October 9, 2010

Volleyball Plays Host To NEC's Western Pennsylvania Pair This Weekend

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (2-14, 0-3 NEC) at
Robert Morris University Colonials (7-12, 4-0 NEC)
Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 - 2 p.m.
Burt Kahn Court - Hamden, Conn.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (2-14, 0-3 NEC) at
Saint Francis (Pa.) University Red Flash (4-13, 2-2 NEC)
Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010 - 2 p.m.
Burt Kahn Court - Hamden, Conn.

Bobcats Play Host To NEC's Western Pennsylvania Pair
The Quinnipiac University volleyball team continues NEC play when it plays host to Robert Morris and St. Francis (Pa.) this weekend. The Colonials visit Hamden Saturday, while the Red Flash visits the Burt Kahn Court on Sunday. Both matches are slated for 2 p.m. starts. The Bobcats are coming off a tough 3-2 loss at Fairleigh Dickinson Sunday. Meanwhile, both the Colonials (four straight) and Red Flash (two straight) are riding winning streaks.

Follow the Bobcats
Live stats for both of this weekend's matches will be available. To access the live stats, please click on the appropriate links on the volleyball schedule at www.quinnipiacbobcats.com.

Scouting the Robert Morris Colonials
Robert Morris (7-12, 4-0 NEC) is led by Hannah Veith's 2.37 kills and 1.17 blocks per set. Alex Deines and Andrea Catucci have split setter responsibilities, averaging 5.48 and 4.03 assists per set, respectively. Corinne Moser is the team's defensive specialist at 3.70 digs per set. Una Japundza has a team-best 0.38 service aces per set.

Scouting the Saint Francis (Pa.) Red Flash
The Red Flash (4-13, 2-2 NEC) is led by Lauren Wingard's 2.92 kills per set and impressive .312 hitting percentage. Leeanne Haus has contributed a team-best 0.29 service aces per set, while Elizabeth Williams has led Saint Francis with 0.83 blocks per set. Christine Breisch is the team's defensive specialist at 3.21 digs per set, while Kierstin Kiser is the Red Flash's primary setter at 8.82 assists per set.

Aces Up
The Bobcats ranked 30th in the nation in service aces per set (1.71) to begin the week, after finishing 199th in the nation (1.14) in 2009. Individually, Kayla Lawler (Louisville, Ky.) ranks 28th in the nation at 0.46 service aces per set.

Dig It
Led by Logan Riker's (Bowling Green, Ohio) 4.25 digs per set, the Bobcats rank 72nd in the nation at 15.95 digs per set.

Five Hasn't Been A Friend
The Bobcats have played to a five-set decision in four of their last seven matches, falling in all four. Quinnipiac was defeated by Delaware State and La Salle at the Lafayette Invitational before falling at NEC foes Bryant and Fairleigh Dickinson.

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.

On Deck
The Bobcats travel to Worcester, Mass., Wednesday night, seeking to avenge a season-opening loss at Holy Cross. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start.