Road Trip to Albany (Sept. 29) and Binghamton (Oct. 1)

UNH VOLLEYBALL

Friday, Sept. 29 • 7 pm • University Gym • Albany, N.Y.
UNH (6-9, 1-0 America East) at UAlbany (1-12, 1-0 America East)
Video • Stats

Sunday, Oct. 1 • West Gym • Vestal, N.Y.
UNH (6-9, 1-0 AE) at Binghamton (3-11, 0-1 AE)
Video • Stats

UNH vs. UALBANY

UNH has a 20-20 lifetime record against UAlbany. The teams split the 2016 regular-season series – both teams successfully defended home court – and the Wildcats recorded a straight-set victory against the Great Danes in the conference final at Lundholm Gym. Recap • Box
UNH also won the regular-season home match in three sets to earn the top seed in the tournament. Recap • Box
In the first meeting at Albany, the Great Danes won the first two sets but UNH responded with a dominant effort in Set 3 to extend the match. The Wildcats then fought off two match points in Set 4 and forced a decisive fifth set. New Hampshire overcame a 13-9 deficit to earn match point at 14-13, but Albany responded with three consecutive points for another Great Danes' match point. UNH answered with back-to-back points for its second match point (16-15), but the home team replied with another 3-0 run to win the match, 18-16. Recap • Box
UNH won in Albany in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

UNH vs. BINGHAMTON

UNH has a 20-13 lifetime record against Binghamton with a 9-1 edge the past 10 meetings.
Both the Wildcats and Bearcats won at home in the 2016 regular-season matchups and UNH prevailed in straight sets in the America East semifinal matchup. Recap • Box
These teams met in the 2016 regular-season finale with UNH prevailing 3-1; the set scores were 25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 25-16. Box Score • Recap
The Bearcats were 3-1 victors Oct. 14, 2016 in West Gym. Box Score • Recap

WHAT JUST HAPPENED

New Hampshire was down 2-1 in sets and 19-18 in the fourth set before rallying to win a five-set match at UMass Lowell in the America East conference opener Sept. 22 at Costello Athletic Center.
The set scores were 19-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 15-10. Recap • Box
UNH's defense limited the River Hawks to a .073 hitting percentage in Set 4 and .043 in Set 5.

'CAT NIPS

Sophomore outside hitter Kennedi Smith recorded her third consecutive double-double with a career-high 21 kills and 10 digs vs. UMass Lowell. She tallied those 21 kills on a .269 attack percentage.
Junior middle blocker and captain Gabri Olhava finished with 12 kills on a .280 attack percentage, as well as three blocks.
Freshman setter Emma Patlovich amassed 35 assists – one less than her career high – and 10 digs for her second career double-double.
Sophomore defensive specialist Logan Welti matched her personal best of 21 digs.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

UNH travels to the Empire State on a four-match win streak and overall record of 6-9 that includes 1-0 in America East and 1-4 on the road (1-0 in road conference matches).
Three of the last five matches have gone the distance with UNH winning each of the last two five-set matches.
UNH is averaging 11.5 kills per set on a .160 attack percentage while the opposition is at 12.3 kills/set at a .207 clip.
UNH Volleyball web page

AMERICA EAST PRESEASON FAVORITES

UNH received four of a possible five first-place votes to finish atop the 2017 America East Coaches' Preseason Poll.
New Hampshire has won each of the past four America East regular-season and tournament titles (2013-14-15-16). The Wildcats are the first team to win four consecutive America East titles.
UNH's seven titles overall is also a conference record.
During the four-year title run, UNH went 44-6 in conference games for a .880 winning percentage.

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND

On last year's road trip to battle these Empire State teams, UNH was defeated in four sets at Binghamton (Oct. 14) and then lost in an instant-classic five-set match at Albany (Oct. 16).
Prior to the 2016 season, the 'Cats had not lost consecutive America East conference matches since 2012.

PUT ME IN, COACH

Junior middle blocker and captain Gabri Olhava is the only Wildcat who has played all 56 sets in 15 matches.
Freshman setter Emma Patlovich and sophomore defensive specialist Logan Welti have seen action in 55 of 56 sets.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE

Sophomore outside hitter Kennedi Smith has recorded a double-double four of the past five matches and six times this season; the rest of the Wildcats have a total of four double-doubles.
In the week of Sept. 12-16, Smith tallied 15 kills and a career-high 17 digs at Northeastern (Sept. 12), then surpassed that number with 18 digs and 11 kills vs. URI (Sept. 16); she recorded 17 kills and 13 digs against Dartmouth College (Sept. 16).
Smith is UNH's leader in kills (175) and kills per set (3.43), as well as points/set (3.89); she is tied for the team lead in points (198).
Smith has led the team (or tied for the team lead) in kills 10 of 15 matches, including eight consecutive matches spanning Aug. 26 – Sept. 12.

BLOCK PARTY

Gabri Olhava has a team-best 43 blocks (10 solo, 33 assisted).
She has led the team (or tied for the team lead) in blocks 10 times this season.
Olhava recorded a career high of 10 blocks at Fairfield on Sept. 9; the last time a Wildcat reached double digits in blocks was Oct. 19, 2014 (Demi Muses, 11, at Hartford); Cassidy Croci also had 11 blocks Aug. 30, 2014.
In other stats, Olhava is the leader in both points (198) and service aces (23), as well as second in kills (149), kills/set (2.66) and points/set (3.54).

SMOKING ACES

Gabri Olhava has a team-high 23 service aces, and she has also led – or tied for the lead – in aces nine times.
She recorded five aces at Northeastern (Sept. 12); that total is tied for the most by a Wildcat this season (established by Kennedi Smith at St. John's).
Olhava recorded three aces in 2 of 3 matches at the Michigan Tournament. (against Wisconsin Green Bay and Butler)

DIG THIS

Logan Welti has a team-high 232 digs and is averaging 4.22 per set.
She has led UNH in digs in 10 of 15 matches, including 21 last Friday at UMass Lowell to match her career high established Aug. 25 vs. UConn.
Welti has tallied 19 or more saves four of the last six matches.

GIVING ASSISTANCE

Emma Patlovich is UNH's leader in assists, with 375, and assists/set (6.82).
She has been UNH's top 'Cat in assists in 13 of 15 matches with 30-plus assists five times, including a career high 36 against Wisconsin-Green Bay.

CONFERENCE CALL

UNH leads America East in service aces with 87; the Wildcats rank second in aces per set (1.55).
Gabri Olhava is second in service aces (23) and is fourth in aces/set (0.41). She is also third in points (198.5), fourth in points/set (3.54), fifth in hitting percentage (.265), eighth in kills per set (.2.66) and 10th in blocks/set (0.77).
Logan Welti is No. 2 in digs (232) and No. 4 in digs per set (4.22).
Kennedi Smith is No. 2 in points per set (3.89), kills (175) and kills per set (3.35), as well as No. 9 in service aces per set (0.27).
Emma Patlovich is sixth in assists per set (6.82) and eighth in service aces per set (0.29).
Senior outside hitter and captain Courtney Bowman ranks 10th in digs per set (2.69).

SET-BY-SET

UNH has won the first set 7 of 15 matches this season.
The Wildcats have won Set 2 in 9 of 15 matches, whereas the opposition has won Set 3 nine times.
UNH is 1-7 in Set 4 and won the fourth set for the first time last Friday at UMass Lowell.
The 'Cats are 2-1 in the decisive fifth set.

HIRSCHINGER'S HISTORY

This is the 22^nd year as UNH head coach for Jill Hirschinger. She recorded her 750^th career victory when the Wildcats prevailed 3-1 at UMBC last October.
Of her 761 career wins, 352 have been at UNH's helm.
Hirschinger's 350^th win at UNH was a five-set victory against Rhode Island at the Holly Young Invitational on Sept. 16.
Hirschinger has been named America East Coach of the Year six times.

SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES

The University at Albany (Albany, N.Y.) has a 1-12 overall record that includes 1-0 in America East and 1-3 at home.
The Great Danes ended a 12-match losing streak with a 3-1 victory against Binghamton University on Sept. 22.
Nine of the 12 losses were in straight sets.
The Great Danes were picked second in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll and received 2 of 6 first-place votes.
UAlbany is averaging 10.2 kills per set on a .106 attack percentage. The opponents are hitting at a .278 clip with 14.0 kills per set.
Akuabata Okenwa has a team-high 139 kills (3.31 per set) on a team-best .185 hitting percentage. She also ranks second in blocks (21).
Kelly Cameron quarterbacks the offense with 6.85 assists per set (233 total).
Nicole Otero is averaging a team-high 3.86 digs per set (166 total).

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS

Binghamton University (Vestal, N.Y.) enters the weekend with a 3-11 overall record that includes 1-0 at home and 0-1 in America East.
The Bearcats play host to UMass Lowell on Sept. 29 before battling UNH.
Binghamton has lost seven consecutive matches since defeating Siena College, 3-0, on Sept. 5.
Binghamton is averaging 12.2 kills per set with a .171 hitting percentage in comparison to the opponents' 12.4 and .219. The bigger disparity is in blocks (68.5-152.0).
Gabby Alicea (185), Erin Shultz (142) and Kristell Morina (113) are the leaders in kills. Morina has the highest attack percentage of the trio at .284 and is the block leader with 40. Alicea has a team-best 24 service aces.
Sarah Ngo is the primary setter at 9.47 assists per set (502 total).
Ngo and Samantha Gioiosa are tops in digs at 187 and 221, respectively.

2017 WILDCAT ACCOLADES

Jack Kaiser Classic All-Tournament Team (08/26) – Courtney Bowman
America East Rookie of the Week (08/29) – Emma Patlovich
Michigan Invitational All-Tournament Team (09/02) – Gabri Olhava
America East Defensive Specialist of the Week (09/12) – Logan Welti
Holly Young Invitational All-Tournament Team (09/16) – Gabri Olhava
Holly Young Invitational All-Tournament Team (09/16) – Emma Patlovich
Holly Young Invitational All-Tournament Team (09/16) – Kennedi Smith
America East Player of the Week (09/19) – Gabri Olhava

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Courtney Bowman

Demi Muses

Gabri Olhava

Emma Patlovich

Kennedi Smith

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