Weekend Road Trip to UMBC (Oct. 5) and Binghamton (Oct. 7)

Friday, October 5 • 7 pm • UMBC Event Center • Baltimore, Md.
UNH (6-11, 2-1 AE) at UMBC (4-12, 0-2 AE)

Sunday, October 7 • 1 pm • West Gymnasium • Vestal, N.Y.
UNH (6-11, 2-1 AE) at Binghamton (3-12, 1-1 AE) • Video • Stats

UNH vs. UMBC

New Hampshire has a 21-10 lifetime record against UMBC. UNH split last year's meetings against the Retrievers with a 3-2 loss Oct. 13 in Durham, and then a straight-set win in Baltimore on Nov. 12.
That UMBC win ended UNH's 11-match win streak in the series.
In the most recent matchup, UNH prevailed 30-28, 25-20, 25-22 at UMBC Event Center on Nov. 12, 2017. Recap • Box
- The Wildcats' attack was spearheaded by Kennedi Smith (15 kills, .289 hitting percentage) and Gabri Olhava (13 kills, .458 hitting percentage).
In last year's other matchup, the 'Cats lost in five sets 25-21, 19-25, 27-25, 23-25, 15-12 at Lundholm Gym on Oct. 13. Recap • Box
- Olhava (14 kills, .379 hitting percentage) and Smith (11 kills) led a proficient attack that recorded a .205 hitting percentage.
- Trailing 11-7 in the decisive fifth set, UMBC reeled off six consecutive points to take a 13-11 lead.
Over the last four years, the Wildcats have won 7 of 8 matches.

UNH vs. BINGHAMTON

New Hampshire has a 20-16 lifetime record vs. Binghamton. Last season, the Wildcats went 0-3 against the Bearcats.
In the most recent meeting in the 2017 America East semifinals, UNH lost in straight sets at University Gym in Albany, N.Y. on Nov. 11; the set scores were 25-20, 25-19, 25-23. Recap • Box
- The Wildcats came back from a six point deficit to tie the first set at 11, though Binghamton ultimately pulled away to take a 20-16 lead, from which UNH couldn't recover.
- Kennedi Smith (12k, 3b) and Gabri Olhava (6k, 4b) were the UNH offensive leaders during the game
The last match played in Vestal was a 3-1 loss on Oct. 1, 2017; the set scores were 25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 22-25. Recap • Box
The last UNH victory over Binghamton was an America East semifinal matchup Nov. 18, 2016, in Durham. The Wildcats won in straight sets.
Binghamton has won each of the last three matchups at BU's West Gymnasium.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW

Tickets for all home matches are available at unhwildcats.com, the box office or by calling (603) 862-4000, as well as game day at the box office.
UNH's next home match is Sunday, Oct. 14 against Albany (1 p.m.)

SHOP UNH

Check out UNHShop.com for the latest in official UNH Wildcats' merchandise.

NATIONAL NUMBERS

On the national leaderboard (through Oct. 1), Emily Tanski is No. 24 in digs with 329.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED

New Hampshire split a pair of home matches last weekend, winning Friday night in straight sets against Hartford before falling to Stony Brook in a 3-1 loss on Sunday afternoon.
Gabri Olhava had a strong weekend with 33 kills (4.71 per set) on a .354 hitting percentage. Olhava finished with a match-high 19 kills, .341 hitting percentage, team-high three blocks and season-high eight digs against Stony Brook.
Hannah Petke, who had missed seven consecutive matches because of injury, returned to the action and recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs against the Seawolves.
UNH's .266 hitting percentage vs. Hartford was the second highest of the season; the Wildcats recorded 40 kills and 15 errors on 94 attacks. • Recap • Box
The set scores vs. SBU were 26-16, 25-23, 21-25, 25-19. • Recap • Box

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE • schedule • stats • news • roster

UNH enters the weekend with a 6-11 overall record that includes 2-3 on the road and 2-1 in America East.
The Wildcats won six consecutive sets – straight-set wins against UMass Lowell and Hartford – before dropping the first two sets last Sunday vs. Stony Brook.
The Wildcats are one year removed from a stretch of four consecutive America East regular-season and tournament titles – as well as four straight NCAA tourney appearances. Head coach Jill Hirschinger, a six-time America East Coach of the Year, looks to lead the Wildcats back to the top in 2018.
UNH was picked second in the 2018 America East Volleyball Preseason Poll.

SET-BY-SET BREAKDOWN

UNH has a 2-2 record in three-set matches, 2-8 in four-set matches and 2-1 in five-set matches.
Opponents have won Set 1 in 10 of 17 matches, and Set 2 in 12 of 17 matches; the opposition also has an 9-4 edge in Set 4.
UNH has the edge in Set 3 (10-7) and Set 5 (2-1).

DOUBLING UP

Kennedi Smith recorded a double-double four of the last five non-conference matches and has a team-high seven this season. Her most recent double-double was Sept. 15 at Temple with 10 kills and season-high 20 digs.
Emma Patlovich recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 37 assists and 10 digs vs. Princeton on Sept. 14.
Hannah Petke is the only other 'Cat with a double-double in '18 with two; she finished with 11 kills and 11 digs at UConn (Aug. 31), and tallied 10 kills with 10 digs vs. Stony Brook (Sept. 30).

PUT ME IN, COACH

Three Wildcats enter the weekend having played all 67 sets this season – Gabri Olhava, Emily Tanski and Logan Welti.
Kennedi Smith and Maddie Wiedenfeld have played in 66 of 67 sets. Emma Patlovich has seen action in 62 of 67.
Those are the six players who have played all 17 matches.

'CATS ON THE ATTACK

Gabri Olhava, a second-year captain, leads UNH in kills (214), kills/set (3.19), hitting percentage (.296), points (243) and points/set (3.63). She is second in blocks (38) and blocks/set (0.57).
Maddie Wiedenfeld has a team-high 39 blocks and her 0.59 blocks/set is also atop the leaderboard. She ranks second in kills (181), kills/set (2.74), hitting percentage (.237), points (202) and points/set (3.06).
Kennedi Smith is third in kills (145) with an average of 2.20 kills per set; she has a team-high 545 attacks. Smith is also second in digs (202) and digs/set (3.06).

READY TO ASSIST

Emma Patlovich has been UNH's primary setter through 17 matches with a total of 576 assists for an average of 9.29 per set. She is also second on the squad in service aces with 16.
Patlovich has recorded 40+ assists seven times, including a stretch of five consecutive matches spanning Sept. 1-8. That streak began with a career high of 49 vs. Iona (Sept. 1). She followed that with 47 at Bryant, 43 against both URI and Yale, and 42 vs. Army.
Patlovich played only Set 3 Sept. 21 vs. UMass Lowell. With eight assists, she directed UNH to a .588 hitting percentage.

MAKING A DEFENSIVE STAND

Emily Tanski, a junior who was All-Conference First Team in 2016, has transitioned from the front line to the back row this season and has become the Wildcats' primary libero.
Tanski was named America East Defensive Specialist of the Week each of the first two weeks of the season.
She has amassed 329 digs –127 more than the closest teammate (Kennedi Smith, 202) – for an average of 4.91 digs per set.

SERVING IT UP

Logan Welti is UNH's leader with 20 service aces. Emma Patlovich (16) and Emily Tanski (15) are next.

CONFERENCE CALL

New Hampshire is atop the America East leaderboard in digs (15.91 per set); the Wildcats also rank third in kills (12.22/set), assists (11.57/set) and aces (1.22/set), as well as fourth in hitting percentage (.177) and blocks (1.63/set).
Gabri Olhava is No. 3 in both kills/set (3.19) and points/set (3.63), as well as No. 4 in hitting percentage (.296).
Emily Tanski is atop the leaderboard in digs per set (4.91).
Logan Welti is tied atop the conference leaderboard in aces per set (0.30).
Emma Patlovich is No. 4 in assists per set (9.29) and tied at No. 6 in aces/set (0.26).
Kennedi Smith is No. 8 in digs/set (3.06).
Maddie Wiedenfeld is No. 9 in kills/set (2.74).

CONFERENCE PLAY

Gabri Olhava has stepped it up in America East matches, where she is averaging 3.70 kills per set on a .375 hitting percentage.
Maddie Wiedenfeld is averaging 2.40 kills per set on a .254 hitting percentage.
The setting duties have been split by Mali Jereczek (7.29 assists per set in seven sets) and Emma Patlovich (8.50 assists/set in six sets).
Emily Tanski is averaging a team-high 3.10 digs per set. She is followed closely by Kennedi Smith (2.90) and Logan Welti (2.80).

HIRSCHINGER'S HISTORY

Jill Hirschinger began her UNH tenure in the 1996 season. She has amassed a 365-324 record with 10 seasons of 20+ wins.
Hirschinger has been named America East Coach of the Year six times.

SCOUTING UMBC • website

UMBC (Cantonsville, Md.) has a 4-12 overall record and a 0-2 conference record. They are 2-3 at home.
The Retrievers have lost six of their last seven matches. Last weekend, they fell 3-1 at Albany. UMBC's most recent win was Sept. 25 at home vs. Coppin State in straight sets.
The UMBC offense is led by Carmen Freeman with 204 kills (3.19 per set). Paige Krenik and Paola Rojas are second and third respectively, with 148 and 139 kills.
Rojas leads the team in solo blocks (8) and total blocks (54).
Kristin Watson has the team lead in digs with 262 (4.09 per set). She is followed by Freeman (183) and Krytsia Negrón (154).
Negrón is the primary setter with 556 assists (9.31 per set).

SCOUTING BINGHAMTON • website

Binghamton University (Vestal, N.Y.) has a 3-12 overall record and is 1-1 in conference play. The Bearcats play host to UMass Lowell on Friday; it will be the Bearcats' first home match of the year.
In their most recent match, Binghamton lost 3-1 at Albany last Friday.
The Bearcats have won two of their last three matches, last beating UMBC 3-2 on the road. Before that, Binghamton defeated New Jersey Institute of Technology, 3-0.
Gaby Alicea leads the Bearcats' offense with 185 kills (3.49/set). Erin Shultz and Lexi LaGoy are second and third, respectively, with 145 and 72 kills.
LaGoy leads the team with 37 total blocks. Tyra Wilson is next with 29.
Samantha Gioiosa leads the team in digs with 195 (3.68 per set).
Kiara Adams is the main setter for the Bearcats. She has 380 assists for an average of 7.76 per set.

2018 AMERICA EAST AWARDS

Emily Tanski: Defensive Specialist of the Week (Aug. 28 … Sept. 5)
Maddie Wiedenfeld: Rookie of the Week (Sept. 5 … Sept. 11 … Sept. 25)
Gabri Olhava: Player of the Week (Sept. 11)

FRIDAY NIGHT WHITES // SUNDAY BLUES

Fans are encouraged to wear white every Friday home match in 2018: Nov. 2 vs. Binghamton.
Fans are encouraged to Bleed Blue (wear blue) for Sunday home matches in 2018: Oct. 14 vs. Albany; Nov. 4 vs. UMBC.

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