University of New Hampshire Athletics
Friday, October 2
Albany, N.Y.
7 PM
University of New Hampshire
at
University at Albany
Photo by: Paige O'Donnell
Volleyball Set For Tilts at UAlbany and Binghamton (Oct. 2; 7 p.m., Oct. 4; 1 p.m.)
9/30/2015 4:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire volleyball team continues America East play, embarking on a two-match road swing at the University at Albany (Oct. 2; 7 p.m.) and Binghamton University (Oct. 4; 1 p.m.).
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wildcats, winners of their last three contests, enter the weekend with an overall record of 9-7 and 1-0 in league play. UNH started its America East schedule with a three-set sweep over the University of Hartford on Friday, Sept. 25 (25-12, 25-12, 25-7). The 'Cats were stellar from the service line, ripping a season-high 14 aces in the match.
Senior outside hitter Tori Forrest (Powder Springs, Ga.) and junior middle blocker Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.) are tied for the team lead in kills per set with 2.88 apiece. Muses is also a force defensively, leading the team in blocks (40) and ranking third in digs per set (2.60). Junior setter Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla.) pilots the offense, distributing 8.32 sets per set while firing a team-high 28 service aces. Senior defensive specialist Madison Lightfoot (Clarkston, Mich.) continues to be a stalwart in the backcourt with 4.05 digs per set. The Wildcats slam 10.98 kills per set and hold their opponents to an America East-low .190 hitting percentage.
SCOUTING UALBANY: The Great Danes ended their non-conference schedule with a record of 6-7 overall. In its league opener at Binghamton on Friday, Sept. 25, UAlbany rallied from a 2-0 deficit to top its in-state rival in five sets (23-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-12). Reigning America East Player of the Week Laini Leindecker earned a double-double on 15 kills and 22 digs.
Leindecker, a junior outside hitter, leads the team with a league-high 3.29 kills per set. Directing the offense is junior setter Mikala McCauley, who dishes out 8.54 assists per set. Freshman libero Nicole Otero paces the squad in digs with 4.88 per set. Junior middle blocker Amanda Dolan chalks up a conference-best 1.02 blocks per set at the net. UAlbany leads the league in blocks (2.02) and digs (16.60) per set. MJ Engstrom enters her eighth season as the coach of the Great Danes.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. UALBANY: The Wildcats trail the Great Danes in the career series, 16-18. New Hampshire topped UAlbany twice last season, which included a four-set win (25-22, 19-25, 27-25, 25-13) in the championship match last year at Lundholm Gymnasium on Nov. 22, 2014. Furthermore, UNH posted its first win at University Gymnasium since Oct. 3, 2007 on Halloween last year in four sets (15-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-17).
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON: Binghamton went 3-11 in non-conference play and lost its first conference match against UAlbany, playing all five sets (23-25, 25-14, 20-25, 22-25, 15-12; Sept. 25). Freshman outside hitter Gabby Alicea landed a team-high 16 kills in the match against the Great Danes.
Alicea paces the Bearcats' attack, hammering 2.14 kills per set. Sophomore setter Sarah Ngo quarterbacks the attack with 8.32 assists per set. Junior libero Bailey Walker anchors the backline with a league-high 4.95 digs per set. Glenn Kiriyama enters his 17th season at the helm of the Binghamton volleyball program.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. BINGHAMTON: UNH and Binghamton meet on the court for the 26th time in the all-time series. The Wildcats lead the series with a 14-10 record. New Hampshire swept the season series against Binghamton last season with a marathon win at home (24-26, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 15-7; Oct. 3, 2014) and a four-set triumph at Vestal (Nov. 2, 2014; 25-19, 25-14, 19-25, 25-22).
CHART TOPPERS: UNH is among the upper echelon of America East in several statistical categories this season. The Wildcats lead the league in opponent hitting percentage (.190) while ranking second in hitting percentage (.176), digs per set (15.22) and service aces (100). Individually, Forrest and Muses rank sixth in kills per set with 2.88 each. Severtson ranks third in the conference in assists per set (8.32) and second in service aces (28). Lightfoot's 243 digs is good for third in America East.
LIGHTFOOT BECOMES ALL-TIME DIGS LEADER: With the Wildcats' victory over Buffalo on Sept. 20, Lightfoot became the program's all-time digs leader. The senior co-captain surpassed Jen Williams '05 on the career leaderboard, who recorded 1,398 digs in her career. Lightfoot now boasts 1,445 digs and counting in her illustrious career. Lightfoot owns two of the top 10 single-season school records for digs, which includes tying the single-season digs mark of 560 just a year ago.
LEADERBOARD WATCH: Forrest continues to ascend the UNH all-time kills chart, ranking sixth with 1,115. The two-time co-captain became the eighth Wildcat to reach 1,000 kills to reach the milestone in a four-set win (25-12, 25-18, 13-25, 25-16) against Marshall University on Sept. 4.
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, 25-13). UNH has won the 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 of 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 winningest coach, Hirschinger earned her 300th career victory at UNH when the team captured a four-set triumph over Binghamton University on Nov. 2, 2014.
DUE NEXT: New Hampshire returns to Lundholm Gymnasium to take on the University of Massachusetts Lowell on Sunday, Oct. 11 (1 p.m.).
Log onto 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 Facebook or follow the 'Cats on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @UNHVOLLEYBALL. To sign up for all new text alerts, click HERE or text UNH to 90561.
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wildcats, winners of their last three contests, enter the weekend with an overall record of 9-7 and 1-0 in league play. UNH started its America East schedule with a three-set sweep over the University of Hartford on Friday, Sept. 25 (25-12, 25-12, 25-7). The 'Cats were stellar from the service line, ripping a season-high 14 aces in the match.
Senior outside hitter Tori Forrest (Powder Springs, Ga.) and junior middle blocker Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.) are tied for the team lead in kills per set with 2.88 apiece. Muses is also a force defensively, leading the team in blocks (40) and ranking third in digs per set (2.60). Junior setter Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla.) pilots the offense, distributing 8.32 sets per set while firing a team-high 28 service aces. Senior defensive specialist Madison Lightfoot (Clarkston, Mich.) continues to be a stalwart in the backcourt with 4.05 digs per set. The Wildcats slam 10.98 kills per set and hold their opponents to an America East-low .190 hitting percentage.
SCOUTING UALBANY: The Great Danes ended their non-conference schedule with a record of 6-7 overall. In its league opener at Binghamton on Friday, Sept. 25, UAlbany rallied from a 2-0 deficit to top its in-state rival in five sets (23-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-12). Reigning America East Player of the Week Laini Leindecker earned a double-double on 15 kills and 22 digs.
Leindecker, a junior outside hitter, leads the team with a league-high 3.29 kills per set. Directing the offense is junior setter Mikala McCauley, who dishes out 8.54 assists per set. Freshman libero Nicole Otero paces the squad in digs with 4.88 per set. Junior middle blocker Amanda Dolan chalks up a conference-best 1.02 blocks per set at the net. UAlbany leads the league in blocks (2.02) and digs (16.60) per set. MJ Engstrom enters her eighth season as the coach of the Great Danes.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. UALBANY: The Wildcats trail the Great Danes in the career series, 16-18. New Hampshire topped UAlbany twice last season, which included a four-set win (25-22, 19-25, 27-25, 25-13) in the championship match last year at Lundholm Gymnasium on Nov. 22, 2014. Furthermore, UNH posted its first win at University Gymnasium since Oct. 3, 2007 on Halloween last year in four sets (15-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-17).
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON: Binghamton went 3-11 in non-conference play and lost its first conference match against UAlbany, playing all five sets (23-25, 25-14, 20-25, 22-25, 15-12; Sept. 25). Freshman outside hitter Gabby Alicea landed a team-high 16 kills in the match against the Great Danes.
Alicea paces the Bearcats' attack, hammering 2.14 kills per set. Sophomore setter Sarah Ngo quarterbacks the attack with 8.32 assists per set. Junior libero Bailey Walker anchors the backline with a league-high 4.95 digs per set. Glenn Kiriyama enters his 17th season at the helm of the Binghamton volleyball program.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. BINGHAMTON: UNH and Binghamton meet on the court for the 26th time in the all-time series. The Wildcats lead the series with a 14-10 record. New Hampshire swept the season series against Binghamton last season with a marathon win at home (24-26, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 15-7; Oct. 3, 2014) and a four-set triumph at Vestal (Nov. 2, 2014; 25-19, 25-14, 19-25, 25-22).
CHART TOPPERS: UNH is among the upper echelon of America East in several statistical categories this season. The Wildcats lead the league in opponent hitting percentage (.190) while ranking second in hitting percentage (.176), digs per set (15.22) and service aces (100). Individually, Forrest and Muses rank sixth in kills per set with 2.88 each. Severtson ranks third in the conference in assists per set (8.32) and second in service aces (28). Lightfoot's 243 digs is good for third in America East.
LIGHTFOOT BECOMES ALL-TIME DIGS LEADER: With the Wildcats' victory over Buffalo on Sept. 20, Lightfoot became the program's all-time digs leader. The senior co-captain surpassed Jen Williams '05 on the career leaderboard, who recorded 1,398 digs in her career. Lightfoot now boasts 1,445 digs and counting in her illustrious career. Lightfoot owns two of the top 10 single-season school records for digs, which includes tying the single-season digs mark of 560 just a year ago.
LEADERBOARD WATCH: Forrest continues to ascend the UNH all-time kills chart, ranking sixth with 1,115. The two-time co-captain became the eighth Wildcat to reach 1,000 kills to reach the milestone in a four-set win (25-12, 25-18, 13-25, 25-16) against Marshall University on Sept. 4.
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, 25-13). UNH has won the 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 of 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 winningest coach, Hirschinger earned her 300th career victory at UNH when the team captured a four-set triumph over Binghamton University on Nov. 2, 2014.
DUE NEXT: New Hampshire returns to Lundholm Gymnasium to take on the University of Massachusetts Lowell on Sunday, Oct. 11 (1 p.m.).
Log onto 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 Facebook or follow the 'Cats on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @UNHVOLLEYBALL. To sign up for all new text alerts, click HERE or text UNH to 90561.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballUNH Volleyball vs UMBC Highlights 10-12-25
Sunday, October 12
UNH Women's Volleyball vs UAlbany Highlights 10 3 25
Saturday, October 04
UNH Volleyball vs Bryant Highlights 10-1-25
Thursday, October 02
UNH Volleyball vs Merrimack Highlights 9-16-25
Wednesday, September 17