Mavericks Welcome South Dakota on Tuesday
Sep 29, 2014 | Volleyball
This Week
With a quick turnaround from a busy weekend, the Omaha volleyball team returns to Sapp Fieldhouse this Tuesday, Sept. 30 to welcome first-place South Dakota for a Summit League matchup at 7 p.m. Links to live stats and live video will be available on OMavs.com, and the webcast will include commentary from Jon Green.
Scouting the South Dakota Coyotes
South Dakota enters the week with a record of 8-6 (2-0 Summit League) after earning two home wins last weekend, 3-1 against North Dakota State and 3-2 against Oral Roberts. USD sits atop the Summit League standings, and they were picked fourth in the preseason coaches' poll after finishing third a year ago.
The Coyotes are led by defending Summit League Player of the Year Kendall Kritenbrink, a senior outside hitter who is third in the conference with 4.44 kills per set. USD returned two All-Summit players on its roster this season with Kritenbrink, who earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention status last season, and junior middle hitter Kelsey Biltoft. Senior middle blocker Melissa Firtko also ranks among the league's top blockers this year, as she is fourth with 1.23 blocks per set. Head coach Leanne Williamson is in her first year with the USD program and holds a career record of 8-6.
This weekend marks the 69th meeting all-time between Omaha and South Dakota, and the Mavericks lead the series, 55-13. The two teams last met on Nov. 15, 2013, with UNO taking a 3-2 win at Sapp Fieldhouse.
Quick Hits
•Within the Omaha-South Dakota series, the two teams have gone 5-5 in the last 10 matches. From 2005 to 2007, the Mavericks won five straight before series halted. When it resumed in 2011 -- UNO's first year in Division I -- the Coyotes won five straight matches in the series, but Omaha stopped that streak last fall with a 3-2 win at Sapp Fieldhouse.
•When pushing its opponents to 30 or more attack errors in a match, UNO is 3-1 this season.
•Junior outside hitter Kelley Wollak picked up her team-leading seventh double-double of the year against Western Illinois on Sunday.
•Freshman setter Sydney O'Shaughnessy finished with a season-high 40 assists against the Leathernecks and added a match-high 24 digs for her sixth double-double of the year.
•Four Mavericks were named to all-tournament teams earlier this season: junior defensive specialist Kimberly Bailey at the Emerald Beach Islanders Classic, O'Shaughnessy and junior middle blocker Megan Schmale at the Billiken Invitational and Wollak at the Omaha Classic.
Arriving at the National Block Party
Omaha's blocking corps has been outstanding during the 2014 season, and the statistics say it all. The Mavericks have outblocked their opponents a combined 163-88 and have tallied double-digit team blocks in 10 matches. As such, the Mavericks, who may not officially be listed in the NCAA Division I stats release, are unofficially ranked fourth in the country with 163 total blocks, and they are 21st nationally with 2.76 blocks per set.
The Block Party: Summit League Style
Omaha claims three of the top five blockers in the Summit League after the first month of the season. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Amanda Conlin is second with 1.32 blocks per set, junior middle blocker Megan Schmale is third (1.25) and junior setter/rightside hitter Michaela Schimmer is fifth (1.07).
As a team, Omaha is the Summit League's top blocking team with 2.76 blocks per set, 163 total blocks and 292 block assists.
Last Time Out: Omaha Records First League Win, 3-1 at WIU
Omaha picked up its first Summit League win of the season on Sunday, outlasting Western Illinois 3-1 at Western Hall. Junior outside hitter Kelley Wollak posted her team-leading seventh double-double of the season with 19 kills and 10 digs. Freshman setter Sydney O'Shaughnessy also had a double-double – her sixth – with a season-best 40 assists and a match-high 24 digs.
Junior middle blocker Megan Schmale had a standout performance as well, finishing with 11 kills and a match-best six blocks. Junior middle blocker Diane Banderas added another four stops at the net, helping the Mavericks outblock WIU, 11-5.
Omaha also outhit Western Illinois, .231 to .122, and forced 32 Leatherneck attack errors.
Up Next
Omaha returns to action on Friday, Oct. 3, hosting North Dakota State. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start at Sapp Fieldhouse, and links to live stats and live audio will be available on OMavs.com.
With a quick turnaround from a busy weekend, the Omaha volleyball team returns to Sapp Fieldhouse this Tuesday, Sept. 30 to welcome first-place South Dakota for a Summit League matchup at 7 p.m. Links to live stats and live video will be available on OMavs.com, and the webcast will include commentary from Jon Green.
Scouting the South Dakota Coyotes
South Dakota enters the week with a record of 8-6 (2-0 Summit League) after earning two home wins last weekend, 3-1 against North Dakota State and 3-2 against Oral Roberts. USD sits atop the Summit League standings, and they were picked fourth in the preseason coaches' poll after finishing third a year ago.
The Coyotes are led by defending Summit League Player of the Year Kendall Kritenbrink, a senior outside hitter who is third in the conference with 4.44 kills per set. USD returned two All-Summit players on its roster this season with Kritenbrink, who earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention status last season, and junior middle hitter Kelsey Biltoft. Senior middle blocker Melissa Firtko also ranks among the league's top blockers this year, as she is fourth with 1.23 blocks per set. Head coach Leanne Williamson is in her first year with the USD program and holds a career record of 8-6.
This weekend marks the 69th meeting all-time between Omaha and South Dakota, and the Mavericks lead the series, 55-13. The two teams last met on Nov. 15, 2013, with UNO taking a 3-2 win at Sapp Fieldhouse.
Quick Hits
•Within the Omaha-South Dakota series, the two teams have gone 5-5 in the last 10 matches. From 2005 to 2007, the Mavericks won five straight before series halted. When it resumed in 2011 -- UNO's first year in Division I -- the Coyotes won five straight matches in the series, but Omaha stopped that streak last fall with a 3-2 win at Sapp Fieldhouse.
•When pushing its opponents to 30 or more attack errors in a match, UNO is 3-1 this season.
•Junior outside hitter Kelley Wollak picked up her team-leading seventh double-double of the year against Western Illinois on Sunday.
•Freshman setter Sydney O'Shaughnessy finished with a season-high 40 assists against the Leathernecks and added a match-high 24 digs for her sixth double-double of the year.
•Four Mavericks were named to all-tournament teams earlier this season: junior defensive specialist Kimberly Bailey at the Emerald Beach Islanders Classic, O'Shaughnessy and junior middle blocker Megan Schmale at the Billiken Invitational and Wollak at the Omaha Classic.
Arriving at the National Block Party
Omaha's blocking corps has been outstanding during the 2014 season, and the statistics say it all. The Mavericks have outblocked their opponents a combined 163-88 and have tallied double-digit team blocks in 10 matches. As such, the Mavericks, who may not officially be listed in the NCAA Division I stats release, are unofficially ranked fourth in the country with 163 total blocks, and they are 21st nationally with 2.76 blocks per set.
The Block Party: Summit League Style
Omaha claims three of the top five blockers in the Summit League after the first month of the season. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Amanda Conlin is second with 1.32 blocks per set, junior middle blocker Megan Schmale is third (1.25) and junior setter/rightside hitter Michaela Schimmer is fifth (1.07).
As a team, Omaha is the Summit League's top blocking team with 2.76 blocks per set, 163 total blocks and 292 block assists.
Last Time Out: Omaha Records First League Win, 3-1 at WIU
Omaha picked up its first Summit League win of the season on Sunday, outlasting Western Illinois 3-1 at Western Hall. Junior outside hitter Kelley Wollak posted her team-leading seventh double-double of the season with 19 kills and 10 digs. Freshman setter Sydney O'Shaughnessy also had a double-double – her sixth – with a season-best 40 assists and a match-high 24 digs.
Junior middle blocker Megan Schmale had a standout performance as well, finishing with 11 kills and a match-best six blocks. Junior middle blocker Diane Banderas added another four stops at the net, helping the Mavericks outblock WIU, 11-5.
Omaha also outhit Western Illinois, .231 to .122, and forced 32 Leatherneck attack errors.
Up Next
Omaha returns to action on Friday, Oct. 3, hosting North Dakota State. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start at Sapp Fieldhouse, and links to live stats and live audio will be available on OMavs.com.
Players Mentioned
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