Volleyball Plays Host To Bryant Wednesday
11/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Quinnipiac
University Bobcats (6-21, 4-9 NEC) vs.
Bryant University
Bulldogs (17-16, 4-10 NEC)
Wednesday,
Nov. 10, 2010 - 7 p.m.
Burt Kahn Court - Hamden,
Conn.
Bobcats Close Out 2010 Regular Season At Home
The Quinnipiac volleyball team plays its final three
regular season matches at home, beginning with a Wednesday night
contest against Bryant. The Bobcats are in need of at least two
wins in their final three matches in order to have a chance at the
fourth, and final, berth in the NEC Tournament.
Follow the Bobcats
Quinnipiac fans can follow Wednesday's action via live
stats and live audio. To access both live stats and audio, please
click on the appropriate links on the volleyball schedule at
www.quinnipiacbobcats.com.
Scouting the Bryant Bulldogs
Bryant (17-16, 4-10 NEC) is led by Maria Scocca, whose
2.65 kills and 0.98 blocks per set lead the Bulldogs. Jazmin Stoner
is right behind Scocca with 2.63 kills per set. Jadith Lorenzo is
the team's setter, having dished out 8.28 assists per set on the
year. Robyn Gardner is the defensive leader at 4.38 digs per
set.
Aces Up
The Bobcats entered the week ranked 17th in the nation in
service aces per set (1.69), after finishing 199th in the nation
(1.14) in 2009. Individually, Kayla Lawler also ranked 13th in the
nation at 0.49 service aces per set.
Dig
It
Led by Logan Riker's 4.19 digs per set, the Bobcats
ranked 103rd in the nation at 15.63 digs per set to begin the
week.
Breaking Through At LIU
The Bobcats defeated Long Island for the first time in
nearly nine years with a 3-1 victory in Brooklyn on Oct. 17. The
last time the Bobcats had defeated the perennially-powerful
Blackbirds was Oct. 27, 2001.
Finicky Five
The Bobcats have played to six five-set losses in seven
tries this season. Following five straight losses in five-set
matches, the Bobcats defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 3-2, on Oct. 24.
Quinnipiac then lost to Long Island on Oct. 30. Previously, the
Bobcats had fallen to Delaware State and La Salle at the Lafayette
Invitational before falling at NEC foes Bryant, Fairleigh Dickinson
and St. Francis (N.Y.).
Brave New Accomplishment
Kayla Lawler (Louisville, Ky.) became the first
Quinnipiac player in nearly nine years to win NEC Player of the
Week, Oct. 11, after leading the Bobcats to a weekend sweep of
Robert Morris and Saint Francis (Pa.). Lawler compiled a pair of
double-doubles and six service aces on the weekend. The last time a
Quinnipiac player won the award, QU's mascot was the Braves.
Heather Wollyung last won the award on Oct. 15, 2001, the last of
her four honors. Shannon Dublin also won the award once, making
Lawler the third in Quinnipiac history to be honored.
More New Records For Lawler
Kayla Lawler had a career day, Oct. 17 at LIU. The junior
setter had 54 assists, a new four-set career high, as well as 17
digs and six service aces, also career highs for matches of any
length.
Western Pennsylvania Wipeout
Quinnipiac shook up the NEC standings by earning its
first sweep of the league's Western Pennsylvania teams with a pair
of 3-1 victories against previously undefeated Robert Morris (4-0),
Oct. 9, and Saint Francis (Pa.), Oct. 10, at the Burt Kahn Court.
The win was the first in program history over the Colonials
following 13 straight losses dating back to 1999.
Ashley's Aces
Freshman Ashley Kopacki (Mount Olive, N.J.) compiled a
season-high six service aces against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Oct.
10. Her previous season high was three.
Spike Stopper
Amanda Armstrong (Waukesha, Wis.) set a new single-match
season high among Quinnipiac players with seven blocks at Sacred
Heart, Sept. 29. The previous season-high, set by Armstrong, Olivia
Grattan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Taylor Payne (Warwick, N.Y.), was
five.
Record-Breaking Performances
Despite falling in five sets to Bryant, Sept. 26, Kayla
Lawler set a new career-high in assists with 61, Logan Riker had a
career-high 31 digs and Olivia Grattan compiled a new high of 17
kills in just her freshman season.
2K-ayla Assists
With 44 assists in the Bobcats 3-2 defeat to Delaware
State on Sept. 17, junior Kayla Lawler eclipsed the 2,000-assist
mark.
Earning Their Spots After Hart-Break
After sweeping the University of Hartford for their first
win in 12 tries against the Hawks at the Division I level, Sept.
11, in Hamden, the Bobcats swept Lafayette for their first victory
over the Leopards in four tries, Sept. 18.
Record Breaker
Just two weeks after setting a new personal four-set
single-match record with 46 assists against Fordham, Aug. 28, Kayla
Lawler compiled a new personal three-set single-match record with
43 assists against Hartford, Sept. 11. Her previous record four-set
record was 41, set twice in her freshman year of 2008. Meanwhile,
Lawler's prior three-set record was 40, set last Sept. 20 against
St. Francis (N.Y.). Her five-set record is 61, set Sept. 26, 2010,
at Bryant.
Good To Biediger Back
Sophomore Stephanie Biediger (Houston, Texas) made her
return to the court after missing more than a year due to injury on
Sept. 10. In her first tournament back, the outside hitter led the
Bobcats with 25 kills in three matches and added 34 digs, earning
Quinnipiac Invitational All-Tournament Team honors. Joining
Biediger on the all-tournament team was Lawler, who piled up 110
assists in three matches.
Grattan Grabbing Attention
In three matches during the Quinnipiac Invitational,
freshman Olivia Grattan had team highs in both kills (25) and
blocks (10).
Riker's Versatility Rewarded
Logan Riker was named to the Yale Invitational
All-Tournament Team after compiling 12 kills and 28 digs, Sept.
3-4. Riker took her customary position at libero to rack up 23 digs
in the first two matches of the weekend, before moving outside to
compile 10 kills against Stony Brook.
Starting Strong
A pair of newcomers to the Bobcats made impressive debuts
at the Beanpot Classic. Graduate student transfer Amanda Armstrong
was named to the All-Tournament Team after totaling 30 kills on the
weekend, including 15 against Fordham. Freshman Tracy Wright (Fair
Lawn, N.J.) had 44 digs on the weekend, including 17 to conclude
the weekend against Boston College.
Sophomore Surge
Taylor Payne began her sophomore season with a team-high
31 kills at the Beanpot Classic. At 3.10 kills per set at the first
tournament of the year, Payne showed marked improvement from her
0.90 kills per set average as a freshman.
Returning Cast
Quinnipiac returns much of last season's core of
student-athletes, as well as its 2008 Team MVP. Junior setter Kayla
Lawler, who almost solely ran the Bobcats' attack, returns as team
captain after dishing out 785 assists in 2009. The team's leading
hitter, Kelby Carey (Surfside, Calif.), also returns for her junior
season, a year after piling up 317 kills. Sophomore libero Logan
Riker is also back for the Bobcats after compiling 406 digs as a
freshman. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore outside hitter Stephanie
Biediger returns to the Bobcats after missing the 2009 season due
to injury. Biediger was named Team MVP as a freshman after
recording 233 kills, 244 digs, 31 blocks and 66 assists. Taylor
Payne is the top returning blocker at 0.37 blocks per set.
On
Deck
The Bobcats complete the 2010 regular season when they
play host to St. Francis (N.Y.) and Central Connecticut, Saturday
and Sunday, respectively. Both matches are slated for 2 p.m. starts
at the Burt Kahn Court.
