Orange Off To DePaul and Notre Dame

WEEKEND PREVIEW: DePaul (5-10, 0-2 BIG EAST) & Notre Dame (9-5, 2-0 BIG EAST)
WHEN: DePaul: Saturday, Sept. 29 \| 2 p.m. (CT) \| McGrath-Phillips Arena \| Live Stats Notre Dame: Sunday, Sept. 30 \| 2 p.m. (EST) \| Purcell Pavilion \| Live Stats
GAME COVERAGE:	Twitter: @Cuse @CuseVolleyball
#SUVB QUICK LINKS:	Match Notes \| Roster \| Schedule \| Statistics

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Orange volleyball squad (8-8) is on the road this weekend, traveling to DePaul (5-10) and Notre Dame (9-5) for two important BIG EAST road tests. Syracuse will square off against the Blue Demons on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. (CT), before taking on the Fighting Irish on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. (EST).

WEEK IN REVIEW:
SU snapped a three game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Niagara on Wednesday night in the Women's Building. Gosia Wlaszczuk led the Orange with 13 kills, 13 assists and 15 digs, while Silvi Uattara and Andrea Fisher added 14 and 10 kills apiece. Melina Violas led the defense with a career-high 29 digs.

The Orange met DePaul and Notre Dame in 2011 during the regular season, posting wins against both teams. Despite taking the regular season match against Notre Dame 3-1, the Orange will enter this weekend looking to avenge a 1-3 loss to the Fighting Irish in the quarterfinals of the 2011 BIG EAST Tournament.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
DePaul will enter the weekend 5-10 overall after dropping their fourth consecutive match to Green Bay at home. Vesela Zapryanova is at the helm of the Blue Demon offense leading the team with 185 kills, averaging 3.14 kills per set. Natalie Rizzo and Allyson Rooks are the defensive leaders as Rizzo leads with 52 blocks, while Rooks leads the team with 192 digs.

Led by Toni Aluqbue and All-BIG EAST Preseason selection Jeni Houser, the Fighting Irish are 9-5 overall and 2-0 in the BIG EAST. Houser and Aluqbue are at the head of the offense combining for 412 of the team's 745 kills. Aluqbue earned BIG EAST Player of the Week honors this week after racking up 26 kills with only three errors against Cincinnati. She has earned BIG EAST weekly honors across the last three weeks. Taylor Morey is at the center of the Notre Dame defense with 235 digs, while Marie Roof leads at the net with 55 total blocks, including eight solo blocks.

UP NEXT:
Syracuse will return home to the Women's Building to take on USF at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, before facing Pittsburgh on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m.

Syracuse University Athletics

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