Volleyball Welcomes Bryant For Home Opener (Sept. 8; 7 p.m.)

DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire volleyball team makes its 2015 debut at Lundholm Gymnasium, welcoming Bryant University for non-conference action Tuesday, Sept. 8 (7 p.m.).

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wildcats put their five-match unbeaten streak on the line, entering the non-conference tilt with a 5-2 overall record.

UNH went undefeated at the Fairfield Invitational, downing Marshall University (3-1; 25-12, 25-18, 13-25, 25-16; Sept. 4), the College of the Holy Cross (3-0; 25-19, 25-20, 25-16; Sept. 5) and Fairfield University (3-1; 25-21, 13-25, 25-15, 25-23; Sept. 5). Senior outside hitter Tori Forrest (Powder Springs, Ga.) was named to the All-Tournament Team, averaging 3.82 kills and 3.27 digs per set in the three matches. Furthermore, Forrest registered a double-double performance in each match.

Forrest, who became the eighth player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills, leads the Wildcats with 3.04 kills per set on the season accompanied by 2.81 digs per set. Junior middle blocker Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.) supports the UNH offense, notching 2.88 kills per set on the strength of a .289 hitting percentage. Junior setter Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla.) orchestrates the New Hampshire attack with 7.37 assists per set and leads the league in service aces with 16. Senior defensive specialist Madison Lightfoot (Clarkston, Mich.) anchors the Wildcats' backcourt, scooping up 3.52 digs per set. As a team, UNH holds opponents to a .171 clip while landing 10.33 kills per set.

SCOUTING BRYANT: The Bulldogs carry a 4-3 overall record into Tuesday's contest after going winless at the Dog Pound Challenge, hosted by the University of Connecticut.

Bryant fell to UConn (1-3; 27-25, 14-25, 18-25, 15-25) and James Madison University (0-3; 20-25, 19-25, 13-25) on Friday, Sept. 4 to start the tournament. Bryant dropped a four-set decision to conclude the tournament against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (22-25, 25-21, 21-25, 18-25) on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Rookie outside hitter Kristin Kingi is the Bulldogs' top offensive threat, averaging 2.74 kills per set. Sophomore setter Vika Nesterov orchestrates the offense to a .174 attack percentage and dishes out 6.04 assists per set. Senior libero Debora Magalhaes paces the defensive effort with 5.08 digs per set. Bryant registers 12.00 kills per set and is hitting at a .198 clip. Head coach Theresa Garlacy enters her 20th season at the helm of the Bryant program.

ALL-TIME SERIES: The Wildcats and Bulldogs have met seven times dating back to 2008. UNH boasts a 5-2 record against Bryant, including wins in the previous three matches.

DEFEND DURHAM: New Hampshire boasts a 22-5 record at Lundholm Gymnasium dating back to the start of the 2013 season. Additionally, the Wildcats are 27-8 when hosting America East teams since 2011.

PERFECT WEEKEND: UNH ripped through the Fairfield Invitational opposition, toppling Marshall and Fairfield in four sets and Holy Cross in straight sets. It marked the first time the Wildcats posted three victories in a tournament weekend since Aug. 24-25, 2007 at the Colgate Classic.

ROLLING DOUBLES: Forrest racked up 10 double-doubles to lead the team in 2014. She looks to eclipse that figure as the co-captain has five double-doubles through seven matches. In the last four contests, Forrest has turned in a double-double performance. Severtson (two) and Muses (one) have also achieved double-double efforts this season. UNH is 4-1 this season when someone records a double-double.

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.), senior middle blocker Cassidy Croci (Sylvania, Ohio), 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, 25-13). UNH has won its conference crown five times; all under the tutelage of head coach Jill Hirschinger. Additionally, all five titles won in UNH volleyball history have occurred on the court of Lundholm Gymnasium.

LUCKY 7: When New Hampshire rips seven aces from the service line, it has resulted in each of the five wins UNH has this season. Severston, who leads the team with 16 service aces, has matched her career-high of aces twice this season with four.

POWER 5 TEAM GOES DOWN: New Hampshire's triumph over Wake Forest was the first-win against an ACC opponent since Sept. 21, 2002 against North Carolina State University.

HAVE TO BEAT THE BEST: UNH will compete against one program that earned a bid into the NCAA Tournament and three that were ranked in the top 100 RPI from 2014. Michigan State University may be the toughest test the Wildcats encounter, ranking 42^nd in the national RPI rankings entering the season. Northwestern (72^nd) and Harvard University (81^st) will also be arduous opponents. Michigan State merited an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament last season.

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.

DUE NEXT: The Wildcats remains in Durham as Lundholm Gymnasium sets the stage for the Holly Young Invitational. UNH will open the tournament against the University of Delaware on Friday, Sept. 11 (7 p.m.). New Hampshire closes the weekend out against Michigan State University (12:30 p.m.) and Boston College (7 p.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 12. The match against the Eagles will be the 15^th annual "Pack the Arena" night for the UNH volleyball team.

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.

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