The UMBC volleyball squad (6-10, 1-0 America East) makes its first of a pair of two-match road series this weekend when they visit the New Hampshire Wildcats and Hartford Hawks on Friday and Sunday respectively. The match at UNH's Lundholm Gymnasium on Friday gets underway at 2:00 p.m., while the Sunday match at the Hartford Volleyball Gym starts at 1:00 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast on the America East digital network.
RETRIEVER REVIEW
· The Retrievers overcame a tough first set defeat and swept the final three, capturing a 3-1 victory over Stony Brook in the America East Conference opener for both squads last Saturday.
· Retriever freshman Mia Bilusic (Zagreb, Croatia) continued her outstanding play, putting away a season-best kills. Graduate student Grace Rigsbee (Suwanee, Ga.) produced a brilliant fourth set, and totaled 13 kills for the match.
HONORED
· For the second straight week, Bilusic was been named the America East Rookie of the Week. The previous week, the first-year Retriever also earned Player of the Week honors.
· Sophomore Beste Ayhan (Istanbul, Turkey) earned All-Tournament Team honors at TCU's Cowtown Classic.
· Graduate student libero Loren Teter (Redondo Beach, Calif.) has earned America East Defensive Specialist of the Week honors on August 31 and Sept. 14.She was also selected to the Homewood Suites FGCU Invitational All-Tournament Team.
STAT LEADERS
· Bilusic has raced up to second place in kills per set in America East with 3.24.
· Ayhan leads the conference with 1.22 blocks per set. The Retrievers are ranked second in the conference in blocks (2.24 per set), just .01 behind leader UAlbany.
· Teter stands third in the conference with 4.29 digs per set.
A GLANCE AT NEW HAMPSHIRE
· The Wildcats are 8-6 this season and opened America East competition with a three-set sweep over Hartford on Sunday. They have won three of the last four matches and are 4-2 at Lundholm Gymnasium.
· Senior outside hitter Kate Bilyeu tallied a match-high 12 kills, a .367 hitting percentage and 12 digs to lead UNH.
· UNH and UMBC are ranked 1-2 defensively in the conference, holding opponents to .187 and .191 hitting percentages respectively.
· Senior Abby Sullivan (.343) and sophomore Kelly Kaufmann (.302) are ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in America East in hitting percentage.
A GLANCE AT HARTFORD
· The Hawks are 2-12 prior to facing NJIT on Friday. They have dropped seven consecutive matches, including their conference opener at UNH in three sets.
· One of the Hawks' wins was a 3-2 triumph over Quinnipiac, a team the Retrievers defeated in four sets.
· Sophomore setter Morgan Galligan is currently ranked third in the conference with 8.14 assists per set.
· Senior libero Alex Lucero leads America East with 4.76 digs per set.
UP NEXT
UMBC finishes a three-game road trip at NJIT on Friday, Oct. 8 before coming home for a return engagement versus UNH on Sunday, Oct. 10.
