'Cats Return to Ocean State for Art Carmichael Invitational

11^th ANNUAL ART CARMICHAEL INVITATIONAL
University of Rhode Island •   Keaney Gymnasium • Kingston, R.I.
Friday, Sept. 7
     UNH (2-5) at URI (2-4), 7 pm • Stats
Saturday, Sept. 8
     UNH vs. Yale (3-0), 11 am • Stats
     UNH vs. Army West Point (3-4), 4 pm • Stats

UNH GARNERS TWO WEEKLY CONFERENCE AWARDS

The University of New Hampshire volleyball duo of Emily Tanski and Maddie Wiedenfeld received weekly awards from America East on Wednesday. Tanski repeated as Defensive Specialist of the Week while Wiedenfeld was named Rookie of the Week.
Tanski, in her first year as the libero, recorded 74 digs for an average of 6.17 per set to earn a spot on the UConn Challenge All-Tournament Team. She matched a career high of 35 digs in the five-set loss to Iona College on Sept. 1. Tanski tallied 26 digs to help limit UConn to a .164 hitting percentage in the four-set loss to the Huskies (Aug. 31).
Wiedenfeld was UNH's leader in points (46), kills (39) and kills per set (3.25) as well as blocks (13) and blocks/set (1.08) in three matches at last weekend's UConn Challenge (vs. UConn, Syracuse and Iona). She recorded a team-high 90 attacks and a .267 hitting percentage, which ranked second.
Wiedenfeld fueled UNH's comeback bid vs. Iona College – the Wildcats fended off nine match points (two in Set 3; seven in Set 5) with season highs in kills (21) and blocks (seven). She also had an impressive .333 hitting percentage against the Gaels.
Wiedenfeld opened the UConn Challenge with 13 kills, a .267 hitting percentage and three blocks against the host Huskies.

WEEKEND AT A GLANCE (home page)

UNH will compete against URI, Yale and Army West Point this weekend at the 11^th Annual Art Carmichael Invitational.
This is the third time the Wildcats play at the tourney; UNH also participated in 2009 and 2010.
New Hampshire went 1-2 in '09 (3-1 loss to URI; 3-1 win vs. Brown; 3-0 loss to Syracuse).
UNH also went 1-2 in '10 (3-1 win vs. Marist; 3-1 loss to URI; 3-0 loss to Maryland Eastern Shore).

UNH vs. RHODE ISLAND

New Hampshire has a 4-21 lifetime record against URI, but the Wildcats have won each of the last two matchups – both in five sets
Last year at the Holly Young Invitational, UNH took a 2-0 lead and then captured the fifth set, 15-7. Recap • Box
Prior to 2017, these teams met in the 2014 Holly Young Invitational. After dropping the first set, the 'Cats rallied to win sets 2 & 3, then won Set 5 (15-12). Recap • Box

UNH vs. YALE

New Hampshire has an 0-7 lifetime record against Yale. The last time these programs met was Sept. 16, 2011, when the Bulldogs were straight-set victors on their home court (25-13, 25-15, 25-17). Recap • Box
Prior to that, the teams met at the 2008 Penn State tournament; the set scores were 25-10, 25-14, 25-15.

UNH vs. ARMY WEST POINT

New Hampshire has a 1-4 lifetime record against Army West Point. The most recent meeting, ironically, was at the Yale tournament in 2011. Army won the odd-numbered sets to prevail in five sets, 3-2 (25-22, 14-25, 25-11, 19-25, 15-7).
Army also won on its home court in 2010 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22).
The Wildcats' lone win in this series was in 1997 – coach Hirschinger's second year as UNH head coach; the match score was 3-1, with the 'Cats rallying after dropping the first set (5-15, 15-5, 15-8, 15-7).

HOME OPENER

UNH's home opener is Sept. 11 against Northeastern University. Start time at Lundholm Gym is 7 p.m.
Tickets for all home matches will be available in advance at unhwildcats.com, the box office or by calling (603) 862-4000, as well as game day at the box office.

SHOP UNH

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

RALLY 'CATS

After dropping the first two sets Tuesday night at Bryant, the Wildcats fended off one match point in Set 3 to rally and capture that set, as well as the match; the set scores were 19-25, 20-25, 27-25, 25-15, 15-11.
With the score tied 5-5 in Set 5, UNH went on a decisive 5-1 run to take control as the Bulldogs never got closer than three points the rest of the way.
In Set 3, Bryant held match point at 25-24, but the 'Cats responded with three consecutive points to extend the match.
Maddie Wiedenfeld finished with a match-high 16 kills on a .250 hitting percentage; she also had two blocks.
Gabri Olhava recorded 15 kills on a .448 hitting percentage, as well as a match-high five blocks.
Molly Wotton had 11 kills, a .250 hitting percentage, five digs and three blocks.

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

UNH enters the Art Carmichael Invitational with a 2-5 overall record comprised of 2-1 on the road and 0-4 in neutral-site matches.
Each of the last two matches have gone five sets. The Wildcats erased a 2-0 deficit Sept. 1 vs. Iona College (at UConn) and fended off a total of nine match points, but the 'Cats fell in the marathon fifth set, 21-19. This past Tuesday at Bryant, UNH rallied from 2-0 down and this time completed the comeback.
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.
Included among the 15 returning 'Cats are five America East conference award winners – senior middle blocker Gabri Olhava and junior hitter Kennedi Smith on the First Team, junior hitter Hannah Petke on the Second Team, sophomore setter Emma Patlovich on the All-Rookie Team, and senior setter Mali Jereczek on the All-Academic Team.
UNH was picked second in the 2018 America East Volleyball Preseason Poll.
Five Wildcats enter the weekend having played all 29 sets this season – Olhava, Patlovich, Emily Tanski, Logan Welti and Molly Wotton.

'CATS ON THE ATTACK

Gabri Olhava, a second-year captain, leads UNH in kills (83), kills/set (2.86), attacks (196), hitting percentage (.327), points (97) and points/set (3.34). She is second in blocks (18) and blocks/set (0.62).
Maddie Wiedenfeld has a team-high 21 blocks and her 0.75 blocks/set is also atop the leaderboard. She ranks second in kills (76), kills/set (2.71), attacks (191), hitting percentage (.236), points (87) and points/set (3.12).
Hannah Petke is third in kills (58) and kills/set (2.71), points (66) and points/set (2.54), and blocks (13).
Molly Wotton (52 kills; 1.79 per set) and Kennedi Smith (50; 1.79) are to other of the top swingers on the front line.

READY TO ASSIST

Emma Patlovich has been UNH's primary setter through seven matches with a total of 275 assists for an average of 9.48 per set.

MAKING A DEFENSIVE STAND

Emily Tanski, a junior who was All-Conference First Team in 2016, is transitioning from the front line to the back row this season and has become the Wildcats' primary libero.
Tanski has been named America East Defensive Specialist of the Week each of the first two weeks of the season.
She has amassed 166 digs – nearly 100 more than the closest teammate (Kennedi Smith, 73) – for an average of 5.72 digs per set.

SERVING IT UP

Logan Welti is UNH's leader with 11 service aces. Emily Tanski is next with six.

CONFERENCE CALL

New Hampshire is ranked second in America East in assists (11.55/set) and kills (12.07/set), as well as third in blocks (1.79/set) and digs (15.69/set).
The Wildcats are third in hitting percentage (.184) and second in opponent hitting percentage (.219).
Gabri Olhava is atop the conference leaderboard in hitting percentage (.327) and sixth in both kills/set (2.86) and points/set (3.34).
Maddie Wiedenfeld is No. 8 in hitting percentage (.236), kills/set (2.71) and blocks/set (0.75); she is 10^th in points/set (3.13).
Emma Patlovich is No. 2 in assists per set (9.48).
Logan Welti is tied for No. 1 in service aces (11) and is No. 3 in aces per set (0.38).
Emily Tanski is atop the leaderboard in digs per set (5.72); No. 2 is 4.54 per set.

HIRSCHINGER'S HISTORY

Jill Hirschinger began her UNH helm in the 1996 season. She has amassed a 361-318 record with 10 seasons of 20+ wins.
Hirschinger has been named America East Coach of the Year six times.

SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND • website

The University of Rhode Island (Kingston, R.I.) enters the tournament with a 2-4 record and a two-match winning streak.
Last weekend at Holy Cross, Rhody went 2-1 with a 3-0 loss to Drake before defeating Columbia and Holy Cross, both by a score of 3-2.
URI has a team hitting percentage of .136, averaging 10.52 kills per set; in comparison, the opposition is hitting .217 with an average of 12.04 kills/set.
Sophomores Natale Zanellato (68 kills) and Claire Chaplinsky (50) lead the Rams in kills.
Senior Lauren Pick is the leader in assists with 186 (8.09 per set).
Pick is also ranked second on the team in digs with 64, averaging 2.78 per set. Senior Olivia Budinich leads the team in both categories, with 100 digs and 4.35 per set.
Freshman Mariah Paulette leads a quartet of Rams in double-digit blocks with 16; she is followed by junior Jenna McGuire (14), Mckenzie Kiesie (13) and Chaplinsky (10).

SCOUTING YALE • website

Yale University (New Haven, Conn.) enters the weekend with a 3-0 record; all three wins were in straight sets at home vs. Fairfield, Central Connecticut State and Quinnipiac.
The Bulldogs play Army West Point on Friday before squaring off vs. UNH.
Yale is hitting .283 as a team and averaging 14.89 kills per set; the opposition is at .126 and 11.11 kills per set.
Ellis DeJardin has a team-high 36 kills and 4.00 kills/set. Tristin Kott (19; 2.38), Gray Malias (17; 1.89) and Destiny Daniel (15; 2.14) have also reached double-digit kills.
Frances Arnautou orchestrates the attack with 97 assists (10.78 per set).
Kate Swanson in averaging a team-high 5.22 digs per set (47 in nine sets).

SCOUTING ARMY WEST POINT • website

Army West Point (West Point, N.Y.) has a 3-4 overall record that includes 3-3 at home and 0-1 on the road; the Cadets play URI and Yale before facing UNH.
Army is coming off Tuesday's five-set loss at Marist College. Last weekend at their tourney, the Cadets defeated Albany (3-2) and Southeastern Louisiana (3-0) before falling to Hofstra (3-0).
Army is averaging 12.97 kills per set on a .181 hitting percentage, while the opposition is at 11.10 kills/set at .174.
Sydney Morriss (80 kills; 2.67/set) and Emmy Barnhorst (3.17; 2.50) lead the attack on the front line.
Barnhost ranks first in blocks (30) and is followed closely by Monica Eckford (28); Morriss is third with 19.
The setting duties have been shared by Lauren Janok (143 assists; 6.81 per set) and Nikki Lum (104; 3.47/set). As a team, Army is averaging 11.67 assists/set.
Ana Oglivie has a team-high 118 digs (3.93 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)

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