the Pirates to five sets and had led 2-1.
- Makenzie Griffin is first in the SCAC with 173 kills (3.39 k/s). Hannah Mikelonis and Bryten Mitchan follow with 138 and 133, respectively.
- Kionasina Nu'u leads the squad in assists (259). Jaci Chambers has added 108 assists and has a team-high 212 digs.
(Schreiner University)
- The Mountaineers are 0-9 on the campaign and dropped all three matches in their conference-opening weekend.
- Gabriella Rodriguez leads the team with 34 kills. Alyx Kruse (33), Hannah Hartman (32), and Mallory Dunn (31) follow immediately. Hartman has a team-high 17 kills in league play.
- Alexis Coronado is atop the team in assists with 112.
(Trinity University)
- The fourth-ranked Tigers are 13-2 on the season and swept the divisional series 3-0 to be the only other unbeaten team in conference with No. 2 Colorado College.
- Kirby Smith paces the offense with 152 kills. Avery Tuggle has notched 119.
- A pair of setters have garnered over 200 assists with Amelia Roden (291) and Katrina Lieberman (230) amassing 521 of the team's 612.
- Sarah Mullens has 246 digs, while Smith and Annie Rose Leggett follow with 161 and 133.
- Rebecca Hayes and Maggi Linker have led the block with 36 and 35, respectively.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Dallas is home on Oct. 5th for a non-conference game versus Randall University at 7 p.m. It will be pack the house #TropicalThursday night. After that, the Crusaders return to SCAC play with a divisional hosted at Colorado College on Oct. 13th-14th.