October 27, 2009

Arkansas State 3, UALR 2
JONESBORO, Ark. - The Arkansas State volleyball team (18-9, 8-5) pulled out a five-set (25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 22-25, 18-16) victory over in-state Sun Belt Conference rival UALR (13-11, 7-6) Tuesday night at the ASU Convocation.

Freshman Brittany Hoag led the team on the night with 19 kills with freshman Taylor Coughlin, senior Mandy DeWalt and sophomore Charlyn Ursell all posting double-digit kills as well.  Coughlin added 16 kills, while DeWalt recorded 15 and Ursell delivered 12.

Coughlin, DeWalt and Hoag each notched a double-double posting double-digit digs as well.  Coughlin finished the night with 17 digs, DeWalt tallied 13 and Hoag posted 11.

Senior libero Heather Bowman notched a career-high 36 digs to lead the defensive effort, while Ursell and Coughlin each put up four blocks.

Junior setter Laura Bennett recorded a season-high 58 assists on the night.

"We've been in those situations a lot lately," said ASU head coach Justin Ingram.  "We're either really close or down in that fifth game, and we've had pressure-filled moments. We need to relax and do what we do every day. We need to play safe and aggressive at the same time and limit our errors and go for kills. It took a while, but I'm thankful that the result was our win."

Tied at 22 in set one, the Red Wolves scored three straight points to take the set on two kills from freshman Brittany Hoag and one from sophomore Charlyn Ursell.  The Trojans took the second set by the same score, but ASU broke another 22-22 tie to take set three on kills from Hoag and Ursell.

In the fourth set and down 24-19, Arkansas State rallied to within two on a kill from senior Mandy DeWalt, a service ace from senior Heather Bowman and an UALR attacking error.  The Trojans took the set 25-22, sending the match into a fifth set.

Tied at 16 in the fifth set, freshman Taylor Coughlin pounded out two kills to put the match away for the Red Wolves.

October 26, 2009

Middle Tennessee 3, New Orleans 0
New Orleans, La. - Middle Tennessee took a 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-20) win over West Division leader New Orleans on Monday night.

The Blue Raiders (17-7, 10-1) posted a .306 hitting percentage after knocking down 47 kills with just 17 errors in 98 attempts. Middle Tennessee held the Privateers (14-9, 7-4) to just 25 kills with a .101 hitting percentage with no UNO player posting double-digit kills.

It was the first time since Oct. 16, 2006 that a Sun Belt team, Arkansas State, had defeated New Orleans 3-0 at the Human Performance Center. It is the eighth straight win for the Blue Raiders and its third straight sweep.

Junior Izabela Kozon knocked down a team high 16 kills with just two errors in 27 attempts for a .519 hitting percentage. Kozon also had 11 digs and three block assists in the match.

Senior Ashley Mead also performed well posting 15 kills of her own.

Junior Alyssa Wistrick and sophomore Stacy Oladinni guided the net defense with a combined nine block assists. As a team, Middle Tennessee had a total of seven blocks and 40 digs.

The Blue Raiders return to Alumni Memorial Gym this weekend to face South Alabama and Troy. Middle Tennessee's match with the Jaguars is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30.

Denver 3, North Texas 2
DENTON, Texas - University of Denver senior setter Clare Maxwell (Western Springs, Ill.) became the all-time career assists leader as the Pioneers (12-13, 7-4 SBC) outlasted the North Texas Mean Green (9-16, 5-6 SBC) 3-2  (25-20, 17-25, 25-16, 21-25, 15-12) on the road in Denton, Texas. The win gives head coach Beth Kuwata her 250th career win through 15 seasons as a head coach (14 with the Pioneers).

To date, Maxwell now has 3,552 assists, surpassing Rachel Runka's mark of 3,534 that she amassed from 1992-94.

"Tonight's performance was by far the best effort by our team in a five-set match this season," Kuwata said. "It had everything that you could want out of a match, from great blocking to outstanding hitting performances. I am really proud of the way our team handled this entire road trip and I know they are excited to get back home."

Leading the scoring effort for the Pioneers was senior Emmy Davidsmeyer (Colorado Springs, Colo.) as she finished with 19 kills and five blocks to go along with a .310 hitting percentage. Also finishing with double-digit kills was sophomore Jordan Raines (Coppell, Texas) and senior Alexis Ninos (Cypress, Texas) as they finished with 11 and 10 kills, respectively.

Playing in a defensive roll for Denver, setter Kresson Vreeman (Raymond, Minn.) led the way with 12 digs, while libero Kacie Wikierak (Crystal Lake, Ill.) added 11 and Raines finished with 10.

Roxana Casevean and Amy Huddleston led the way for the Mean Green as both finished with 14 kills apiece.

Denver returns home to host Arkansas State on Friday at 7 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium and then Arkansas-Little Rock on Sunday at 1 p.m. Against the ASU Redwolves, Denver has an 11-4 advantage in the all-time series, however it trails the UALR Trojans 9-6.