RU Volleyball Opens BIG EAST Play; Hosts USF, Georgetown
Sep 24 | Women's Volleyball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers volleyball team carries its three-match win streak into the weekend as it opens BIG EAST play by hosting USF on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Georgetown on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the College Avenue Gym.
Saturday's match will be aired live on RU-tv channel 60. Eddie Wahrman and Peter Ibarra are calling the contest for RU-tv. Sunday's contest will be streamed live on Knightvision Broadband on www.scarletknights.com. Adam Helfgott and Chris Yip will be on the call for Sunday's match. Live stats will also be available at www.scarletknights.com for both matches.
Fans are encouraged to get to the gym early as the Rutgers athletic marketing department will be on hand serving free pizza on a first-come-first-served basis.
The Scarlet Knights (6-7) swept the competition this past weekend to win the Bucknell Invitational Title. Rutgers knocked off Radford (3-0), Delaware State (3-2) and host Bucknell (3-0) to take home the title.
The sweep marks the first time the Scarlet Knights have won a tournament since the 2004 Patriot Invitational and the first time the squad has won three straight matches since the 2005 season.
"After coming home with a tournament title last weekend, we are right where we want to be," said Rutgers head coach CJ Werneke. "We have come a long way since our first tournament in Wyoming and we hope to carry our momentum into the weekend. We have had a great week of practice and look forward to getting back on the court."
Middle blocker Hannah Curtis (Wasilla, Alaska) was named MVP of the Bucknell Invitational. The sophomore sensation swatted 35 kills in 11 sets, along with nine blocks. The MVP's most dominating performance came in the tournament finale against host Bucknell when she notched 11 kills on an outstanding .526 attack percentage to go along with five total blocks to seal RU's first tournament title since the 2004 Patriot Invitational.
With six wins, the Scarlet Knights have already surpassed their win total of the previous two seasons combined. RU's 6-7 record is the best mark through 13 matches since the 2004 season when the squad was 10-3.
USF (7-3) in under the direction of sixth-year head coach Claire Lessinger. The Bulls went 2-1 last week. Senior BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Marcela Gurgel has totaled 1,511 for her career and became the fourth player in USF history to reach the 1,500-kill plateau last week.
USF ranks fourth in the conference and 30th in the country in blocks per set with a 2.56 average.
Rutgers leads the all-time series against USF with a 4-3 record but USF has won three of the last five contests. Last season, the Bulls won at home against the Scarlet Knights by a 3-0 score.
Georgetown (10-5) is led by fourth-year head coach Arlisa Williams. The Hoyas are on a six-match winning streak after going 4-0 this past weekend. GU traveled to the UNC-Greensboro Tournament and picked up victories over La Salle, host UNC Greensboro, North Carolina State and High Point.
Sophomore libero Tory Rezin was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for her efforts in Greensboro. Rezin earned MVP honors at the event after leading the tournament with 68 digs in 15 sets.
Georgetown owns a 24-14 advantage in the all-time series with Rutgers. Last season, the Hoyas won at home against the Scarlet Knights by a 3-0 score. The Hoyas have won three of the last five matches.
Georgetown faces Seton Hall at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The Scarlet Knights will be challenged to get kills against their BIG EAST foes this weekend as Georgetown and USF both rank in the top three of the conference in opponent hitting percentage with marks of .168 and .170, respectfully.
"We feel like we are building a new program and new feeling with this team," said Werneke. "We hope to continue to show that as we start BIG EAST play."
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