Balanced Attack Propels 'Cats to 3-0 Win vs. UMass Lowell

Friday, October 20

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

University of Massachusetts Lowell

10/20/2017 9:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Kennedi Smith (The Woodlands, Texas), Hannah Petke (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) and Gabri Olhava (Mount Prospect, Ill.) each recorded double digits in kills to lead a balanced attack and the University of New Hampshire volleyball team to Friday night's 3-0 victory against UMass Lowell at Lundholm Gym.

The set scores were 25-14, 25-19, 25-15.

Smith tallied a match-high 12 kills and just one error on 18 attacks for a .611 hitting percentage. Petke followed with 11 kills and a .476 hitting percentage, and Olhava finished with 10 kills on a .400 percentage.

Mali Jereczek (Green Bay, Wis.) and Emma Patlovich (Lake Bluff, Ill.) finished with 20 and 16 assists, respectively, to quarterback the 'Cat attack to a seaon-high .398 hitting percentage.

Up Next

New Hampshire concludes its six-match homestand next weekend against Binghamton University (Oct. 27; 7 p.m.) and the University at Albany (Oct. 29; 1 p.m.)

UNH		UML
41	Kills	27
8	Errors	20
.398	Hitting Pct.	.081
38	Assists	27
10 / 8	Aces / Serve Errors	4 / 2
32	Digs	32
4	Blocks	1

TOP 'CATS

Kennedi Smith: 12 kills, .611 hitting percentage, nine digs, two blocks
Hannah Petke: 11 kills, .476 hitting percentage, two blocks
Gabri Olhava: 10 kills, .400 hitting percentage
Mali Jereczek: 20 assists, three service aces
Emma Patlovich: 16 assists, two service aces
Logan Welti (Middleton, Wis.): 10 digs

UML River Hawks

Katherine Claybaugh: five kills, nine assists
Madi Bell: five kills

THE DIFFERENCE

UNH recorded a season-high .398 hitting percentage, which included .619 in Set 3, and stymied the UMass Lowell offense to a .081 hitting percentage – the second lowest by a Wildcat opponent this season.
New Hampshire trailed just twice the entire match: 5-4 in the first set and 1-0 in the second set.

SET 1

New Hampshire's balanced attack began in the opening set; Smith tallied five kills while both Petke and Olhava had four.
The Wildcat defense also dominated, as 19 digs and two blocks – combined with seven UMass Lowell attack errors – forced the River Hawks to a negative hitting percentage (-.030).
After falling behind 5-4, UNH went on a 4-1 run to take an 8-6 lead.
The 'Cats inched ahead 12-9 and three consecutive points, including a service ace by Smith, extended the advantage to 15-9.
A late 5-0 spurt pushed the margin to double digits, 22-12

SET 2

After surrendering the first point of the second set, UNH built an early 8-3 lead.
UML chipped away and tied the score at 12.
The Wildcats called time out and Smith's solo block gave New Hampshire a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way.
Leading 15-14, UNH reeled off five consecutive points – that included a Petke kill, Patlovich ace and Olhava kill – to open up a 20-14 cushion.

SET 3

The Wildcats transformed an early 3-2 lead into a six-point advantage by winning five consecutive points, four on the service of Alexa Markman (Chicago, Ill.).
Markman recorded two kills, three service aces and a dig in the third set.
The River Hawks narrowed the deficit to four points three times, but then two aces by Markman fueled a 4-0 run that extended the advantage to 17-9.
UML inched within 19-14 before another 5-0 spurt pushed the 'Cats within set point at 24-14.
A kill by Markman ended the set and match.

UNH NOTEBOOK

New Hampshire has won all 11 lifetime matches against UMass Lowell.
UNH improved to 6-1 at home this season.
This was UNH's sixth straight-set win of the year.
Smith's .611 hitting percentage is the second highest by a 'Cat this season.
Prior to Friday night's .398 hitting percentage, UNH's highest team effort was .292 against the University of Hartford last Sunday.
This was the fourth consecutive match UNH recorded 10 service aces.
The Wildcats committed just eight attack errors to mark the first time this year UNH recorded single digits in that stat.

KEEPING UP WITH THE 'CATS
For the most up-to-date information on the volleyball team, visit UNHWildcats.com. For additional information on the UNH volleyball team, like the squad on Facebook or follow the 'Cats on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @UNHVOLLEYBALL.