Women's Volleyball | September 19, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – After a weekend in California where volleyball picked up a win against Harvard, the Explorers remain local this time around with a pair of matchups in Villanova. La Salle begins with Delaware on Friday, followed by Princeton on Saturday to wrap up the majority of its non-conference play this season.

ABOUT THE EXPLORERS

• La Salle comes into this weekend 18th in the nation in assists per set (13.25) and 26th in kills per set (13.97), both top marks in the A-10. The team also comes in at 33rd in digs per set (16.63), good for third in its conference.
• Aggressive Explorers: their highest national mark is actually in team attacks per set at 39.41, checking in at 11th in the country and second in the A-10.
• Setting the standard: senior Kathryn Wood leads the conference in assists per set with 11.06 and is 20th nationally in that category.
• Other team leaders include junior Samantha Graver, who is third in the A-10 in kills per set (3.78) and points per set (4.14), and freshman Rachel Hess who is third in digs per set (4.75).

SCOUTING THE BLUE HENS

• Delaware has gotten off to a rapid start in 2019 with an 8-1 record. The Blue Hens dropped their season opener to West Virginia, but since embarked on an eight-game winning streak. In a marked turnaround from last season, Delaware is one victory away from matching its 2018 win total.
• The Blue Hens have shown that they are a threat on the serve, ranking 7th in the nation in aces per set at a 2.16 rate. They are also effective finishing off plays with a hitting percentage of .298, which is 16th in the country.
• Delaware doesn't exactly have one player who dominates all of the serve, but senior Bailey Pearlman is in the top-100 with 14 aces. She is followed by classmate Maria Bellinger with 13.
• The team's most noticeable player on the national scene is setter Ezgi Basaranlar. The freshman is assisting at a clip of 11.16 dishes per set, which is 16th among D-1 players.
• Game time: Friday, 4:30 p.m.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

• After going 19-6 in 2018, Princeton has started the new season on entirely different terms. The Tigers have already accrued five defeats, while winning games against George Mason and Arkansas.
• Princeton doesn't rank in the top-100 nationally in any team categories; its highest is in kills per set with 12.78, good for 128th.
• Senior setter Jessie Harris is the top provider in the Ivy League with 9.76 assists per set—a mark that is good for 90th in the nation. Sophomore libero Cameron Dames is second in the conference in digs per set with 4.17.
• Game time: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.