 |
Zags Open WCC Play at San Diego, San Francisco
Sept. 30, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format
Match 16 THIS WEEK: The Gonzaga University women’s volleyball team begins West Coast Conference action this week as it plays at the University of San Diego and the University of San Francisco. The Bulldogs (6-9, 0-0 WCC) will face the Toreros on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m., and the Dons on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. San Diego, a 2007 NCAA Tournament participant, is currently 10-2 on the season, while San Francisco holds a 10-4 overall record. RECAP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH TOURNAMENT: Gonzaga University women’s volleyball closed out the University of Pittsburgh Tournament with a 1-2 record. The Bulldogs dropped 3-2 heartbreakers to both Pittsburgh and Virginia Commonwealth, before rebounding with a 3-0 sweep of Eastern Michigan University. Junior outside hitter Emily Johnson was tabbed for the All-Tournament squad after finishing the tournament with 26 kills, 26 digs, five service aces and three blocks. 12 DAYS REST: Gonzaga University women’s volleyball will have had 12 days rest when it matches up with the University of San Diego on Oct. 2. The Bulldogs last played a match on Sept. 20; a 3-0 sweep over Eastern Michigan University. ON TAP NEXT WEEK: After its matches against the University of San Diego and the University of San Francisco, Gonzaga University women’s volleyball will welcome West Coast Conference foes Saint Mary’s College and Santa Clara University, along with in-state rival Eastern Washington University to the Martin Centre. The Zags open their WCC home slate against the Gaels on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m., followed by a match against the Broncos on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs non-conference match against the Eagles is slated for Monday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. ABOUT THE TOREROS: The University of San Diego currently holds a 10-2 record and are ranked 16th in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll. The Toreros two losses of the season came at the hands of Pacific-10 Conference schools. USD dropped 3-0 decisions to both USC and the University of Washington. San Diego is led by Amy DeGroot who is averaging 4.30 kills, 2.68 digs, 0.59 blocks and 0.32 service aces per set. The Toreros hold the the 33-9 lead in the all-time series and have won 27-straight. ABOUT THE DONS: The University of San Francisco holds a 10-4 overall record on the season and has won three-straight. The Dons are led by Sarah Mandala who is averaging 3.74 kills, 1.36 digs and 0.74 blocks per set. Gonzaga holds the 25-17 lead in the all-time series. The Bulldogs and Dons split the two WCC meetings a season ago. GU took a 3-2 victory at USF, while USF earned a 3-0 sweep at Gonzaga to close out the 2007 campaign. WCC OPENERS: Gonzaga University women's volleyball is looking to win its opening West Coast Conference match for the first time in three seasons. The Zags are 6-15 all-time in WCC openers, including 1-5 under Kip Yoshimura. The Bulldogs defeated the University of Portland 3-2 in 2005 to begin conference play. FIVE-SET MATCHES: Out of the 15 matches the Gonzaga University women's volleyball squad has played so far this season, five have been five-set thrillers. The Bulldogs, unfortunately, only won one of the five full-match thrillers. GU squeaked out a a 3-2 victory over the University of Idaho Sept. 17. The five five-set matches equals the total amount of five-set matches Gonzaga played all last season. DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Gonzaga University freshman setter Denise Van de Mortel has six double-doubles to her credit this season; third best in the West Coast Conference. Emily Day of Loyola Marymount University leads the WCC with nine double-doubles and Megan York, of Saint Mary's College, is second with seven. TWENTY-SIX: Senior libero Paige Dillingham broke her career dig record, well actually she shattered her career dig record against Boise State University, Sept. 5. Dillingham finished the 3-1 victory with 26 digs. Her previous best was 17 attained this season against both the University of Montana and North Dakota State University. Along with being a personal-high, Dillingham's 26 digs was also the highest individual dig amount in a single-match since 2004 when Jessica Herrera also had 26 against the University of Portland. Dillingham is averaging a team-best 3.73 digs per set. DOMINATING THE AIRWAVES: Senior middle blocker Elaina Renius had a career-high 12 blocks to lead the Bulldogs to a 3-1 victory over Boise State University, Sept. 5. Her 12 blocks, eight of which were block assists, were the most blocks by an individual Zag player since former Bulldog Briawna Mueller collected 12 against San Francisco in 2005. Renius was also just four blocks shy of breaking former Zag and current assistant coach Abby (Cullen) Bennett's school record of 15, set against Portland in 2002. Renius is averaging a team-best 1.29 kills per set. A DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Junior outside hitter Emily Johnson recorded her second career double-double against North Dakota State University, Aug. 30. Johnson tallied 11 kills and collected 11 digs in the loss to register her second career double-double. Her only other double-double came as a freshman when she had 13 kills and 11 digs against the University of Idaho. HEAD COACH Kip Yoshimura: Kip Yoshimura enters his seventh year as Gonzaga University's head coach. Yoshimura has compiled a 53-138 record during his tenure with the Bulldogs. A former assistant coach at Gonzaga during the 1992 season, Yoshimura has complied a 301-206 career record which includes nine seasons at Lewis-Clark State College where he guided the Warriors to nine-straight NAIA tournament appearances. A 1990 graduate of Long Beach State University, Yoshimura entered the coaching ranks as a student-assistant on Long Beach State's 1989 NCAA National Championship team. VOLLEYBALL RULE CHANGES: NCAA volleyball rules changes this year include three important changes. First, the term “set” has replaced the word “game” as it is used internationally. Second, the number of points to win a set has been reduced from 30 to 25. Teams must still win by two points and the fifth set will still be played to 15. And lastly, because sets are now shorter, the number of allowable subs per set has been reduced from 15 to 12. LIVE ON THE INTERNET: All Gonzaga University women’s volleyball home matches are available via Gametracker and live streaming on the internet at www.gozags.com. Check the Gonzaga website for all Gametracker and live streaming links. Gametracker for selected away matches are also available. Check out gozags.com for all Gametracker links.
|
