Syracuse University
Pittsburgh
Orange Hosts Pittsburgh, DePaul on Halloween Weekend
10/29/2010 9:21:39 AM | Volleyball
| Match 27 | ||
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vs. |  |
| Match Info | Friday, October 29 | 7 p.m. | |
| Location | Women's Building | Free Admission and Parking | |
| Game Day | Live Stats | Live Video | |
| Match 28 | ||
|
vs. |  |
| Match Info | Sunday, October 31 | 2 p.m. | |
| Location | Women's Building | Free Admission and Parking | |
| Game Day | Live Stats | Live Video | |
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Orange looks to halt a two-game losing streak when it hosts Pittsburgh and West Virginia in the Women's Building on Halloween Weekend. Syracuse (21-5, 3-5) entertains the Panthers (10-14, 4-4) on Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. before facing the Mountaineers (14-10, 4-4) on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m.
Both of the weekend contests will be streamed live on Orange All Access with Scott Grodsky on the call and Andrew Kanell providing color commentary. The matches will be archived on the site for later viewing, along with post-game interviews with student-athletes and coaches.
The match will be available to Orange All Access subscribers only, fans can purchase a 24-hour pass for $5.95, a monthy subscription for $9.95 or an annual subscription for $79.95.
Scouting the Orange
Syracuse looks to return to its winning ways and improve its conference standing when it entertains Pittsburgh and West Virginia in a two-match weekend series at the Women's Building. The Orange is coming off its first back-to-back losses this season, after falling to Notre Dame, 3-0, and DePaul, 3-2, on a midwest road swing last weekend.
Syracuse has employed a well-balanced offense, with five players recording 133 kills or more on the season. Junior outside Noemie Lefebvre leads the squad with 304 kills on the season for a 3.34 kills per set average while senior outside Hayley Todd is second with 268 kills, 3.08 kills per set and a .306 attack percentage. Senior right side Mindy Stanislovaitis has a 2.33 kills per set average on the season with a .325 attack percentage while rookie Lindsay McCabe has 2.12 kills per set while hitting a team-best .414 on the season. Sophomore Samantha Hinz rounds out the group with 133 kills on the season and a .332 attack percentage while classmate Laura Homann directs the offense with 939 assists on the season for a 10.67 assists per set average.
Defensively, junior Ashley Williams sets the tone for the back row with 243 digs and a 3.42 digs per set average, despite missing five games with a right knee injury. Senior Sarah Hayes stepped up in Williams' absence and is third on the squad with 184 digs and a 2.07 digs per set average while sophomore Zoe Guzman rounds out the group with 128 back row pickups on the year. McCabe and Hinz are the defensive leaders at the net for the Orange, averaging 1.15 blocks per set and 0.94 blocks per set, respectively.
The Syracuse-Pittsburgh Series
Pittsburgh holds a 29-8 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to 1982. The Panthers won the last meeting between the two squads, 3-0, in Pittsburgh last season while the Orange secured its most recent series win in the last meeting in Syracuse on Nov. 11, 2008, 3-1.
Scouting the Panthers
Like the Orange, Pittsburgh graduated one of the best middle blockers in program history last season - Megan Dooley - who currently serves as a student assistant coach on the Panthers staff. Pittsburgh enters Friday's match having lost three of its last four, most recently falling 1-3 to Villanova on Oct. 22.
The Panthers utilize a four-pronged attack, led by senior outside Amy Town, who has 336 kills for a 3.73 kills per set average on the season. Senior middle Imani Harper is second on the team with 251 kills for a 2.79 kills per set average with a .319 attack percentage while leading the team defensively at the net with 78 total blocks. The Panthers have had two setters log more than 250 assists on the season, senior Alyssa King leads the squad with 657 helpers for a 8.01 assists per set average while classmate Allyson Hodnik has 299 assists for a 6.23 assists per set average. Defensively, sophomore Margy Acton leads the club with 365 digs and a 4.29 digs per set average.
The Syracuse-West Virginia Series
West Virginia holds a 13-11 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to 1985, but the Orange enters the contest riding a seven-match series win streak. Syracuse won the last meeting between the two teams, 3-0, on Sept. 26 at West Virginia and the last meeting in the Women's Building, 3-0, on Nov. 16.
Scouting the Mountaineers
Under the direction of first-year head coach Jill Kramer, the Mountaineers have improved their conference standing, entering the weekend at 14-10 overall and 4-4 in BIG EAST play. WVU has lost three of its last five contests and will visit Marquette on Friday before Sunday's match.
The Mountaineers attack features five players with 144 or more kills on the season, led by senior Lauren Evans who has 219 kills, a 2.74 kills per set average and a team-best .306 attack percentage. Juniors Michelle Kopecky and Serinna Russo are close behind with 196 and 182 kills on the season, respectively. Junior Kari Post directs the balanced WVU offense in a 6-1 formation, with 772 assists on the season for a 10.03 assists per set average. Defensively, senior libero Bonnie West provides the foundation with 413 digs and a 5.04 digs per set average while Russo is second with 359 digs and a 4.66 digs per set average.
BIG EAST Breakdown
Syracuse enters the weekend sitting 10th on the conference standings a 3-5. With the top eight teams qualifying for the conference championship, the Orange will need to finish with a record of at least 7-7 in conference to qualify, going 4-2 through their last six matches. Heading into the weekend, Cincinnati, Louisville and Villanova have all seemingly concreted their conference tournament bids.
Up Next
Syracuse wraps up its regular-season road schedule when it visits Seton Hall and Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7, respectively.
