'Roos Set To Host SDSU, NDSU In Summit League Action
9/30/2009 10:15:00 AM | Volleyball
This Week - The UMKC volleyball team (4-11, 0-5) will return to Swinney Recreation Center this week when it hosts Summit League foes South Dakota State (5-8, 4-2) and North Dakota State (10-3, 6-0). The 'Roos will look to end their seven match skid, when they take on the Jackrabbits on Thursday at 7 p.m. and the Bison on Saturday at 4 p.m. for an afternoon tilt.
Follow The 'Roos Online - All UMKC volleyball matches can be heard online at www.umkckangaroos.com during the 2009 season with all home matches being video streamed. The “Voice of UMKC Volleyball” T.J. Jackson, who is in his fourth season with the program, will provide all the play-by-play commentary for the Kangaroos. Check out Roo Vision for more details. You can also follow live stats for the 'Roos online at www.umkckangaroos.com.
Last Matches - The UMKC volleyball team lost a tough five set match at Southern Utah on Sept. 26 in Cedar City, Utah. In the team's first five set match of the year, the 'Roos had three players hit over .400, including Holly Schmidt's .467, Christiana McQuin's .444, and Brittany Fossier's .400. Schmidt's percentage was her career high, while McQuin's was her season high. Senior Jamie Hagerman and Schmidt each established their season high in kills with 11 and seven, respectively, while Fossier's six blocks marked her season high.
Defensively Ranked - The 'Roos have showed their defensive prowess this season, sitting on the national leaderboard in both digs and blocks. The squad ranks 20th among all NCAA Division I teams with 17.09 digs per set, while ranking 65th in blocks at 2.3 per set. The 17.09 digs per set and 2.3 blocks per set each rank second in The Summit League, as the team sits behind IUPUI's 17.54 digs per set and IPFW's 2.31 blocks per set.
For the season, UMKC has amassed a Summit League leading 957 digs, while out-blocking its opponents 129-91. Sophomore Christiana McQuin and senior Jamie Hagerman have combined for 87 blocks, while in the back row, the squad has five players with 100 or more digs, led by Nicole Kerkman's 222 and Kelsey Knoche's 187.
Team League Leaders - UMKC is at the top of several Summit League statistical categories. The 'Roos lead the league in blocks in conference matches with an average of 2.62 blocks per set, trailing only IPFW's 2.31 blocks per set by .01. Meanwhile, the Kangaroos are first in the league in overall digs with 957, but second to IUPUI in digs per set with a 17.54 average. The Blue and Gold also rank in the top half of The Summit League in aces, assists, and opponent hitting percentage, sitting fourth, fifth, and fifth in the categories, respectively.
Individual League Leaders - Sophomore Nicole Kerkman is third The Summit League with 222 total digs, seven behind the leader, while her 3.96 digs per set put her fifth in The Summit League and 139th in the NCAA. Teammate Kelsey Knoche, meanwhile, is ninth in overall digs with 187 and 10th with a 3.40 digs per set average. Erin Wellwood and Christiana McQuin rank sixth and 10th in aces, averaging .30 and .27 aces per set, respectively.
Summit League Match Leaders - The UMKC volleyball team sits at or near the top of several Summit League match leader categories, including aces, blocks, and digs. In its Aug. 29 match at Indiana State, the team got 13 aces in three sets to tie Southern Utah for the high water mark in the league this season. The Thunderbirds, however, needed five sets to set the mark, while the 'Roos tied it in only three sets. The team's 16 blocks against Sacred Heart is also tied for the league's match high with South Dakota State and Western Illinois, while the team also sits fifth and sixth on the list with 14 blocks at Southern Utah and 13 blocks at Western Illinois. Meanwhile, the team's 110 digs against Western Illinois and 87 digs against Oakland are the second and sixth most in The Summit League this season.
Avoiding The Sophomore Slump - The UMKC sophomores have dominated the stat categories in 2009. Combined, Elizabeth Beck, Brittany Fossier, Nicole Kerkman, Kelsey Knoche, Christiana McQuin, and Erin Wellwood have totaled 404 of 668 kills, 353 of 617 assists, 59 of 74 aces, 117 blocks, and 630 of 957 digs. Knoche leads the way in kills with 164, Wellwood in assists with 310, Wellwood in aces with 17, McQuin in blocks with 46, and Kerkman in digs with 222.
A Balanced Attack - The Kangaroos have seven different players with 60 or more kills so far this season. As a team, the Kangaroos have totaled 668 kills, led by Kelsey Knoche's 164, Christiana McQuin's 108, Jamie Hagerman's 97, and Ella Meier's 72. Also topping the 60 kill mark are Elizabeth Beck's 70, Brittany Fossier's 61, and Emily Lucas' 60. The seven players have combined for over 95 percent of the team's totals.
Setting-Up The Offense - Erin Wellwood has reached double digit assists in 14 of the team's 15 matches for the Kangaroos this season, reaching her career high of 33 at Western Illinois. The sophomore has eclipsed the 20 assist mark eight times, including seven of her last nine matches. For the season, the setter is averaging 5.54 assists per set, totaling 310 overall. Wellwood has led the team in assists in 14 of the 'Roos 15 matches.
Holly Schmidt is the other half of the team's setting tandem. On the season, the junior has accumulated 196 assists, with a 3.77 average. Schmidt has reached double figure assists in 10 games this season, while setting her career high of 21 in the Sept. 19 match at Western Illinois.
Block Party - Jamie Hagerman posted her career-high, the team's season-high, and a tie for The Summit League season high for a four set match in blocks against IPFW on Sept. 12, when the senior tallied nine blocks. Hagerman's previous career high was six, which she had done four times, including this season at Sacred Heart. On the season, Hagerman has notched 41 total blocks, including 11 solos, putting her second on the team. Her 26 blocks ranks second in The Summit League for conference matches only, three behind the league leader.
Three Set Attackers - In the Kangaroos' Sept. 5 match against Holy Cross, the team set The Summit League season high for kills in a three-set match with 52, while also posting the sixth highest hitting percentage in three set matches with a mark of .355 (52-14-107). In the match, the 'Roos got double-digit kill totals from Kelsey Knoche, Elizabeth Beck, and Christiana McQuin, as the trio finished with 16, 10, and 10 kills, respectively.
All-Tournament Recognition - Sophomore outside hitter and Lee's Summit native Kelsey Knoche earned all-tournament recognition for her performance in the Best Western Sycamore Classic and the Sacred Heart Invitational, while freshman Ella Meier joined her as an all-tournament selection at the Sacred Heart Invitational.
Knoche finished the two tournaments with a combined 85 kills, 86 digs, 16 blocks, eight aces, and five double-doubles. Meier, meanwhile, garnered her Sacred Heart Invitational All-Tournament selection by producing 29 kills, seven assists, 32 digs, and 10 blocks, while hitting at a .324 clip.
Putting Up a Fight - The UMKC volleyball team lost to No. 23 Kansas State, 3-1, in front of 1,790 fans at the Ahearn Field House on Tuesday Sept. 1, falling by scores of 25-13, 16-25, 25-14 and 25-16. It is just the fourth time in school history and the first time since 1993 that the 'Roos have take a set from the Wildcats. It is also the second straight year that UMKC has taken a set from a Big 12 school, as it won a set at Kansas last season.
In The Record Books - Sophomore Christiana McQuin currently sits seventh in the Kangaroo record books with a .252 hitting percentage. McQuin sits in her position after posting a .263 hitting percentage during the 2008 season and hitting .233 thus far in 2009. McQuin's .263 mark was good for sixth in The Summit League in 2008, and helped the Wellington, Kan., native to be named to the Summit League All-Freshmen team, one of only four UMKC volleyball players to earn the recognition.
AVCA Academic Honor - The Kangaroos received the AVCA Academic Team Award for the third straight year in 2008. In order to receive the honor, the team must carry a 3.30 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. UMKC has received the honor a total of seven times.
The Opponents - The UMKC volleyball team will welcome a pair of Summit League opponents to Swinney Recreation Center this week, taking on South Dakota State on Thursday and North Dakota State on Saturday. The Jackrabbits enter the week with a 5-8 overall record and 4-2 mark in Summit League action, including victories in all four of their league matches at home, while dropping both of their matches on the road. The Jacks come into the match on a two-match win streak after beating Western Illinois and IUPUI last weekend. For the season, the team has been led by Ellyce Youngren, as the sophomore has registered 126 kills and a team-leading 41 blocks, leading to the Summit League Player of the Week award on Sept. 14. Freshman Fiona Jones leads the team in kills with 140, while juniors Nicole Peters and Thyele Rechatiko handle the setting duties, totaling 271 and 183 assists, respectively. Senior Stacey Wernert tops the team in digs with 192, while Jones has added 144.
The Bison, meanwhile, enter play this weekend with a 10-3 overall record and a league leading 6-0 mark in Summit League play. Coming into the week, the squad was riding a seven match win streak, including wins over IUPUI and Western Illinois last weekend, until suffering a, 3-0, loss to BYU on Tuesday. North Dakota State is led by 2008 Summit League Player of Year and Freshman of the Year Chrissy Knuth. Sophomore Jennifer Lopez, meanwhile, was named First Team All-Summit as a freshman, while sister Kelly Lopez was named The Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team all-Summit in 2008. Nuth, Kelly Lopez, and junior Lauren McLaughlin have all earned Summit League Player of the Week honors this season. McLaughlin leads the team in kills with 169, while Knuth and Brooke VandenBergh have also topped the 100 kill this season. Jennifer Lopez leads the team in assists with 347, while senior Mattie Johnson has added 163. Defensively, the Lopez's pace the squad, as Kelly has notched 211 digs, while Jennifer has tallied 145.
Series Records - Thursday's match will be the seventh meeting between UMKC and South Dakota State, with the Jackrabbits having defeated the 'Roos in the six previous matches, including all four matches as Summit League foes. Last season, the Kangaroos fell, 3-0, in Brookings, S.D., while falling, 3-0, at home. The Jacks are currently third in The Summit League standings, after winning The Summit League regular season and tournament titles in 2007.
Saturday's match will also be the seventh meeting against North Dakota State, losing all six of its previous matches to the Bison as well. Last season, the 'Roos fell, 3-1, in Fargo, N.D., while the Bison took the second match, 3-0, at Swinney Recreation Center. North Dakota State currently sits atop The Summit League standings, after winning both the regular season and tournament Summit League titles in 2008.
Follow The 'Roos Online - All UMKC volleyball matches can be heard online at www.umkckangaroos.com during the 2009 season with all home matches being video streamed. The “Voice of UMKC Volleyball” T.J. Jackson, who is in his fourth season with the program, will provide all the play-by-play commentary for the Kangaroos. Check out Roo Vision for more details. You can also follow live stats for the 'Roos online at www.umkckangaroos.com.
Last Matches - The UMKC volleyball team lost a tough five set match at Southern Utah on Sept. 26 in Cedar City, Utah. In the team's first five set match of the year, the 'Roos had three players hit over .400, including Holly Schmidt's .467, Christiana McQuin's .444, and Brittany Fossier's .400. Schmidt's percentage was her career high, while McQuin's was her season high. Senior Jamie Hagerman and Schmidt each established their season high in kills with 11 and seven, respectively, while Fossier's six blocks marked her season high.
Defensively Ranked - The 'Roos have showed their defensive prowess this season, sitting on the national leaderboard in both digs and blocks. The squad ranks 20th among all NCAA Division I teams with 17.09 digs per set, while ranking 65th in blocks at 2.3 per set. The 17.09 digs per set and 2.3 blocks per set each rank second in The Summit League, as the team sits behind IUPUI's 17.54 digs per set and IPFW's 2.31 blocks per set.
For the season, UMKC has amassed a Summit League leading 957 digs, while out-blocking its opponents 129-91. Sophomore Christiana McQuin and senior Jamie Hagerman have combined for 87 blocks, while in the back row, the squad has five players with 100 or more digs, led by Nicole Kerkman's 222 and Kelsey Knoche's 187.
Team League Leaders - UMKC is at the top of several Summit League statistical categories. The 'Roos lead the league in blocks in conference matches with an average of 2.62 blocks per set, trailing only IPFW's 2.31 blocks per set by .01. Meanwhile, the Kangaroos are first in the league in overall digs with 957, but second to IUPUI in digs per set with a 17.54 average. The Blue and Gold also rank in the top half of The Summit League in aces, assists, and opponent hitting percentage, sitting fourth, fifth, and fifth in the categories, respectively.
Individual League Leaders - Sophomore Nicole Kerkman is third The Summit League with 222 total digs, seven behind the leader, while her 3.96 digs per set put her fifth in The Summit League and 139th in the NCAA. Teammate Kelsey Knoche, meanwhile, is ninth in overall digs with 187 and 10th with a 3.40 digs per set average. Erin Wellwood and Christiana McQuin rank sixth and 10th in aces, averaging .30 and .27 aces per set, respectively.
Summit League Match Leaders - The UMKC volleyball team sits at or near the top of several Summit League match leader categories, including aces, blocks, and digs. In its Aug. 29 match at Indiana State, the team got 13 aces in three sets to tie Southern Utah for the high water mark in the league this season. The Thunderbirds, however, needed five sets to set the mark, while the 'Roos tied it in only three sets. The team's 16 blocks against Sacred Heart is also tied for the league's match high with South Dakota State and Western Illinois, while the team also sits fifth and sixth on the list with 14 blocks at Southern Utah and 13 blocks at Western Illinois. Meanwhile, the team's 110 digs against Western Illinois and 87 digs against Oakland are the second and sixth most in The Summit League this season.
Avoiding The Sophomore Slump - The UMKC sophomores have dominated the stat categories in 2009. Combined, Elizabeth Beck, Brittany Fossier, Nicole Kerkman, Kelsey Knoche, Christiana McQuin, and Erin Wellwood have totaled 404 of 668 kills, 353 of 617 assists, 59 of 74 aces, 117 blocks, and 630 of 957 digs. Knoche leads the way in kills with 164, Wellwood in assists with 310, Wellwood in aces with 17, McQuin in blocks with 46, and Kerkman in digs with 222.
A Balanced Attack - The Kangaroos have seven different players with 60 or more kills so far this season. As a team, the Kangaroos have totaled 668 kills, led by Kelsey Knoche's 164, Christiana McQuin's 108, Jamie Hagerman's 97, and Ella Meier's 72. Also topping the 60 kill mark are Elizabeth Beck's 70, Brittany Fossier's 61, and Emily Lucas' 60. The seven players have combined for over 95 percent of the team's totals.
Setting-Up The Offense - Erin Wellwood has reached double digit assists in 14 of the team's 15 matches for the Kangaroos this season, reaching her career high of 33 at Western Illinois. The sophomore has eclipsed the 20 assist mark eight times, including seven of her last nine matches. For the season, the setter is averaging 5.54 assists per set, totaling 310 overall. Wellwood has led the team in assists in 14 of the 'Roos 15 matches.
Holly Schmidt is the other half of the team's setting tandem. On the season, the junior has accumulated 196 assists, with a 3.77 average. Schmidt has reached double figure assists in 10 games this season, while setting her career high of 21 in the Sept. 19 match at Western Illinois.
Block Party - Jamie Hagerman posted her career-high, the team's season-high, and a tie for The Summit League season high for a four set match in blocks against IPFW on Sept. 12, when the senior tallied nine blocks. Hagerman's previous career high was six, which she had done four times, including this season at Sacred Heart. On the season, Hagerman has notched 41 total blocks, including 11 solos, putting her second on the team. Her 26 blocks ranks second in The Summit League for conference matches only, three behind the league leader.
Three Set Attackers - In the Kangaroos' Sept. 5 match against Holy Cross, the team set The Summit League season high for kills in a three-set match with 52, while also posting the sixth highest hitting percentage in three set matches with a mark of .355 (52-14-107). In the match, the 'Roos got double-digit kill totals from Kelsey Knoche, Elizabeth Beck, and Christiana McQuin, as the trio finished with 16, 10, and 10 kills, respectively.
All-Tournament Recognition - Sophomore outside hitter and Lee's Summit native Kelsey Knoche earned all-tournament recognition for her performance in the Best Western Sycamore Classic and the Sacred Heart Invitational, while freshman Ella Meier joined her as an all-tournament selection at the Sacred Heart Invitational.
Knoche finished the two tournaments with a combined 85 kills, 86 digs, 16 blocks, eight aces, and five double-doubles. Meier, meanwhile, garnered her Sacred Heart Invitational All-Tournament selection by producing 29 kills, seven assists, 32 digs, and 10 blocks, while hitting at a .324 clip.
Putting Up a Fight - The UMKC volleyball team lost to No. 23 Kansas State, 3-1, in front of 1,790 fans at the Ahearn Field House on Tuesday Sept. 1, falling by scores of 25-13, 16-25, 25-14 and 25-16. It is just the fourth time in school history and the first time since 1993 that the 'Roos have take a set from the Wildcats. It is also the second straight year that UMKC has taken a set from a Big 12 school, as it won a set at Kansas last season.
In The Record Books - Sophomore Christiana McQuin currently sits seventh in the Kangaroo record books with a .252 hitting percentage. McQuin sits in her position after posting a .263 hitting percentage during the 2008 season and hitting .233 thus far in 2009. McQuin's .263 mark was good for sixth in The Summit League in 2008, and helped the Wellington, Kan., native to be named to the Summit League All-Freshmen team, one of only four UMKC volleyball players to earn the recognition.
AVCA Academic Honor - The Kangaroos received the AVCA Academic Team Award for the third straight year in 2008. In order to receive the honor, the team must carry a 3.30 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. UMKC has received the honor a total of seven times.
The Opponents - The UMKC volleyball team will welcome a pair of Summit League opponents to Swinney Recreation Center this week, taking on South Dakota State on Thursday and North Dakota State on Saturday. The Jackrabbits enter the week with a 5-8 overall record and 4-2 mark in Summit League action, including victories in all four of their league matches at home, while dropping both of their matches on the road. The Jacks come into the match on a two-match win streak after beating Western Illinois and IUPUI last weekend. For the season, the team has been led by Ellyce Youngren, as the sophomore has registered 126 kills and a team-leading 41 blocks, leading to the Summit League Player of the Week award on Sept. 14. Freshman Fiona Jones leads the team in kills with 140, while juniors Nicole Peters and Thyele Rechatiko handle the setting duties, totaling 271 and 183 assists, respectively. Senior Stacey Wernert tops the team in digs with 192, while Jones has added 144.
The Bison, meanwhile, enter play this weekend with a 10-3 overall record and a league leading 6-0 mark in Summit League play. Coming into the week, the squad was riding a seven match win streak, including wins over IUPUI and Western Illinois last weekend, until suffering a, 3-0, loss to BYU on Tuesday. North Dakota State is led by 2008 Summit League Player of Year and Freshman of the Year Chrissy Knuth. Sophomore Jennifer Lopez, meanwhile, was named First Team All-Summit as a freshman, while sister Kelly Lopez was named The Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team all-Summit in 2008. Nuth, Kelly Lopez, and junior Lauren McLaughlin have all earned Summit League Player of the Week honors this season. McLaughlin leads the team in kills with 169, while Knuth and Brooke VandenBergh have also topped the 100 kill this season. Jennifer Lopez leads the team in assists with 347, while senior Mattie Johnson has added 163. Defensively, the Lopez's pace the squad, as Kelly has notched 211 digs, while Jennifer has tallied 145.
Series Records - Thursday's match will be the seventh meeting between UMKC and South Dakota State, with the Jackrabbits having defeated the 'Roos in the six previous matches, including all four matches as Summit League foes. Last season, the Kangaroos fell, 3-0, in Brookings, S.D., while falling, 3-0, at home. The Jacks are currently third in The Summit League standings, after winning The Summit League regular season and tournament titles in 2007.
Saturday's match will also be the seventh meeting against North Dakota State, losing all six of its previous matches to the Bison as well. Last season, the 'Roos fell, 3-1, in Fargo, N.D., while the Bison took the second match, 3-0, at Swinney Recreation Center. North Dakota State currently sits atop The Summit League standings, after winning both the regular season and tournament Summit League titles in 2008.
Players Mentioned
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