'Cats Welcome Hartford and Stony Brook to Lundholm Gym This Weekend

FRIDAY NIGHT WHITES
Friday, Sept. 28 • 7 pm • Lundholm Gym • Durham, N.H.
Hartford (7-6, 0-1 AE) at UNH (5-10, 1-0 AE) • ESPN3 • Stats

SUNDAY BLUES
Sunday, Sept. 30 • 1 pm • Lundholm Gym • Durham, N.H.
Stony Brook (7-8, 1-0 AE) at UNH (5-10, 1-0 AE) • ESPN3 • Stats

FRIDAY NIGHT WHITES // SUNDAY BLUES

Fans are encouraged to wear white every Friday home match in 2018: 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.

WIEDENFELD RECEIVES THIRD AMERICA EAST HONOR

Freshman middle blocker Maddie Wiedenfeld was named America East co-Rookie of the Week on Tuesday (Sept. 25). Wiedenfeld has been named top rookie three times in five weeks.
Wiedenfeld recorded a match-high 11 kills and committed just one error on 18 attacks for a .556 hitting percentage to propel UNH to a straight-set home win against UMass Lowell on Sept. 21. She was also credited with two blocks as part of a match-high 12 points.
Wiedenfeld excelled in the second set with five kills and no errors for a .714 hitting percentage. In Set 3, she recorded three kills and no errors for a .600 hitting percentage.

UNH vs. HARTFORD

New Hampshire has a 43-3 lifetime record against Hartford. UNH won both of last year's meetings in straight sets to extend its win streak vs. the Hawks to 11.
In the most recent matchup, UNH prevailed 25-20, 25-20, 25-18 at Hartford Volleyball Gym on Nov. 9, 2017. Recap • Box
- Led by Hannah Petke (14 kills, .480 hitting percentage) and Gabri Olhava (10 kills, .389 hitting percentage), the Wildcats recorded a .320 hitting percentage.
In last year's other matchups, the 'Cats won 25-11, 25-21, 25-18 at Lundholm Gym on Oct. 14. Recap • Box
- Kennedi Smith (10 kills, .389 hitting percentage) and Emily Tanski (10 kills, .304 hitting percentage) led a balanced attack that recorded a .292 hitting percentage.
Five of the last six matchups have been decided in straight sets and the Wildcats have won each of the last six meetings in Lundholm Gym in three sets.
Hartford's most recent win was Oct. 13, 2012 on its home court.

UNH vs. STONY BROOK

New Hampshire has a 24-14 lifetime record vs. Stony Brook and has won each of the last 10 meetings. Both of last year's matchups were decided in five sets.
In the most recent meeting, UNH overcame a 2-1 deficit to win in five sets at Pritchard Gymnasium on Nov. 5, 2017; the set scores were 25-14, 25-27, 21-25, 25-20, 15-10. Recap • Box
- Early in Set 5, UNH won four consecutive points to build a 6-2 lead. SBU closed within one point three times, but the 'Cats closed out the match on a 4-0 run.
- Hannah Petke recorded a career-high 24 kills on a .455 hitting percentage while both Kennedi Smith (17k, 14d) and Emma Patlovich (24a, 15d) tallied a double-double.
In the most recent matchup at Lundholm Gym, UNH erased a 2-1 deficit; the set scores were 25-18, 23-25, 24-26, 25-23, 15-11. Recap • Box
- In Set 5, the Wildcats utilized a 5-1 run to take a 12-9 lead and SBU never got closer than two points the rest of the way.
- Smith (19k, 17d) and Mali Jereczek (34a, 15d) recorded double-doubles. Smith's other numbers included a .317 hitting percentage and four blocks.
SBU's most recent win in the series was Oct. 4, 2013 on the Seawolves' home court.
The 'Cats have won 11 consecutive matchups in Durham dating back to SBU's win Oct. 12, 2007.

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. 23), Emily Tanski is No. 17 in digs with 307.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED

New Hampshire opened America East conference play last Friday with a straight-set victory against UMass Lowell at Lundholm Gym; the set scores were 25-14, 25-17, 25-11.
UNH's .240 hitting percentage was the team's third-best mark of the season; the 14 errors matched a season low.
The Wildcats recorded a season-high nine service aces.
The 'Cats stymied UML's attack as the River Hawks had a -.047 hitting percentage.
UNH fell behind 8-2 in the first set but reeled off seven consecutive points to take a 9-8 lead. The 'Cats then closed the set on a 16-6 run and carried momentum through the last two sets.
Maddie Wiedenfeld recorded a match-high 11 kills and just on error on 18 attacks for a .556 hitting percentage.
Abby Sullivan stood out in the last two sets with five kills and a match-high four blocks.
Emily Tanski finished with team highs in digs (nine) and service aces (three).

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

UNH enters the weekend with a 5-10 overall record that includes 1-1 at home and 1-0 in America East.
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 1-2 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 15 matches, and Set 2 in 11 of 15 matches; the opposition also has an 8-4 edge in Set 4.
UNH has the edge in Set 3 (8-7) and Set 5 (2-1).

DOUBLING UP

Kennedi Smith has recorded a double-double four of the last five 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.
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 60 sets this season – Gabri Olhava, Emily Tanski and Logan Welti.
Kennedi Smith and Maddie Wiedenfeld have played in 59 of 60 sets. Emma Patlovich has seen action in 57 of 60.
Those are the six players who have played all 15 matches.

'CATS ON THE ATTACK

Gabri Olhava, a second-year captain, leads UNH in kills (181), kills/set (3.02), hitting percentage (.287), points (207) and points/set (3.45). She is second in blocks (34) and blocks/set (0.57).
Maddie Wiedenfeld has a team-high 37 blocks and her 0.63 blocks/set is also atop the leaderboard. She ranks second in kills (168), kills/set (2.85), hitting percentage (.248), points (187) and points/set (3.18).
Kennedi Smith is third in kills (132) with an average of 2.24 kills per set; she has a team-high 495 attacks. Albeit a defensive stat, Smith is also second in digs (180) and digs/set (3.05).

READY TO ASSIST

Emma Patlovich has been UNH's primary setter through 15 matches with a total of 533 assists for an average of 9.35 per set. She is also third on the squad in service aces with 14.
Patlovich has recorded 40+ assists in 7 of 15 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.
Patlovich played only Set 3 last Friday vs. UMass Lowell. With her eight assists, Patlovich 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 307 digs –127 more than the closest teammate (Kennedi Smith, 180) – for an average of 5.12 digs per set.

SERVING IT UP

Logan Welti is UNH's leader with 17 service aces. Emily Tanski (15) and Emma Patlovich (14) are next.

CONFERENCE CALL

New Hampshire is atop the America East leaderboard in digs (15.90 per set); the Wildcats also rank third in kills (12.08/set) and assists (11.50/set) as well as fourth in hitting percentage (.174) and blocks (1.63/set).
Gabri Olhava is No. 4 in both kills/set (3.02) and points/set (3.45), as well as No. 5 in hitting percentage (.287).
Maddie Wiedenfeld is No. 6 in both kills/set (2.85), No. 7 in points/set (3.18) and 10^th in hitting percentage (.248).
Emma Patlovich is No. 4 in assists per set (9.35) and tied at No. 6 in aces/set (0.25).
Logan Welti is for No. 4 in aces per set (0.28).
Emily Tanski is atop the leaderboard in digs per set (5.12) and tied at No. 6 in aces/set (0.25).
Kennedi Smith is No. 8 in digs/set (3.05).

HIRSCHINGER'S HISTORY

Jill Hirschinger began her UNH tenure in the 1996 season. She has amassed a 364-323 record with 10 seasons of 20+ wins.
Hirschinger has been named America East Coach of the Year six times.

SCOUTING HARTFORD • website

The University of Hartford enters Friday's match with a 7-6 overall record that includes 0-1 in America East and 0-2 on the road.
Hartford has lost three consecutive matches following Tuesday's 3-1 home loss to Bryant University. Prior to that, the Hawks were swept by Stony Brook at home Sept. 21.
Hartford had a six-match win streak that spanned Aug. 29 to Sept. 14.

Hartford's offense is led by Jenna Bridges with 182 kills (4.04 kills per set). Paulina Modestow and Brittany Braun rank 2-3, respectively, with 118 and 114 kills.
Bridges also has a team-high 49 blocks; Braun is second with 37.
On defense, Alex Lucero sits atop the team leaderboard in digs at 152 (3.38/set).

Megan Anderson quarterbacks Hartford's offensive attack. Her 474 assists (10.53/set) has led the team to a .267 hitting percentage.

SCOUTING STONY BROOK • website

Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, N.Y.) enters the weekend with a 7-8 record including 1-4 on the road. They will play at UMass-Lowell on Friday before traveling to play UNH on Sunday.
The Seawolves are riding a three-match win streak and have won nine straight sets. They beat Hartford 3-0 in their conference opener at West Hartford last Friday.
Stony Brook has a team hitting percentage of .218; in comparison, the opposition has a .231.
McKayla Brooks leads the Seawolves in kills with 157 (2.91 per set), closely followed by Emily Costello and Maria Poole with 150 and 123, respectively.
Kendra Harlow leads the team in blocks with 41 and Brooks is next with 30.
LeAnne Sakowicz has been the primary setter with 552 assists (10.22 per set).
Kiani Kerstetter is atop the digs leaderboard with 206 (3.81 per set).
Three other Seawolves have eclipsed 100 digs – Emily Costello with 150 (2.83/set), Kardasia Hitchcock with 141 (2.61/set) and Sakowicz with 114 (2.11/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)

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