Retriever Volleyball Lifts Lid on Conference Slate by Hosting Stony Brook on Friday
BALTIMORE – After posting a 9-6 mark in non-conference play to begin the season, the UMBC volleyball team starts the conference section of its 2013 schedule by hosting America East rival Stony Brook on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the RAC Arena. The match will be broadcast live on the America East Digital Network with Live Stats also provided.
Scouting the Retrievers
UMBC (9-6) dropped its final non-conference contest of the regular season on Wednesday night, falling to American in five sets down in Washington, D.C. Sophomore Krystal Mlemchukwu (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech) led the Retrievers with 13 kills while senior Emily Witsaman (Medina, Ohio/Medina) tallied 12 winners. America East Rookie of the Week Casey Griffith (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion) posted double figure digs for the 13th time this season, registering a team-best 18 digs.
Heading into conference play, UMBC leads the league in multiple categories, including hitting percentage (.205) and opponent hitting percentage (.147). In addition, the Retrievers are averaging 12.04 kills per set and 2.10 blocks per set, both of which pace the America East.
Senior hitter Ali Goc (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S. McLaughlin) leads the UMBC attack and ranks third in the conference, averaging 2.77 kills per set. The former libero has a team-best six double-doubles this year and sits eighth in the league with a 3.12 digs per set average.
Setter Mallory McIntyre (Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Mary's Academy) has keyed the Retrievers to the top hitting table as she leads the conference with a 9.68 assist per set average.
Scouting the Seawolves
Stony Brook (5-10) had the mid-week off from competition following a 2-1 weekend at the Bryant Invitational in Rhode Island last Friday and Saturday. The Seawolves began the weekend with a five-set loss to St. John's, but then swept the host Bulldogs before getting past Princeton in four sets. Reigning league Rookie of the Year Melissa Rigo averaged 3.33 kills and 3.67 per set while hitting .358 on the weekend, and was named the conference's Player of the Week on Monday.
The Seawolves sit just behind UMBC in blocking, averaging 1.86 blocks per set. When in control of the ball, SBU looks to get service points and leads the league with 1.86 aces per set with Hannah Dolan and Stephanie McFadden ranking second and third, respectively.
Inside the Series
UMBC swept the season series with Stony Brook last year to cut the Seawolves' lead in the all-time series to 11-10 (11-9 America East). The Retrievers swept their conference rivals on Oct. 14 at the RAC Arena behind a double-double from Hannah Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) who recorded 11 kills and 12 digs. Then, in the return match in New York, UMBC clinched a spot in the America East Torunament with a four-set win on the final weekend of the year as Schmidt once again led the Black and Gold attack, sending down 16 winners.
Retriever Stat Pack
Season Highs:
|
Stat |
Player |
No. |
Opponent |
|
Kills |
Ali Goc |
18 |
at Loyola (Md.) |
|
Assists |
Mallory McIntyre |
54 |
vs. Georgetown |
|
Digs |
Casey Griffith |
26 |
vs. Georgetown |
|
Blocks |
Emily Witsaman |
8 (0-8) 8 (1-7) |
vs. Delaware at West Virginia |
|
Aces |
Mallory McIntyre |
5 |
Towson |
Double-Doubles:
|
Player |
Opponent |
Stat 1 |
Stat 2 |
|
Mallory McIntyre |
George Mason |
38 assists |
11 digs |
|
Hannah Schmidt |
George Mason |
17 kills |
14 digs |
|
Ali Goc |
Delaware |
13 kills |
18 digs |
|
Ali Goc (2) |
Loyola (Md.) |
18 kills |
13 digs |
|
Ali Goc (3) |
LaSalle |
12 kills |
13 digs |
|
Ali Goc (4) |
vs. Liberty |
13 kills |
10 digs |
|
Mallory McIntyre (2) |
vs. Liberty |
45 assists |
12 digs |
|
Ali Goc (5) |
vs. Georgetown |
17 kills |
21 digs |
|
Ali Goc (6) |
at West Virginia |
13 kills |
14 digs |
|
Mallory McIntyre (3) |
at American |
41 assists |
10 digs |
