September 17, 2010

2010 Lafayette Invitational

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (1-8) vs.
Delaware State University Hornets (2-8)
Friday, Sept. 17, 2010 - 3 p.m.
Kirby Sports Center - Easton, Pa.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (1-8) at
Lafayette College Leopards (3-6)
Saturday, Sept. 18 - 10 a.m.
Kirby Sports Center - Easton, Pa.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (1-8) vs.
La Salle University Explorers (3-9)
Saturday, Sept. 18 - 3 p.m.
Kirby Sports Center - Easton, Pa.

Bobcats Travel To Easton, Pa. For Lafayette Invitational
The Quinnipiac University volleyball team travels to Easton, Pa., Friday to take part in the Lafayette Invitational. The Bobcats, coming off a 3-0 sweep of Hartford last time out, will face Delaware State Friday at 3 p.m., before facing Lafayette (10 a.m.) and La Salle (3 p.m.) on Saturday.

Follow the Bobcats
Live stats for Saturday's match against Lafayette will be available. To access the live stats, please click on the appropriate link on the volleyball schedule at www.quinnipiacbobcats.com.

Scouting the Delaware State Hornets
The Hornets are 2-8, falling in each of their last seven matches following a 2-1 weekend to begin the season. Delaware State's two wins came against Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern, both by 3-1 margins. Sarah Wheatcroft leads the Hornets with 90 kills and 26 blocks, while Martina Ferrari has run the Delaware State offense to the tune of 334 assists. Sonja Banicevic leads the defense with 169 digs, while Jessica Croucher's nine service aces are a team best.

Scouting the Lafayette Leopards
The Leopards (3-6) have earned victories over Coppin State (3-1), St. Peter's (3-2) and Fairleigh Dickinson (3-0) so far this season. Kayly Elmer has paced Lafayette with 120 kills, while Sarah Frohnapfel's 261 assists are a team high. Christy Mebust and Katrina Racibarskas have 14 service aces apiece to lead Lafayette, while Mebust's 168 digs lead the Leopards defense. Alana Taylor's 18 blocks are also a team best.

Scouting the La Salle Explorers
La Salle (3-9) has earned wins over Hartford (3-1), Rider (3-0) and St. Francis (N.Y.) (3-1) so far this season. Jacquelyn Mitrovich leads a balanced Explorers attack with 80 kills, while also giving them a boost defensively with a team-high 24 blocks. Kourtney Clark has run the La Salle offense with 323 assists, while tying Lauren Noga for the team lead in service aces with 12. Breanna Mazalewski's 162 digs also pace the Explorers.

Hart-Break
The Bobcats swept the University of Hartford for their first win in 12 tries against the Hawks at the Division I level, Sept. 11, in Hamden.

Record Breaker
Just two weeks after setting a new personal four-set single-match record with 46 assists against Fordham, Aug. 28, junior Kayla Lawler (Louisville, Ky.) compiled a new personal three-set single-match record with 43 assists against Hartford, Sept. 11. Her previous record four-set record was 41, set twice in her freshman year of 2008. Meanwhile, Lawler's prior three-set record was 40, set last Sept. 20 against St. Francis (N.Y.). Her five-set record is 53, set last Oct. 9 at St. Francis (N.Y.).

Good To Biediger Back
Sophomore Stephanie Biediger (Houston, Texas) made her return to the court after missing more than a year due to injury on Sept. 10. In her first tournament back, the outside hitter led the Bobcats with 25 kills in three matches and added 34 digs, earning Quinnipiac Invitational All-Tournament Team honors. Joining Biediger on the all-tournament team was Lawler, who piled up 110 assists in three matches.

Grattan Grabbing Attention
In three matches during the Quinnipiac Invitational, freshman Olivia Grattan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had team highs in both kills (25) and blocks (10).

Riker's Versatility Rewarded
Logan Riker (Bowling Green, Ohio) was named to the Yale Invitational All-Tournament Team after compiling 12 kills and 28 digs, Sept. 3-4. Riker took her customary position at libero to rack up 23 digs in the first two matches of the weekend, before moving outside to compile 10 kills against Stony Brook.

Starting Strong
A pair of newcomers to the Bobcats made impressive debuts at the Beanpot Classic. Graduate student transfer Amanda Armstrong (Waukesha, Wis.) was named to the All-Tournament Team after totaling 30 kills on the weekend, including 15 against Fordham. Freshman Tracey Wright (Fair Lawn, N.J.) had 44 digs on the weekend, including 17 to conclude the weekend against Boston College.

Sophomore Surge
Taylor Payne (Warwick, N.Y.) began her sophomore season with a team-high 31 kills at the Beanpot Classic. At 3.10 kills per set at the first tournament of the year, Payne showed marked improvement from her 0.90 kills per set average as a freshman.

Returning Cast
Quinnipiac returns much of last season's core of student-athletes, as well as its 2008 Team MVP. Junior setter Kayla Lawler, who almost solely ran the Bobcats' attack, returns as team captain after dishing out 785 assists in 2009. The team's leading hitter, Kelby Carey (Surfside, Calif.), also returns for her junior season, a year after piling up 317 kills. Sophomore libero Logan Riker is also back for the Bobcats after compiling 406 digs as a freshman. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Biediger returns to the Bobcats after missing the 2009 season due to injury. Biediger was named Team MVP as a freshman after recording 233 kills, 244 digs, 31 blocks and 66 assists.

On Deck
The Bobcats return to action Wednesday, when they play host to Providence in a final non-conference tune-up before next Sunday's NEC opener at Bryant. Wednesday's match against Providence is set for 7 p.m. at the Burt Kahn Court.