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News Release

Witsaman Named to All-Tournament Team; Volleyball Travels to St. Francis (Pa.) on Tuesday evening

9/10/2012

Emily Witsaman was named to the All-Tournament Team

BALTIMORE – UMBC volleyball junior Emily Witsaman (Medina, Ohio/Medina) has been named to the Maddie Bingaman All-Tournament Team, head coach Ian Blanchard announced on Monday morning.

The veteran middle blocker led the team with 39 kills and 18 total blocks as the Retrievers went 2-2 on the weekend at the RAC Arena.  In UMBC’s five-set loss to Pac-12 opponent Colorado, Witsman recorded a season-high 13 kills while matching her season-best with seven total blocks.  Then on Saturday morning she registered 10 winners against James Madison for her fourth straight contest with double-digit kills.

Maddie Bingaman All-Tournament Team

Nicole Edeleman – Colorado

Nikki Lindow – Colorado

Assata Conway – Howard

Danielle Erb – James Madison

Megan Weichmann – James Madison

Lindsey Monger – Robert Morris

Emily Witsaman – UMBC

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After hosting the five-team tournament this past weekend, the Retrievers (4-9) now head back on the road to face former NEC rival St. Francis (Pa.), Tuesday evening at DeGol Arena at 7 p.m.

Scouting the Retrievers

UMBC split its four matches at the Maddie Bingaman Memorial Tournament, downing Robert Morris and Howard in straight sets but falling to Colorado and James Madison.

Witsman posted a team-high 39 kills in the four contests while freshman Sherelle Walker (New Freedom, Pa./Susquahannock) and sophomore Hannah Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) notched 34 kills and 33 kills, respectively.  Walker leads the Black and Gold with 128 kills on the season while Schmidt has recorded four double-doubles in 2012.

Junior libero Ali Goc (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S.McLaughlin) anchors the back line for UMBC, leading the squad with 152 digs.  The Retrievers have also received notable contributions on defense from Schmidt (116 digs), in addition to senior Ali Loynachan (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) and junior Hallie Carter (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) who have both topped the 90-dig mark so far.

Leading the offense, freshman Paige Miller (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) has taken the reins at the setter position and has dished out 354 assists for an 8.43 assists per set average.  The rookie is also third on the team with 96 digs.

Scouting the Red Flash

St. Francis (Pa.) is now 3-7 overall this season after failing to win a set in three losses at the Kent State Memorial Tournament this past weekend in Kent, Ohio.  The Red Flash lost to Liberty and Marshall on Friday before falling to the host Golden Flash on Saturday. 

Freshman Hannah Kutny led St. Francis (Pa.) for the weekend with a single-match, team-high 11 kills in the Red Flash’s 3-0 loss to Marshall on Friday evening.  Kutny recorded 25 kills over the course of the three matches while senior Lauren Wingard registered 21 put-aways.

Sophomore setter Alanna Blenkam is currently second in the NEC averaging 9.32 assists per game and senior Elizabeth Williams is eighth in the conference in hitting efficiency with a .224 hitting percentage.

All-Time Series

UMBC currently holds a 9-3 advantage in 12 all-time meetings against St. Francis (Pa.), a former NEC rival.  The Retrievers have won six straight meetings and nine of the last 12 meetings after the Red Flash won the first two contests, both in 1987 on neutral courts.  UMBC also holds a 3-1 advantage against St. Francis (Pa.) in matches played on the Red Flash’s home court including a 3-1 victory in the last meeting in Loretto, Pa. in 2006.

UMBC and St. Francis (Pa.) last met on Sept. 27, 2007 with the host Retrievers sweeping the Red Flash, 3-0, at the RAC Arena. 

Retriever Stat Pack

Season Highs:

Double-Doubles: