PHILADELPHIA – The Explorers will return to action this weekend with two matches against difficult Atlantic 10 competitors. First the Blue & Gold will take on the Dayton Flyers at 7:00pm Friday evening, before wrapping up weekend action on Saturday at 7:00pm against the Saint Louis Billikens.
 
Scouting the Explorers
La Salle enters this weekend coming off a hard fought four set loss to Big 5 rival Pennsylvania on Monday evening. The Explorers jumped out to the early lead, taking the first set against the Quakers, but were unable to sustain the momentum dropping the next three sets.
 
A good sign for the Explorers is the recent play of outstanding sophomore outside hitter Kelly Perillo. After sitting out five matches nursing an injury, she has played in the Blue & Gold's last three matches. Perillo has really gotten back into rhythm the last couple matches, notching 12 kills against Rhode Island and a double-double 16 kill and 14 dig performance against Penn. Her 148 kills and 3.02 kills/set average not only lead the Explorers, but are also the eighth highest marks in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
 
The Explorers have missed the contributions of the other half of their attacking duo. Sophomore outside hitter Laura Kuhlmeier did an admirable job stepping up to fill the void left when Perillo was out of the lineup. Unfortunately for the Explorers, Kuhlmeier has missed the last three matches recovering from an injury of her own. Kuhlmeier has been a dynamic two-way player for the Blue & Gold, ranking second on the team in both kills (110) and digs (147), while ranking tied for third in blocks (15). The Explorers hope she can make a return to the lineup this weekend.
 
A duo of talented middle hitters has led the way in the middle, providing offense and defense. Sophomore Elena Lamping ranks third on the Explorers with 84 kills, while ranking third on the team in total blocks with 17. Talented freshman Ashley Felton ranks fourth on the Explorers with 71 kills, while far and away leading the team in total blocks with 44.
 
The Explorers continue to filter their attack through their two talented setters. Sophomore Michelle Healy leads the Explorers with 265 on the season, while junior Rachel Melich has contributed 257 helpers. Healy has enjoyed an especially strong run of play of late notching double-doubles in three of her last four matches, including a 24 assist – 10 dig performance against Penn Monday night.
 
Sophomore libero Erin Noga has continued her breakout season as a regular in the Explorers lineup. Her 17 service aces are the sixth most in the Atlantic 10 this season, while her 0.26 service ace/set average is tied for seventh best in the conference. She has also played exceptional defense this season. Her 258 digs are the second most in the conference, while her 3.91 digs/set average is the seventh best mark in the A-10.
 
La Salle Explorers (1-19; 0-2 A-10) vs. Dayton Flyers (6-8; 0-2 A-10)
Friday, October 4, 2013 | 7:00 PM | Tom Gola Arena – Philadelphia, Pa
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Scouting the Flyers
Dayton has struggled to find their rhythm thus far this season. The usually strong Flyers enter Friday night's matchup coming off getting swept in their conference home opening weekend, dropping five setters to VCU and Saint Louis. In the Flyers most recent match against Saint Louis, they jumped out to an early two-set lead to start the match, but ceded the final three sets and the match to the scrappy Billikens. The Flyers will look to get back on track against the Explorers this weekend.
 
The Dayton attack is a well balanced both inside and outside. Senior middle blocker Megan Campbell leads the Flyers with 142 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Alaina Turner is right on her heels with 132 kills on the season.
 
The Flyer attack flows through sophomore setter Jenna Jendryk. She leads the Flyers with 466 assists and 8.79 assists/set average, the seventh best ranks in the Atlantic 10.
 
One of Dayton's team strengths is their serving. Three Flyers appear in the conference top 10 for service aces. Jendryk leads the team with 15 service aces and 0.28 service ace/set average, the sixth best mark in the conference. Campbell and Turner are tied for seventh best in the conference while on serve, both notching 14 aces and a 0.26 service ace/set average.
 
Defensively, the Flyers excel at the net front. Dayton is the top ranked blocking team in the Atlantic 10. On the season, the Flyers have rung up a block total of 155 and a blocks/set average of 2.92. The do-it-all middle blocker Campbell leads Dayton with 69 total blocks and her 1.30 blocks/set average is tied for the second best mark in the conference. Complimenting Campbell is the imposing presence of junior middle blocker Isolde Hannan. Hannan has notched 44 total blocks in part-time action this season. Her 1.16 blocks/set average is tied for the sixth best mark in the conference.
 
Sophomore libero Janna Krafka leads the Dayton's backline defense. Her 236 digs are the fourth most in the Atlantic 10, while her 4.45 digs/set average is the third best mark in the conference.
 
La Salle Explorers (1-19; 0-2 A-10) vs. Saint Louis Billikens (5-10; 1-1 A-10)
Saturday, October 5, 2013 | 7:00 PM | Tom Gola Arena – Philadelphia, Pa
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Scouting the Billikens
Saint Louis enters this weekend's action coming off a split of their conference road opening weekend, dropping a three setter to Duquesne and a comeback five set victory over Dayton on Sunday. The Billikens dropped the first two sets against Dayton, but rallied to take the final three sets snapping their three-match losing streak. Saint Louis will face George Mason this Friday, before visiting Tom Gola Arena to faceoff against the Explorers on Saturday.
 
The Billikens are one of the strongest offensive teams in the Atlantic 10, leading the conference in hitting percentage and assists, while ranking second in team kills.
 
Saint Louis is led by the dynamic hitting combination of freshman hitters Mallory Dillon and Danielle Rygelski. Dillon ranks second in the conference in both kills (221) and kills/set average (4.09). Rygelski ranks fourth in the conference in both categories with 206 and 3.81 average respectively.  Rygelski is coming off an exceptionally strong week of play, which included a double-double 15 kill – 11 dig performance against Dayton, that earned her A-10 Rookie of the Week honors.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Megan Gilbert supplements the Billiken attack with 142 kills on a scorching hot .326 hitting percentage. She is tied for the second highest hitting percentage in the Atlantic 10.
 
The Billiken attack flows through the excellent setting of sophomore Meridith Boe. Her 500 assists on the season are the sixth most in the Atlantic 10, while her 9.25 assists/set average is the fifth best mark in the conference.
 
Sophomore libero Anna Church leads the Billiken defense. Her 222 digs are the eighth most in the conference, while her 4.11 digs/set average is the fourth best mark in the A-10.