'Cats Open Conference Play Home vs. UMass Lowell on Spread Respect Night (Sept. 21)

SPREAD RESPECT // WHITE OUT
Friday, Sept. 21 • 7 pm • Lundholm Gym • Durham, N.H.
UMass Lowell (1-12, 0-0 AE) at UNH (4-10, 0-0 AE) • Video • Stats

SPREAD RESPECT

As a University, UNH is working diligently to promote inclusivity and diversity. As a volleyball team, we are honored to host a #SpreadRespect event on behalf of the America East conference.
The goal of Spread Respect is to create an inclusive, respectful arena for all student-athletes, coaches and fans regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race or religion.

WHITE OUT // SUNDAY BLUES

Fans are encouraged to wear white every Friday home match in 2018: Sept. 21 vs. UMass Lowell; Sept. 28 vs. Hartford; Nov. 2 vs. Binghamton.
Fans are encouraged to Bleed Blue (wear blue) for Sunday home matches in 2018: Sept. 30 vs. Stony Brook; Oct. 14 vs. Albany; Nov. 4 vs. UMBC.

UNH vs. UMASS LOWELL

New Hampshire has won all 11 meetings against UMass Lowell and that includes all 10 matches since the River Hawks elevated to D-I and joined America East in 2013.
In the most recent matchup (Oct. 20, 2017), UNH won in straight sets at Lundholm Gym – 25-14, 25-19, 25-15. • Recap • Box
The Wildcats hit .398 as a team and limited the River Hawks to .081.
Kennedi Smith (12 kills, .611 hit%), Hannah Petke (11 kills, .476 hit %) and Gabri Olhava (10 kills, .400 hit %) led UNH's offense.
Last year at UML's Costello Center, the Wildcats overcame 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to win Set 4 (25-22) and Set 5 (15-10) for the comeback win. • Recap • Box

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 Friday, Sept. 21 against UMass Lowell (7 p.m.)

SHOP UNH

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

NATIONAL NUMBERS

On the national leaderboard (through Sept. 17), Emily Tanski is No. 3 digs (218) and Emma Patlovich is No. 15 in assists (525).
As a team, UNH is No. 4 in the nation in attacks (2,104), No. 6 in digs (915) and No. 20 in kills (693).

CHERRY & WHITE CHALLENGE RECAP

New Hampshire went 0-3 at last weekend's Cherry & White Challenge at Temple University. The Wildcats were defeated by Maryland (3-0: 25-17, 25-20, 25-19), Princeton (3-1: 22-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-19) and Temple (3-1: 22-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-22).
Emily Tanski was named to the All-Tournament Team. In three matches, she amassed 59 digs for an average of 5.36 per set.
Kennedi Smith recorded a double-double all three matches. She tallied 11 kills and 10 digs vs. Maryland, 17 kills and 10 digs vs. Princeton, and then 10 kills and season-high 20 digs at Temple.

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

UNH enters the weekend with a 4-10 overall record that includes 0-1 at home.
The Wildcats have lost four consecutive matches following their back-to-back wins against Yale and Army West Point.
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 an 0-2 record in three-set matches, 2-7 in four-set matches and 2-1 in five-set matches.
Opponents have won Set 1 in 9 of 14 matches, and Set 2 in 11 of 14 matches. It is an even 7-7 split in Set 3.

DOUBLING UP

Kennedi Smith has recorded a double-double each of the past four matches and has a team-high seven this season.
Emma Patlovich recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 37 assists and 10 digs vs. Princeton.
Hannah Petke is the only other 'Cat with a double-double in '18; she finished with 11 kills and 11 digs at UConn on Aug. 31.

PUT ME IN, COACH

Three Wildcats enter the weekend having played all 57 sets this season – Gabri Olhava, Emily Tanski and Logan Welti.
Three other 'Cats – Emma Patlovich, Kennedi Smith and Maddie Wiedenfeld – have played in 56 of 57 sets.

'CATS ON THE ATTACK

Gabri Olhava, a second-year captain, leads UNH in kills (177), kills/set (3.11), hitting percentage (.282), points (201) and points/set (3.53). She is second in blocks (34) and blocks/set (0.60).
Maddie Wiedenfeld has a team-high 35 blocks and her 0.62 blocks/set is also atop the leaderboard. She ranks second in kills (157), kills/set (2.80), hitting percentage (.235), points (175) and points/set (3.13).
Kennedi Smith is third in kills (129) with an average of 2.30 kills per set; she has a team-high 483 attacks.

READY TO ASSIST

Emma Patlovich has been UNH's primary setter through 14 matches with a total of 525 assists for an average of 9.38 per set. She is also second on the squad in service aces with 14.
Patlovich has recorded 40+ assists in 7 of 14 matches, which included a stretch of five consecutive matches with 40+ 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.

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 298 digs –126 more than the closest teammate (Kennedi Smith, 173) – for an average of 5.23 digs per set.

SERVING IT UP

Logan Welti is UNH's leader with 15 service aces. Emma Patlovich (14) and Emily Tanski (12) are next.

CONFERENCE CALL

New Hampshire is atop the America East leaderboard in digs (16.05 per set) and ranks third in kills (12.16/set), hitting percentage (.172), assists (11.56/set) and blocks (1.61/set).
Gabri Olhava is No. 4 in both kills/set (3.11) and points/set (3.53), as well as No. 6 in hitting percentage (.282).
Maddie Wiedenfeld is No. 8 in both kills/set (2.80) and hitting percentage (.235), and No. 9 in points/set (3.13).
Emma Patlovich is No. 4 in assists per set (9.38) and tied at No. 5 in aces/set (0.25).
Logan Welti is for No. 4 in aces per set (0.26).
Emily Tanski is atop the leaderboard in digs per set (5.23).
Kennedi Smith is No. 8 in digs/set (3.09).

HIRSCHINGER'S HISTORY

Jill Hirschinger began her UNH tenure in the 1996 season. She has amassed a 363-323 record with 10 seasons of 20+ wins.
Hirschinger has been named America East Coach of the Year six times.

SCOUTING UMASS LOWELL • website

UMass Lowell enter Friday night's match with a 1-12 overall record that includes 0-8 on the road. The River Hawks have lost six consecutive matches since defeating Farleigh Dickinson, 3-2, on Sept. 1.
UML has a team hitting percentage of .106; in comparison, the opposition has a .229 hitting percentage.
Madi Bell leads all River Hawks in kills with 84 (2.00 per set), closely followed by Lade Adeniyi and Kate Bilyeu with 81 and 80, respectively. Adeniyi also leads the team in blocks (30).

UMass Lowell has utilized two setters. McKenna Bova has a team-high 221 assists (5.02/set) while Malia Randolph is close behind with 179 assists (4.37/set).

Lindsey Visvardis sits atop the River Hawks' leaderboard in digs with 159 (3.46/set); Randolph is at 101 digs (2.46/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. 12)
Gabri Olhava: Player of the Week (Sept. 12)

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