Volleyball Takes Part In West Point Challenge, Plays Home Opener This Weekend

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (0-8) vs.
Morgan State University Bears (4-10)
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 - 10 a.m.
Christl Arena - West Point, N.Y.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (0-8) at
Army Black Knights (8-3)
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 - 12 p.m.
Christl Arena - West Point, N.Y.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (0-8) vs.
St. Francis (N.Y.) College Terriers (0-6)
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009 - 2 p.m.
Burt Kahn Court - Hamden, Conn.

Bobcats Visit West Point, Open NEC Play This Weekend
The Quinnipiac University volleyball team will play three matches this weekend. The Bobcats face Morgan State (10 a.m.) and Army (noon) in consecutive Friday matches as part of the West Point Challenge. They'll then open Northeast Conference play Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. against St. Francis (N.Y.), in what is also the Bobcats home opener.

Live Stats Available
Live stats for all matches of this weekend's matches will be available at no cost. The live stats can be accessed by clicking on the link appropriate links on the volleyball schedule at www.quinnipiacbobcats.com

Riker and Spiker
Logan Riker leads the Bobcats with 111 digs, while Kelby Carey has a team-high 76 kills.

Scouting the Morgan State Bears
The Bears (4-10) are led by Erin Cox, who's compiled a team-high 143 kills. Ivanti Bush has also been a strong contributor with 112 kills and 116 digs. Dina Beamon's 139 digs lead the team, while Christa Rogers has tallied a team-best 336 assists. Kierra Riley's 35 blocks are also a team high. Quinnipiac defeated the Bears in their only meeting last season, 3-1.

Scouting the Army Black Knights
The Black Knights (8-3) are led by Ariana Mankus, who's compiled a team-high 136 kills and is second on the team with 13 service aces. Maureen Bannon's 380 assists and 15 service aces lead the team, while Amanda Rowell leads Army with 34 blocks. Liberty McEntee has tallied a team-high 144 digs.

Scouting the St. Francis (N.Y.) Terriers
The Terriers (0-6) are led by Anisa Lila, whose 92 kills lead the team by a wide margin. Ana Lucena's 12 service aces are a team-best, as are Maria Kashavelova's 148 assists. Linn Wannemacher's 10 blocks and Liliana Rodriguez's 94 digs also lead the Terriers.

Riker Rakes In All-Tournament Honors
Freshman Logan Riker earned St. John's Classic All-Tournament Team recognition in her first weekend as a collegiate volleyball player after registering a team-high 34 digs on the weekend. Included in the feat was a 16-dig performance in the season-opener against Fordham.

Carey-ing The Load
Sophomore Kelby Carey had a team-high 30 kills during the St. John's Classic, including a career-high 14 against Fordham.

Pachoud Packs A Punch
Freshman Chelsey Pachoud compiled 22 kills (2nd-team) and 29 digs (2nd-team) at the St. John's Classic. She finished the weekend with a pair of double-digit dig efforts.

Bobcats Boast Academic Success
The Bobcats were honored by the Northeast Conference and the American Volleyball Coaches Association last season after compiling a 3.61 team grade-point average. The Bobcats' GPA was tops in the NEC, while the AVCA honored QU with its Team Academic Award, given annually to teams that compile at least a 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale, for the third consecutive year.

Bobcats Bring Back Six
The Bobcats return six letter winners this season. Leading the group is graduate student Erin Overdevest (Bridgeton, N.J.), who missed last season due to injury. Senior Kristen Corinaldesi (Port Washington, N.J.) returns to the Bobcats after serving in a reserve capacity last season. Sophomores Stephanie Biediger (Houston, Texas), Kelby Carey, Kayla Lawler (Richmond, Ind.) and Alyssa Naylor (San Diego, Calif.) all started for the Bobcats in 2008, giving Quinnipiac an experienced returning core of players.

On Deck
The Bobcats return to action Wednesday, when they continue NEC action at intrastate rival Central Connecticut. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Detrick Gym.