Women's Volleyball | August 29, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – When La Salle women's volleyball begins its 2019 season on Friday at Notre Dame, there will be high hopes for the Explorers. They return 11 players, nine of whom are upperclassmen, from a season where the team made program history by becoming the first to make the postseason and record a playoff win. Andrew Kroger, entering his sixth year with the Blue & Gold, takes over the reins as head coach from Caitlin Schweihofer. Kroger adds Maggie Scott to assist him, while Kelly Leach returns for her second season on the Explorers' bench. This weekend, the Explorers begin with the Irish and then play twice on Saturday—first against Bowling Green and then vs. Wright State.

ABOUT THE EXPLORERS

• La Salle achieved rare success in 2018. Its .600 winning percentage was the program's highest since 1981, its 18 wins the most since 1983. The Explorers also posted strong numbers at home, going 9-1.
• Since joining the A-10 in 1997, La Salle had never exceeded five wins in conference play. Last season they nearly doubled that mark, going 9-5.
• As a team, La Salle charted near the top of the A-10 in most major categories. The paced the conference in aces (156) and digs (1,830). The Explorers finished second in kills (1,452), assists (1,370), points (1,770.5), and kill percentage (.222).
• A season of firsts: as a junior, Kathryn Wood was the first Explorer to ever win A-10 Setter of the Year, while Schweihofer was the first La Salle coach to take home Coach of the Year. Wood and classmate Devin Corah also became the first players to be named First Team All-Conference.
• Wood will look to improve upon already impressive numbers. In 2018, she led the conference in assists (1,196) and assists per set (11.18), the latter setting a program record.
• Three additional Explorers tallied towards the top of A-10 categories. Corah ranked second in the conference in points (443.5) and kills (412), while classmate Catherine Edgington paced the A-10 in solo blocks in conference play with 10. Samantha Graver ranked second in the A-10 in aces (37) as a sophomore.
• Edgington also led the team in total blocks with 84, followed by Reilly Lowe with 53. Graver finished second in digs with 306.
• The Explorers also received a strong debut campaign from Elizabeth Osborn. The number 11 recorded 315.5 points and 3.09 points per set, good for second on the team. She was tied second in aces with 28 and tied eighth in the conference overall.

SCOUTING THE IRISH

• Notre Dame posted a 16-12 overall record, going 10-8 in conference play. Notably, the Irish went 10-4 on home court.
• The home squad boasts a young team built around a handful of sophomores. Charley Niego led the team in kills (339) and placed second in digs (307). Rebecca Nunge was second in total blocks with 80. Zoe Nunez paced everyone in assists (1,113), while collecting 25 aces, tied for second on the team with Sydney Bent. Bent also collected 270 kills and 67 total blocks, both third on the team.
• The Irish notably lost a pair of impact defensive players in graduates Meg Morningstar and Ryann DeJarld. Morningstar was the team's most disruptive force in front of net with 151 total blocks, while DeJarld led Notre Dame in digs with 532.
• Game time: Friday, 7 p.m.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS

• Bowling Green posted a 19-12 record in 2018, thriving in conference play to the tune of a 13-3 mark. However, in neutral site matches, the Falcons went 2-6.
• They return most of the players who topped their statistical categories from last season. Junior Isabelle Marciniak led in both assists (900) and aces (27), while classmate Katie Kidwell tallied a team-best 124 total blocks. Sophomore Katelyn Meyer paced the team in kills (267).
• They'll have to replace graduated senior Kallie Seimet, who led the Falcons in digs with 766 digs. Only three other players recorded more than 200: senior Paulina Iacobelli (283), Marciniak (259) and redshirt sophomore Taylor Haberland (230).
• Game time: Saturday, 10 a.m.

SCOUTING THE RAIDERS

• Wright State just edged over .500 last campaign, going 15-14 overall. The Raiders did play well in neutral site locations, recording a 6-3 mark.
• The Raiders return a few key players from last season. Junior Celia Powers led the team in kills (299), while ranking third in digs (263) and blocks (102). Sophomore Lainey Stephenson was the team's top provider with 1,033 assists, finishing second in digs (365) and third in aces (23), while classmate Jenna Story was the team leader in digs 556.
• Wright State did lose Alannah Lemming to graduation. Lemming led the team in blocks with 116, while also finishing third in kills with 222. In front of net, the team does retain second-leading blocker, junior Teddie Sauer (104 blocks), along with Powers.
• Game time: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.