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News Release

UMBC Volleyball Plays Host to UMBC Tournament Friday, Saturday

9/4/2008

Junior Kira Giles and the Retrievers play Niagara and UMES on Friday.

The UMBC volleyball team hosts the UMBC Tournament this Friday and Saturday at the RAC Arena for its first home matches of the season. The Retrievers play host to Niagara Friday at 10 a.m. before playing UMES at 5 p.m. On Saturday, UMBC entertains Duquesne at 5 p.m. UMBC (3-1) finished second in the Tribe Invitational in Williamsburg, Va. last weekend. Sophomore Kira Giles (Winnipeg, Canada/Glenlawn) and freshman Alyssa Lang (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) were named to the all-tournament time.

The Week Ahead:

Date                 Opponent                     Time:

9/5                    Niagara                         10:00 a.m.

9/5                    UMES                           5:00 p.m.

9/6                    Duquesne                      5:00 p.m.

9/9                    Villanova                       7:00 p.m.

The Past Week:

Date                 Opponent                     Result:

8/29                  at William and Mary       L, 1-3 (13-25, 17-25, 25-20, 15-25)

8/30                  vs. Appalachian State     W, 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-19)

8/30                  vs. Eastern Michigan      W, 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13

9/2                    at Howard                      W, 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-14)

On the Purple Eagles: Niagara (0-3) comes to Baltimore after losing all three matches in the Labor Day Invitational. The Purple Eagles took Oakland to five sets, but lost in straight sets to Sacred Heart and Southern Illinois. They are led by Hannah Hedrick, who leads the team with 23 kills and is tied for the team lead with three service aces. Michelle James quarterbacks the offense with 76 assists. Niagara was picked to finish eighth in the MAAC this year in the preseason poll.

UMBC vs. Niagara All-Time: This is the first time the two schools have played.

On the Hawks: UMES travels to Baltimore with a 1-2 record in the Hawthorn Suites Hokie Invite last weekend. The Hawks defeated Winston-Salem State, 3-0, but lost to Virginia Tech, 3-1, and Coastal Carolina, 3-2. The Hawks are led by Christine Edwards, who leads the team with 11 aces and is second on the team with 39 kills. Christina Estebane’ runs the offense with 9.17 assists per set. UMES was picked to finish first in the MEAC preseason poll.

UMBC vs. UMES All-Time: The Retrievers lead the series 16-2 with the last win coming in the UMBC Tournament in 2002, with the win coming in straight sets. UMBC has won the last nine meetings with the Hawks last win coming in 1986.

On the Dukes: Duquesne (4-0) comes to town after winning the Duquesne/Robert Morris Invitational last weekend. The Dukes swept St. Francis (Pa.), Lehigh and Loyola (Md.) after defeating Marist in five sets. Jessica Artman was voted the invitational’s most valuable player and Tricia Mullen was named to the all-tournament team.

UMBC vs. Duquesne All-Time: The Dukes lead the series 2-1 with the Retrievers only win coming in the last meeting between the two schools in 1993.

DAWG BITES

Lang Names America East Rookie of the Week

UMBC volleyball freshman Alyssa Lang earned the America East Conference Rookie of the Week award for the first week ending Aug. 31, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Lang is the first recipient of the Rookie of the Week award for the 2008 season, and the fourth Retriever in a row to win the first conference weekly award. Sophomore Bridget Scheetz earned the first weekly rookie award in 2007, while juniors Kira Giles and Sarah Ball took the awards in 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Lang ranked as the top freshman in the America East in aces with seven, digs (2.75 dps) and kills (2.83 kps) last week. She picked up her first two double-doubles of her collegiate career Saturday in the Tribe Invitational where UMBC went 2-1. Lang was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts, which included a 13-kill, 10-dig performance against Appalachian State, and 17 kills and 19 digs against Eastern Michigan.

Retrievers Moving Up the Charts

Both junior Sarah Ball and junior Ashley Oscars are closing in the top 10 in career kills in UMBC history. Oscars currently has 756 while Ball has 718 in her career. The 10th spot is currently held by Tracey Cullins with 791. Both players are closing in on ninth all-time in career attacks as well. Oscars currently holds 10th place with 2,265 attacks, with Ball close behind in 11th with 2,244.

Junior Kira Giles currently ranks sixth all-time in assists at UMBC with 1,909. The next highest is Judy Jackson with 2,481.

Junior Bridget Scheetz has moved into 10th place all-time in Retriever history with 122 assisted blocks for her career. She needs just three more to move into eighth place.

RETRIEVER STAT PAK

2008 Double-Doubles

Name               Total 1             Total 2             Opponent

Kira Giles          32 assists         10 digs              Appalachian State

Alyssa Lang      13 kills              10 digs              Appalachian State

Kira Giles          55 assists         24 digs              Eastern Michigan

Sabrina Hoeks   19 digs              18 kills              Eastern Michigan

Alyssa Lang      19 digs              17 kills              Eastern Michigan

UMBC Career Assists

      Name                                 Assists              Years

1.   Lanae Baker                        4,722                1995-98

2.   Megan Gross                       3,647                2002-05

3.   Heather Hollidge                   3,034                1999-00

4.   Joy Figueredo                      2,501                1990-91

5.   Judy Jackson                       2,481                1993-94

6.   Kira Giles                           1,909                2006-Present

7.   Stacey Pirotte                      1,272                1992

8.   Tracey Cullins                      1,153                1988-91

9.   Stacey Carroll                      1,128                2004-07

10. Carla Miala                          570                   1997

UMBC Career Kills

      Name                                 Kills                 Years

1.       Kelly O’Brien                       2,161                1990-93

2.       Lisa Cline                            1,869                1995-98

3.       Megan McNamara                1,536                1995-98

4.       Dana Eberly                        1,311                 1993-96

5.       Jocelyn Teoh                       1,288                 2001-04

6.       Rehena Rentuma                 1,064                 1986, 88-91

7.       Joanne Marshall                   988                   1996-00

8.       Kara Welniak                       955                   1997-00

9.       Jennifer Davis                       912                   1999-03

10. Tracey Cullins                       791                   1988-91

      Ashley Oscars                     756                   2006-Present

      Sarah Ball                          718                   2005-Present

UMBC Career Attacks

      Name                                 Attacks  Years

1.       Kelly O’Brien                       5,055                1990-93

2.       Lisa Cline                            4,403                1995-98

3.       Megan McNamara                4,188                1995-98

4.       Joeelyn Teoh                       3,458                2001-04

5.       Dana Eberly                        3,172                1993-96

6.       Tracey Cullins                      2,593                1988-91

7.       Joanne Marshall                   2,590                1996-00

8.       Rehena Rentuma                 2,534                1986, 88-91

9.    Ashley Oscars                    2,265                2006-Present

10.  Jennifer Davis                      2,251                1999-03

       Sarah Ball                         2,244                2005-Present

UMBC Career Assisted Blocks

      Name                                 AB                    Years

1.   Kara Welniak                       299                   1997-00

2.   Jessie Folk                          245                   2003-06

3.   Jennifer Davis                       227                   1999-03

4.   Dana Eberly                         191                   1993-96

5.   Jocelyn Teoh                        180                   2001-04

6.   Ashley Hargrove                   157                   2005-06

7.   Rehena Rentuma                 129                   1986, 88-91

8.   Anna Gibbs                         124                   1992-95     

9.   Lisa Cline                            124                   1995-98

10. Bridget Scheetz                  122                   2007-Present