Bobcats Aim To Repeat as MAAC Tournament Champs

Saturday, November 18

Fairfield,Conn.

6:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

Iona

Photo by: Ephemia Nicolakis

11/17/2023 10:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

By: QU Athletic Communications

MAAC SEMIFINALS: No. 2 Quinnipiac Bobcats (18-9, 14-4 MAAC) vs. No. 6 Iona Gaels (15-15, 10-8 MAAC)
Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 | 6:00 PM
Fairfield, Conn. | Leo D. Mahoney Arena
Watch: ESPN+ | Live Stats: Click Here

MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP: No. 2 Quinnipiac Bobcats vs. TBD
Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023 | 1:00 PM
Fairfield, Conn. | Leo D. Mahoney Arena
Watch: ESPN+ | Live Stats: Click Here

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The second-seeded Quinnipiac women's volleyball team aims to repeat as MAAC Champions, as the Bobcats travel to Fairfield for the MAAC Tournament over the weekend. The Bobcats will take on No. 6 Iona in the semifinals on Saturday at 6 p.m. for a spot in the MAAC title game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

With a win, Quinnipiac will advance to the MAAC Championship game for a match at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

LAST TIME OUT

The Bobcats wrapped the regular season with a sweeping victory over MAAC foe Saint Peter's this past Sunday on the road
Leilani-kai Giusta led the Bobcats with 12 kills and added five digs and one ace
Aryanah Diaz tallied a double-double behind 12 kills and 10 digs
Yagmur Gunes also recorded a double-double, recording 13 digs and 10 kills.
Damla Gunes recorded 32 assists and 10 digs for a double-double in the win.

QUINNIPIAC VS. EVERYBODY

Entering the weekend, the Bobcats are in the MAAC Semifinals for the fourth time in the last five seasons
With a win on Saturday, the Bobcats will advance to the MAAC Championship for the second time in four seasons
The Bobcats will take on the No. 6 Iona Gaels in the MAAC Semifinals on Saturday
The Bobcats downed Iona in both meetings this season, dropping only one set between both matches
On the other side of the bracket lies No. 4 Niagara, No. 5 Rider, and top-seeded Fairfield
The Bobcats split its two matches with the Purple Eagles, with both sides earning a sweeping win at home
Quinnipiac split its two matches with Rider as well, with each team picking up a victory at home
The Bobcats split its two contests with Fairfield this season, with each program picking up 3-1 victories on its home floors

DEFENDING MAAC CHAMPS

The Bobcats finished the 2022 season with 14 wins, including a seven-game win streak through the end of the regular season and concluding with its first-ever MAAC title
QU defeated No. 3 Iona, 3-1, in the MAAC Quarterfinals, followed by a sweep over No. 7 Rider in the semifinals, then bested No. 1 Fairfield, 3-1, in the championship round to complete the historic run

REMEMBER NOVEMBER

The Bobcats earned their first-ever berth into the NCAA Tournament as an automatic qualifier after winning the 2022 MAAC Championship as a sixth seed last November, going 7-0 during the month beginning with a four-game win streak before the MAAC Tournament
During the run leading into the MAAC Tournament, the Bobcats had won each of its last four matches, dropping just one set between the contests

LEADING THE PACK

The Bobcats are leading the conference in numerous categories this season
QU leads the MAAC in points per set (16.39)
Quinnipiac's opponents are averaging just 10.19 assists per set, which is the least amount of sets averaged against another opponent in the conference
The Bobcats lead the MAAC in assists per set at 11.86
Opponents are averaging 10.82 kills per set against QU, which is the least amount of kills averaged against another opponent in the conference
The Bobcats' 12.87 kills per set is tops in the conference
The Bobcats' 1.82 service aces per set ranks 38th in the nation
Ginevra Giovagnoni is tops in the MAAC in kills per set (3.95) and points per set (4.45)
Damla Gunes leads the conference with 981 assists, which ranks 63rd in the nation

DOMINANT DAMLA

Quinnipiac volleyball sophomore captain setter, Damla Gunes was named the 2023 MAAC Setter of the Year, as announced by the league office on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
A native of Bursa, Turkey, Gunes becomes the first player in program history to be named the Setter of the Year and the first Bobcat to earn a major award since Alejandra Rodriguez was named the MAAC Libero of the Year in 2019.
She was also named to the All-MAAC First Team
The MAAC's leader in assists (981) and second in assists per set (10.11), Gunes owns 11 double-doubles on the season
Of her 981 assists this season, 669 came in conference play, the most amongst MAAC players.
This season, Gunes has totaled 30 or more assists in 23 matches and 40 or more assists in nine matches. She also led the Bobcats with 33 service aces.

ALL-LEAGUE GI

Sophomore Ginevra Giovagnoni was named to the All-MAAC First Team
A native of Montale Rangone, Italy, Giovagnoni had an explosive sophomore season.
On the season, Giovagnoni led the MAAC in kills per set (3.95) and points per set (4.45).
Giovagnoni has totaled 10 double-doubles this season and has recorded double-figure kills in all 13 matches where she logged at least three sets played.

ALL-STAR ARY

Graduate student Aryanah Diaz was named to the All-MAAC Second Team
Diaz earned All-MAAC honors for the second consecutive season.
This season Diaz accumulated 214.0 points, 182 kills, 270 digs, and 53 assists.
Her 270 digs were tops on the team this season, while her 53 assists ranked second.
Diaz recorded six double-doubles this season and had nine matches with double-figure kills.
This season Diaz reached 1,000 career kills, becoming just the second player in the program's Div. I history to do so.

GIUSTA'S GOT THE JUICE

A native of Kane'ohe, Hawaii, Leilani-kai Giusta was an instant impact player for Quinnipiac this season.
On the season, she totaled 211.0 points, 184 kills, 103 digs, 16.0 blocks, and 16 service aces.
Her 3.40 points per set ranks seventh in the MAAC, while her 2.97 kills per set was eighth in the conference.
A two-time MAAC Rookie of the Week and one-time Player of the Week, Giusta recorded double-figure kills in eight matches.

HOUSE PARTY

QU went 8-1 at home this season, the best mark in the program's Div. I history
Quinnipiac held a streak of winning 24 consecutive sets at home dating back to last season before Fairfield took the opening set in the Bobcats' four-set victory at home on Oct. 29

THE STREAK

Quinnipiac held a six-game winning streak spanning from Sept. 16 - Oct. 1
During the Bobcats' six-game win streak, QU totaled 299 kills with a .203 attack percentage compared to its opponents' 263 kills and a .161 attack percentage
In total, QU has outscored its opponents 559-464 during the win streak
In the two MAAC matches that have reached five sets, Quinnipiac has outscored its opponents 30-15
During the six-game win streak, Damla Gunes has 241 assists and is averaging 10.04 assists per set
Ginevra Giovagnoni led QU with 72 kills and has totaled 43 digs during the span

OH CAPTAINS MY CAPTAINS

Quinnipiac women's volleyball Head Coach Kyle Robinson has announced the team's captains for the 2023 campaign
Graduate student Aryanah Diaz, seniors Lexi Morse and Chloe Ka'ahanui, and sophomore Damla Gunes have been selected as captains for the program

HEAD COACH KYLE ROBINSON

Head Coach Kyle Robinson is in his fifth season with the Bobcats in 2023
The all-time winningest coach in program history, Robinson boasts 60 wins in his five seasons with the Bobcats
Robinson is 204-146 over his career as a collegiate head coach
Robinson has led QU to 18 wins this season, the most in one season during his tenure
He effectively etched his signature on Quinnipiac volleyball by becoming the first head coach in program history to lead the program to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2022

DOWN GO THE STAGS

Quinnipiac women's volleyball remained unbeaten at home, as the Bobcats downed in-state and MAAC rival Fairfield in four sets on Oct. 29 inside Burt Kahn to take hold of first place in the conference
QU has won nine straight matches at home dating back to last season
Ginevra Giovagnoni led the charge with 20 kills and 17 digs for a double-double
Aryanah Diaz registered 19 kills and 11 digs for a double-double
Damla Gunes totaled 50 assists and 17 digs in the victory
Lexi Morse and Bailey Brashear combined for 8.5 blocks

GONE GAELS

Quinnipiac women's volleyball remained unbeaten at home, as the Bobcats swept Iona in straight sets on Oct. 25 inside Burt Kahn
Aryanah Diaz led QU with 17 kills, 17 digs and two service aces
Ginevra Giovagnoni totaled 13 kills and 13 digs
Yagmur Gunes added 13 kills and seven digs in the victory
Damla Gunes notched 37 assists and 13 digs in the victory

SWEEP STREAK

The Bobcats got back in the win column on Oct. 11, as the Bobcats downed Manhattan in straight sets at home inside Burt Kahn Gym
Damla Gunes led the match with 30 assists
Aryanah Diaz led the Bobcats with 14 kills, eight digs, and two service aces
Ginevra Giovagnoni added 12 kills, six digs, three service aces and two blocks
Alexandra Tennon and Bailey Brashear contributed seven kills apiece
QU followed the match with back-to-back wins on Oct 14. and Oct. 15 against Saint Peter's and Rider
The Bobcats swept both opponents over the weekend
Yagmur Gunes led the Bobcats with 17 kills and 10 digs for a double-double in the win over Saint Peter's
Damla Gunes led the match with 33 assists and added 10 digs of her own for a double-double
Aryanah Diaz led Quinnipiac with 12 kills and added six digs, two assists, and two service aces in the win over Rider
Alexandra Tennon totaled 10 kills and eight digs
Leilani-kai Giusta recorded nine kills and four digs
Damla Gunes notched 31 assists, six digs and four service aces

BIG APPLE BOBCATS

The Bobcats remained unbeaten in the MAAC portion of its schedule with road victories over Iona in four sets and Manhattan in five sets on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1
With the wins, the Bobcats open its MAAC schedule at 6-0 for the first time since 2016
Damla Gunes notched 49 assists and nine digs in the victory over Iona
Ginevra Giovagnoni led the Bobcats with 24 kills and added 13 digs for a double-double in the victory over the Gaels
Alexandra Tennon compiled 14 kills, 16 digs and two service aces for her first double-double of the season
Damla Gunes notched 47 assists and seven digs in the win over Manhattan
Ginevra Giovagnoni totaled 17 kills and 11 digs for a double-double in the victory over the Jaspers
Yagmur Gunes compiled 14 kills and six digs of her own

UPSTATE SWEEP

The Bobcats remained unbeaten in the MAAC portion of its schedule with road victories over Marist in five sets and Siena in four sets on Sept. 23 and 24
With the wins, the Bobcats open its MAAC schedule at 4-0 for the first time since 2016
Ginevra Giovagnoni made her return to the lineup and tallied 17 kills and 12 digs her second double-double of the season in the win over Marist
Yagmur Gunes added 13 kills and six digs, to go along with three service aces in the victory over Marist, while Alexandra Tennon totaled nine kills, 12 digs and three service aces
Damla Gunes notched 42 assists and six digs in the victory over Marist
The following day, Damla Gunes recorded 41 assists and nine digs in the win over Siena
Alexandra Tennon led the match with 16 kills and added nine digs, while Ginevra Giovagnoni contributed 14 kills and seven digs

CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION

The Bobcats opened the MAAC portion of its schedule with back-to-back sweeping victories over Niagara and Canisius in the 2023 home-opening weekend on Sept. 16-17, playing in front of its fans for the first time since being crowned the 2022 MAAC Tournament Champions
With the wins, the Bobcats open its MAAC schedule at 2-0 for the first time since 2016
Yagmur Gunes led the Bobcats with 15 kills and 12 digs for a double-double in the 3-0 win over Niagara
Damla added 34 assists and 11 digs of her own in the match vs. Niagara, while Leilani-kai Giusta contributed 12 kills and eight digs in the victory
In the sweep over Canisius, Giusta led the Bobcats with 10 kills and added four digs and two blocks, while Yagmur Gunes contributed nine kills, seven digs and five service aces
Damla Gunes led the match with 28 assists and tallied seven digs.

HENSON HAWK INVITATIONAL RECAP

QU went 2-1 over the weekend at the Henson Hawk Invitational, dropping Gardner-Webb in four sets in the opener
The Bobcats followed with a sweeping victory over Hampton, before falling in three sets against hosts UMES
Leilani-kai Giusta QU in the match against Gardner-Webb with a career-high 21 kills, while Damla Gunes added 41 assists and 14 digs for the double-double
Over the weekend, Giusta led Quinnipiac with 39 kills and added 19 digs, five blocks and four service aces

COLUMBIA INVITATIONAL RECAP

QU went 1-2 over the weekend at the Columbia Invitational, falling in four sets against Virginia and Fordham before taking down Columbia in straight sets
Yagmur Gunes tallied 12 kills, 12 digs and five service aces in the win over Columbia
Leilani-kai Giusta led the match with 16 kills and added five digs and three assists
Gunes and Giusta were the top performers Bobcats over the weekend
Gunes tallied three consecutive double-doubles over the weekend at the Columbia Invitational and totaled 52.0 points, 43 kills, 41 digs, and nine service aces
In a three-game weekend for Giusta at the Columbia Invitational, Giusta totaled 49.0 points, 46 kills, and 22 digs

HOKIE INVITATIONAL RECAP

The Bobcats opened their season at the Hokie Invitational, going 1-2 over the weekend, dropping a thrilling five-set contest against Furman in the opener
Aryanah Diaz opened the 2023 season with 21 kills and 11 digs against Furman for her first double-double of the season
The Bobcats picked up their first win of the season in a 3-0 sweep over Morgan State in the weekend finale
Ginevera Giovagnoni led Quinnipiac with 11 kills and 12 digs for her second double-double of the early campaign
Graduate student Aryanah Diaz was named to the Hokie Invitational All-Tournament Team for her play over the weekend
Diaz totaled 41.5 points, 35 kills, 27 digs, eight assists and six service aces
For the three games, Diaz averaged 3.77 points, 3.18 kills and 2.45 digs per set

PRESEASON FAVORITES

Quinnipiac women's volleyball has been selected as the preseason MAAC favorite, as announced on Friday, Aug. 18 by the league office.
The Bobcats earned the No. 1 spot in the 2023 Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll alongside Marist, with both programs receiving three of 11 first-place votes and 85 total points each.
Quinnipiac saw two student-athletes named to the preseason All-MAAC team, as graduate student Aryanah Diaz and sophomore Ginevra Giovagnoni garnered the honor.

STRONG RETURNING GROUP

The Bobcats return 10 members who saw court time from last season's championship team
Among those returners are all three members of the MAAC Tournament All-Championship Team, Aryanah Diaz (outside hitter/opposite), Damla Gunes (libero), and Ginevra Giovagnoni (outside hitter)

For more information on Quinnipiac Volleyball, visit gobobcats.com/volleyball and follow the team on Twitter and Instagram, @QU_WVB.