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News Release

VOLLEYBALL NEWS AND NOTES:

8/30/2005


Christine Skala and the Retrievers return to action at the George Mason Invitational this weekend.

Baltimore, Md. – The UMBC volleyball team completed their first weekend of action as they hosted two talented programs at RAC Arena last weekend in a tri-match.   UMBC fell in both matches while Big East program Villanova went 2-0 and Colonial Athletic Association member and former foe of the America East Conference Northeastern split matches on the day.  UMBC will go for their first win of the season at the George Mason Invitational this Friday and Saturday. 

 

LOOKING AHEAD                                     

 

This Week:

9/2   UMBC vs. Loyola (Md.) at George Mason Invitational, 10:00 a.m.

9/2   UMBC vs. Cal Poly at George Mason Invitational, 5:30 p.m.

9/3   UMBC vs. Texas Christian U. at George Mason Invitational, 12:30 p.m.

 

UMBC faces local foe Loyola (Md.) at GMU Invitational

The Retrievers will face a common opponent at the George Mason Invitational on Friday as they open play with Loyola (Md.), taking on the fellow Baltimore native school for the third time in the since the start of the 2004 season.  Last year UMBC won both matches, sweeping the Greyhounds in three sets at the William & Mary Invitational and winning at home in four sets.  Jessie Folk tallied double-digit kills in both of those matches to lead UMBC.

 

Retrievers face two unfamiliar schools to conclude GMU Invitational

The Retrievers face two unfamiliar programs from out west to conclude the GMU Invitational.  The Retrievers will take on Cal Poly on Friday at 5:30 p.m.  The Mustangs struggled last year going 5-24 on the season but were selected to finish fourth in the Big West Conference preseason poll and recently played No. 7 ranked USC tough to open the year.  Texas Christian University (TCU) went 23-9 last season and 10-3 in Conference USA. The Horned Frogs, who UMBC will meet at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, last in the second round of the C-USA Tournament last season.       

 

WEEKLY WRAP

                                                                                                          

UMBC falls at home in tri-match

UMBC dropped both their matches in a tri-match with Villanova and Northeastern to open the season.  Villanova in the other match of the day defeated Northeastern to finish 2-0 while the Huskies split on the day.    

 

Northeastern 3, UMBC 2 (26-30, 30-27, 30-27, 27-30, 15-6)

The UMBC women’s volleyball team took Northeastern to five sets, but allowed the Huskies to score 11 of the fifth set’s final 13 points as Northeastern captured the win, 26-30, 30-27, 30-27, 27-30 and 15-6.  UMBC, despite falling in new head coach Ian Blanchard’s first match, received some big games from a number of players, including freshman newcomer Sarah Ball who recorded 11 kills and 16 digs for her first career double-double.  The rookie outside hitter assisted in five blocks as well and scored four service aces in the match. 

 

Megan Gross and Jessie Folk each tallied double-doubles as well.  Gross finished with 44 assists and 15 digs while Folk dropped a team-high 15 kills and recorded 13 digs.  Christine Skala recorded 21 digs.  The Huskies hit .357 in the fifth set scoring eight kills on 14 attacks with three errors.  Ivana Pavlisin recorded 64 assists while Kira Batura tallied 25 digs.  Whitney Turner and Brianna Seitz each tallied 20-plus kills with Turner finishing with 25 and Seitz with 20.  UMBC for the match hit .191 with 58 kills and 21 errors.  The Huskies finished with 87 kills and 29 errors for a .262 hitting percentage. 

 

Villanova 3, UMBC 1 (30-20, 30-25, 28-30, 30-16)

The UMBC women’s volleyball dropped a 3-1 match to Villanova in the final game of a tri-match held at RAC Arena on Saturday.  The Retrievers fell by final scores of 30-20, 30-25, 28-30 and 30-16 to the Wildcats.  Sarah Ball recorded 14 kills coupled with 11 digs for second double-double of the day.  Ball tallied 11 kills and 16 digs in the Retrievers’ first match of the day.  Katrina Carrik and Britney Hodson each tallied 10 kills while Stacey Carroll added a career-high 35 assists.  UMBC as a team hit .261 with 60 kills and 19 errors on 157 total attacks.  Villanova placed three players in double-digit kills with Adran Semrau talling 20 kills and Alona Cherkez and Dana Tartasky finishing with 15 each.  Jenna Link tallied 46 assists. 

 

DAWG BITES

 

Retrievers Tally Four Double-Double Performances On Opening Weekend

UMBC tallied four double-doubles over the weekend including two from freshman Sarah Ball.  Ball tallied 11 kills and 16 digs against Northeastern.  Ball against Villanova went on to score 14 kills with 11 digs.  Jessie Folk and Megan Gross also recorded double-doubles.  Folk tallied 15 kills and 13 digs against Northeastern while in the same match Megan Gross recorded 44 assists and 15 digs. 

 

2005 Double-Doubles

Name                                           Total 1         Total 2                                       Opponent

Megan Gross                              44 assists  15 Digs                                      vs. Northeastern (8-27-05)

Jessie Folk                                 15 Kills        13 Digs                                      vs. Northeastern (8-27-05)

Sarah Ball                                   11 Kills        16 Digs                                      vs. Northeastern (8-27-05)

Sarah Ball                                   14 Kills        11 Digs                                      vs. Villanova (8-27-05)

 

Fresh Faces Impressive In Debut

UMBC welcomed some fresh faces to the court in the Retrievers’ opener last weekend.  Freshmen Sarah Ball and Ashley Hargrove had strong days while transfer Jennifer Wylie and redshirt freshman Angela Anderson, who is returning from a knee injury that forced her out of last year, made debuts in the black and gold.  Ball recorded two double-doubles, tallying 11 kills and 16 digs in her first match and adding 14 kills and 11 digs in her second match.  Ball in two matches has 25 kills, four service aces, 27 digs and seven total blocks.  Hargrove showed to be a inside presence at the net as the 6’1” middle blocker assisted in eight blocks.  She added three service aces and 10 kills as well, hitting .320.  Wylie played some back row for UMBC coming off the bench to dig six balls and add two kills.  Anderson averaged 4.00 kpg in two games played. 

 

Retrievers To Test CAA Early On

The Retrievers have a early road filled with strong regional programs in the upcoming weeks.  UMBC early on will face three of the top-four picks in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason poll.  The Retrievers last weekend took on former America East opponent and now CAA member Northeastern, taking the No. 3 ranking in the conference preseason poll.  UMBC is at Delaware on Sept. 6, the No. 2 pick in the poll, and will face Towson at home on Sept. 13.  Towson won the CAA last year, making an NCAA Tournament appearance.  The Tigers were selected No. 4 in the preseason rankings. 

 

13 Home Matches Highlight 2005 Schedule

UMBC hosts 13 home matches in 2005 including two tri-matches.  The Retrievers opened the season with a tri-match against Northeastern and Villanova.  After going on the road for four matches UMBC will return home to face St. Peter’s and LaSalle in another tri-match on Sept. 10.  Other highlighted dates included local rival Towson, where current head coach Ian Blanchard served as an assistant coach last year, on Sept. 13, Binghamton as the conference opener on Sept. 30, last year’s conference champion Albany on Oct. 28 and the home finale against Hartford which will include senior night ceremonies on Nov. 11.

 

RETRIEVER RECORD CHASING

 

Megan Gross Ranks Second All-Time In Assists

UMBC senior Megan Gross ranks second all-time in career assists.  Gross last year become the third Retriever to ever reach 3,000 career assists.  Her current mark is 3,152 assists.

 

UMBC Career Assists Chart

    Name                                 Assists

1. Lanae Baker                    4,722

2. Megan Gross                   3,152

3. Heather Hollidge             3,034

    -bold denotes active player

 

Christine Skala Chasing Sixth All-Time on Career Digs Chart

Christine Skala currently leads all active Retrievers in career digs with the seventh best mark all-time.  The senior libero is chasing sixth place all-time held by Lisa Cline with 1,197 digs.  Skala entering the week has 1,042 career digs.

 

UMBC Career Digs Chart

        Name                             Digs

1.     Tracey Cullins              1,475

2.     Lanae Baker                 1,460

3.     Kelly O’Brien                 1,444

4.     Megan McNamara       1,429

5.     Jen Jewell                     1,422

6.     Lisa Cline                     1,197

7.     Christine Skala           1,042

8.     Jocelyn Teoh                902

9.     Megan Gross               905

 

Folk Draws Closer To Top-10 For Total Blocks All-Time

Jessie Folk is less than 10 blocks from reaching the top-10 for total blocks all-time.  Folk entered the season with 171 total blocks and currently has 174 all-time.  Dawn Garnes and Pam Lottes hold the 10th mark all-time with 182 total blocks.

 

UMBC Career Total Blocks Chart

        Name                             Total Blocks

5.     Kelly O’Brien                 251

6.     Jocelyn Teoh                226

7.     Lisa Cline                     208

8.     Loreta Saurusaitis      205

9.     Anna Gibbs                   204

10.  Pam Lottes                   182

        Dawn Garnes               182

        Jessie Folk                   174

        Megan Gross               147

        -bold denotes active player

 

Folk Fifth All-Time on Assisted Blocks Chart

Jessie Folk ranks fifth on UMBC’s all-time assisted blocks chart.  The junior middle blocker and opposite hitter recorded three assisted blocks in the opening weekend of play.  Folk trails Jocelyn Teoh for fourth all-time.

 

UMBC Career Assisted Blocks Chart

        Name                             Assisted Blocks

3.     Dana Eberly                  191

4.     Jocelyn Teoh                180

5.     Jessie Folk                   155

7.     Megan Gross               147

    -bold denotes active player

 

Seniors Look To Break Top-10 For Matches and Games Played All-Time

Megan Gross and Christine Skala are closing in on the top-10 for all-time games played and matches played.  Gross and Skala are less than 10 matches played from the top-10 while they need less than 75 games played to reach the top-10 in that category. 

 

UMBC Career Matches Played Chart

        Name                             Matches Played

9.     Kelly O’Brien                 113

10.  Ana Gibbs                     101

        Christine Skala           95

        Megan Gross               94

        -bold denotes active player

 

UMBC Career Games Played Chart

        Name                             Games Played

9.     Kara Welniak                411

10.  Jennifer Davis              406

        Megan Gross               337

        Christine Skala           334

        -bold denotes active player