RU Volleyball Hosts Crucial BIG EAST Matches this Weekend
Oct 15 | Women's Volleyball
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (October 15, 2009) - The Rutgers volleyball team faces arguably its toughest test of the season this weekend when it welcomes BIG EAST foes Cincinnati on Saturday and Louisville on Sunday to College Avenue Gym in New Brunswick, N.J. First serve is set for 2 p.m. for both matches.
The Scarlet Knights (8-11, 1-4 BIG EAST) are trying to end a three-match skid in conference play. Last Sunday, Rutgers returned to BIG EAST action and was upended at Villanova, 3-0.
The Bearcats (13-8, 4-1 BIG EAST) went 1-1 in conference play last weekend by falling to Notre Dame, 3-2, on Saturday and defeating DePaul, 3-0, on Sunday. Cincinnati leads the all-time series with Rutgers by an 8-2 mark.
The Cardinals (10-8, 3-2 BIG EAST) went 1-1 in conference action this past weekend. Louisville defeated DePaul 3-0 on Saturday followed by a 3-1 loss to Notre Dame on Sunday. Louisville leads the all-time series with Rutgers holding a 5-0 advantage.
Rutgers fell on the road to both Cincinnati and Louisville, each by a 3-0 score, last season.
The Scarlet Knights currently rank 12th in the BIG EAST standings. The Bearcats are fourth and the Cardinals are in eighth. Only the league's top eight teams, based on conference standings, will earn a spot in the 2009 BIG EAST Volleyball Championship, which will be conducted Nov. 20 - 22.
Rutgers head coach CJ Werenke said his team is well aware of the importance of this weekend's conference showdowns.
"There is no question that Cincinnati and Louisville are two of the best programs in the conference," said Werneke. "They have both been to the NCAA Tournament. They are well coached and experienced. We won't be intimidated by them. We will come out and play hard. We look forward to good competition this weekend."
The Scarlet Knights have played well at home this season by winning 12 of the 16 sets played at the Barn.
Junior Caitlin Saxton (Encinitas, Calif.) leads the Scarlet Knights in kills this season with 238. The 5-foot-9 outside hitter is averaging 3.35 kills per set this season, which ranks eighth in the BIG EAST. Saxton ranks ninth in the conference in points per set with an average of 3.70.
Freshman Alex Jones (Chesapeake, Va.) has been dominant in conference matches this season as she owns a league best .472 attack percentage in BIG EAST contests. The 6-foot middle blocker has been outstanding in home matches as she has swatted a proficient .568 attack percentage.
Freshmen setter Stephanie Zielinski (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) has dished out 470 assists and is averaging 7.97 per set this season to lead RU. The standout setter has stepped her play up at home as she is averaging 8.44 assists at College Avenue Gym.
Reed Sunahara is in his 12th season as Cincinnati head coach. Sunahara owns a 239-130 record leading the Bearcats.
The Bearcats lead the conference in assists (12.97) and kills (13.89) per set this season. UC's 13.89 kills per set average also ranks 24th in the nation.
Junior outside hitter Stephanie Niemer leads Cincinnati in kills per set with a 4.52 average. Niemer's kills per set average also ranks 13th in the country. Niemer was selected to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll this past week.
Bearcats junior setter Annie Fesl leads the conference and is ninth in the country in assists per set with an 11.73 average.
Louisville is under the instruction of Leonid Yelin, who is in his 14th season on the Cardinals sidelines. Yelin owns a 331-100 record at UofL.
The Cardinals rank sixth in the country in blocks per set with a 2.94 average. Senior middle blocker Lecia Brown leads Louisville in blocks per set with a 1.38 average, which ranks 16th in the country. Brown has also been efficient in her kills with a BIG EAST best .421 attack percentage. Brown's attack percentage ranks 10th in the nation.
Following the Louisville contest, Rutgers' schedule will continue to challenge the Scarlet Knights as six of their final eight matches are on the road. Rutgers goes on a four-match road swing with contests at Fordham (Oct. 21), Seton Hall (Oct. 24), DePaul (Oct. 31) and Notre Dame (Nov. 1).
