Women's Volleyball | September 5, 2019
PHILADELPHIA – La Salle volleyball is back on the east coast for the Seton Hall Tournament this weekend. The Explorers will look to improve upon their 1-2 record with a pair of games on Friday against Binghamton and Seton Hall, and a match on Saturday vs. Northern Arizona. The game against the hosts can be streamed for free
on their website.
ABOUT THE EXPLORERS
- La Salle opened its season leading in many of the statistical categories at the Golden Dome Invitational. The team notably out-killed its opponents 188-160 and out-assisted 181-148, while also holding a narrow advantage in aces and digs.
- Blazing beginnings: senior setter Kathryn Wood got off to the fastest start of her career in terms of assists, notching 155 over three games. Junior Samantha Graver had her best start in kills and digs, recording 51 of each. Senior Devin Corah also had her best opening three matches in kills with 53, and tied last season's start in total blocks with 13.
- Freshmen Rachel Hess and Marisa Guisti impressed in their first taste of collegiate action. Hess took home A-10 Rookie of the Week after an eventful Invitational where she was named to the All-Tournament Team; there she recorded 72 digs, the most by an Explorer in the first three games since 2006. Guisti also started all three games, excelling in front of net where she was second on the team in total blocks with 12.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
- Binghamton has started its season slowly, going 0-3 and yet to win a set. In the previous season, the team had a 5-20 record and went 1-7 in neutral location games. The only time the Explorers played the Bearcats, La Salle won 3-0 in 2016.
- The Bearcats' number 18, junior Francela Ulate, is the team's top offensive performer, leading in kills (22), points (30.5) and aces (eight). She is also third in digs with 15, trailing classmate Elizabeth Kaner on 37.
- Game time: Friday, 1:30 p.m.
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
- The hosts also started their season winless, dropping three games at the Morgan State Invitational. They'll look to channel home court advantage, as last season almost half of their wins (4 of 10) came at the Walsh Gymnasium.
- The Pirates will look to their upperclassmen for production, notably seniors Haylee Gasser and Maggie Cvelbar and junior Amanda Rachwal. Gasser leads the team in kills with 28, closely followed by Rachwal on 26. The latter has been the team's top enforcer at the net with 10 total blocks. Cvelbar paces the team in assists (72) and is second in digs (21).
- Game time: Friday, 7:00 p.m.
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS
- Northern Arizona opened its season with a win before dropping consecutive games to start 2019 1-2. It's a slow start for a team that began last season 5-2, eventually notching 26 wins and a Big Sky Championship.
- The Lumberjacks notably lost conference MVP Kaylie Jorgenson, but they return tournament MVP, junior Heaven Harris. Thus far, Harris leads the team in points (38) and kills (35).
- Those duo were named to First Team Big Sky along with senior Abby Akin. Akin currently ranks second in points and kills, having the biggest impact as a blocker, totaling 17 so far.
- Game time: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
