Volleyball Set to Compete at the Fairfield Invitational (Sept. 4-5)

DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire volleyball team aims to continue its winning ways, competing at the Fairfield Invitational. UNH starts the tournament against Marshall University (4 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 4. New Hampshire ends the tourney against the College of Holy Cross (10 a.m.) and host Fairfield University (8 p.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 5.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wildcats posted their second consecutive victory of the young season, rallying from a two-set deficit to trump Northeastern University in a five-set thriller Tuesday, Sept. 1. The set scores were 18-25, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20 and 16-14.

Senior outside hitter Tori Forrest (Powder Springs, Ga.) earned her second double-double of the season with 11 kills and 12 digs. Senior middle blocker Cassidy Croci (Sylvania, Ohio) tallied seven kills on 15 swings for a match-high .467 hitting percentage. Junior setter Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla.) achieved her first collegiate double-double, posting 23 assists and 14 digs. Freshman middle blocker Gabri Olhava (Mount Prospect, Ill.) set new career-highs in blocks (five) and kills (five), which included the game-winning solo block to bridge the comeback for the 'Cats.

Forrest leads the Wildcats with 2.50 kills per set while junior middle blocker Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.) ranks second with a 2.07 average. Junior setter Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla.) pilots the attack, dishing out 5.94 assists per set. Senior defensive specialist Madison Lightfoot (Clarkston, Mich.) patrols the court, compiling 2.94 digs per set. New Hampshire is curbing opponents to a .194 attack percentage.

SCOUTING HOLY CROSS: The Crusaders come into the Fairfield invitational with a 0-3 record, falling to Iona College (Aug 28; 2-3; 17-25, 25-27, 20-25, 26-24, 9-15), Bryant University (Aug 28; 15-25, 20-25, 26-24, 18-25), and Quinnipiac University (Aug 29; 21-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 12-15).

On the offensive end, junior outside hitter Mandy Sifferlin leads the team in kills with 55, averaging 3.93 kills per set. Freshman outside hitter/right side Lynsey Peterson is second on the team with 2.64 kills per set. Junior Emily Popp leads the Crusaders on the defensive front with 4.21 digs per set. Junior setter Katie McKernan orchestrates the offense, dishing out 6.21 assists per set. As a team, Holy Cross is averaging 11.1 kills per set and 12.7 digs per set. Melisa Batie-Smoose is in her first season as head coach for the Crusaders.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. HOLY CROSS: The Wildcats look to remain perfect against the Crusaders, boasting a 13-0 lifetime record. UNH swept Holy Cross at home in its last match, dating back to Sept. 7, 2012.

SCOUTING FAIRFIELD: The tournament host comes into the weekend with a 1-2 overall record. The Stags fell to Central Connecticut State University (Aug 28; 29-27,25-23,2 9-27) and Bucknell University (Aug 29; 20-25, 24-26, 22-25) in three-set decisions. The lone win for the Stags came against New Jersey Institute of Technology with a three-set sweep (Aug 28; 25-21, 25-16, 25-14). With the win over NJIT, head coach Todd Kress, who began his second stint as the head coach of the Stags, reclaimed the program's all-time wins mark with 114.

Sophomore Meghan Theiller is leading Fairfield in kills with 3.78 kills per set. Sophomore outside hitter Skyler Day is second on the team in both kills and digs with 33 and 20, respectively. Freshman defensive specialist Mallory Bechtold is paces the backcourt in digs with 5.12 digs per set. Fairfield is hitting at a .221 clip and lands 13.1 kills per set.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. FAIRFIELD: The Stags lead the lifetime series with an 11-1 record against the 'Cats. New Hampshire's lone win came on Sept. 7, 2002 in a five-set battle.

SCOUTING MARSHALL: The Thundering Herd marches into the Fairfield Invitational with a 4-0 overall record. The most recent win came against Eastern Kentucky University in a four-set battle (Sept. 1; 25-17, 25-20, 15-25, 25-16). Junior outside hitter Cassie Weaver finished the contest with a team-leading 22 kills and 45 helpers in the contest. Junior libero Allie Kellerman led the team in digs with 19.

Weavers is the Thundering Herd's top hitter, averaging 4.29 kills per set. Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Pelton is second in kills with 3.64 kills per set. Kellerman paces the Marshall defense with 4.71 digs per set. Sophomore setter Kayla Simmons conducts the offense to hit .243 and registers 9.79 assists per set. As a team, Marshall averages 13.6 kills per set. Two-time Conference-USA coach of the year Mitch Jacobs is entering his 14th season at the helm of Marshall volleyball.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. MARSHALL: Friday's meeting will mark the first-ever tilt between the two schools.

POWER 5 TEAM GOES DOWN: New Hampshire's triumph over Wake Forest University on Aug. 29 was the first-win against an ACC opponent since Sept. 21, 2002 against North Carolina State University. The set scores were 15-25, 25-19, 25-21 and 29-27.

RELOADED: The 'Cats welcome back six starters from their championship squad. The returners consist of senior outside hitter Abby Brinkman (Brecksville, Ohio), senior right side hitter Brenna Buckwalter (Evergreen, Colo.), Croci, Forrest, Lightfoot and Muses.

FIVE-TIME CHAMPS: The Wildcats secured the America East title on their home court for the second straight year after defeating the University at Albany in four sets on Nov. 22, 2014 (25-22, 19-25, 27-25 and 25-13). UNH has won its conference crown five times; all under the tutelage of head coach Jill Hirschinger. Additionally, all five titles of the program's titles have been won at Lundholm Gymnasium.

HIRSCHINGER BY THE NUMBERS: In 36 years as a head coach, Hirschinger is one if just 12 active coaches that have recorded 700 wins or more. She recorded win No. 700 on Sept. 20, 2014 against the University of Rhode Island in a five-set battle. Already the program's most winningest coach, Hirschinger earned her 300th career win at UNH when the team captured a four-set win over Binghamton University on Nov. 2, 2014.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE CLUB: Forrest racked up 10 double-doubles to lead the team in 2014. The senior co-captain has tallied two double-doubles through four games. Severtson posted her first-ever double-double in the five-set win at Northeastern (Sept. 1).

MILESTONE WATCH: Continuing her ascent of the UNH leaderboard, Lightfoot ranks third in program history with 1,283 digs. The defensive specialist became the ninth player in program history to register 1,000 career digs, achieving the milestone on Oct. 3, 2014 against Binghamton University in a five-set win (24-26, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 15-7). In addition, Lightfoot's 560 digs last season tied the program's single-season record. Forrest is also close to reaching a milestone mark. The senior is just 12 kills away from becoming the eighth player in UNH volleyball history to reach the 1,000-kill plateau.

DUE NEXT: The Wildcats debut at Lundholm Gymnasium on Tuesday, Sept. 8 (7 p.m.) against Bryant University. UNH will remain in Durham to host the Holly Young Invitational. New Hampshire clashes with the University of Delaware on Friday, Sept. 11 (7 p.m.). The 'Cats conclude the tournament against Michigan State University (12:30 p.m.) and Boston College (7 p.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 12. The tournament finale against the Eagles will be the 15^th annual "Pack the Arena" night for the UNH volleyball team.

Please visit UNHWildcats.com or follow the Wildcats via social media on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHWildcats), Twitter (@UNHWildcats), YouTube (www.youtube.com/UNHAthletics) and Instagram (@UNHWildcats) for the latest news and information on all 20 varsity sports. For additional information on the UNH volleyball team, like the squad on Facebookor follow the 'Cats on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @UNHVOLLEYBALL. To sign up for all new text alerts, click HEREor text UNH to 90561.

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