PROVO, Utah— The LIU volleyball team concludes its two-week trip out west with the BYU Doterra Classic this weekend. The second tournament of the season for the Sharks will open Thursday, September 5 against tournament host, 13th ranked BYU. LIU will take on Weber State on Friday, September 6 before closing out the weekend against Sam Houston State on Saturday, September 7.
LIU at BYU
Thursday, September 5
Time: 9:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Provo, Utah
Venue: Smith Field House
Live Stats:
Stat Broadcast
Video:
WCC Network
LIU vs. Weber State
Friday, September 6
Time: 6:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Provo, Utah
Venue: Smith Field House
Live Stats:
Stat Broadcast
Video:
WCC Network
LIU vs. Sam Houston State
Saturday, September 7
Time: 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Provo, Utah
Venue: Smith Field House
Live Stats:
Stat Broadcast
Video:
WCC Network
NOTES ON THE SHARKS
LIU opened the season with the Buffs Invitational last weekend, taking on tough opponents in UC Santa Barbara, Colorado and Wyoming.
Senior
Kora Schaberl led the Sharks with 35 kills in the three matches, posting 3.89 kills per set average. She also registered 24 for digs for a 2.67 average. Junior
Jovana Stekovic also averaged 2.33 kills per set for LIU and paced the team with three service aces.
Senior
Amanda Hubbard distributed 47 assists for the Sharks and led the team with six blocks at the net. Senior
Natalia Rivera led the LIU defense with 33 digs and 3.67 digs per set average.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
BYU enters the weekend ranked 13th nationally in the AVCA Top-25 poll. The Cougars went 2-1 in the opening weekend at home, falling to now 11th ranked Marquette.
McKenna Miller, who posted 35 kills in three matches last weekend, leads the team offensively. Setter Whitney Bower dished out 92 assists for the Cougars and recorded seven service aces in three matches. Defensively, Mary Lake leads BYU with 32 digs and Heather Gneiting totaled 14 blocks.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Weber State went 2-1 to start the season, competing at the Wildcat Invitational on their home court. The Wildcats were tabbed second in the Big Sky preseason coaches' poll. The team posted an 18-win campaign a season ago.
Offensively, Kennedy Redd leads the Wildcats with 35 kills and 3.50 kills per set average to go along with five service aces in the opening weekend. Ashlyn Powell was the team's leading distributor last weekend, tallying 116 assists in 11 sets.
The Wildcats posted an impressive 15 digs per set average last weekend with Katelyn Erwin leading the way with a 3.09 dig per set average. At the net, Hannah Hill comes into the weekend with 13 total blocks for Weber State.
SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
Sam Houston State also kicked off the season at home, going 1-2 at the SHSU Invitational with a five set win over Prairie View A&M. The Bearkats were picked to finish third in the Southland preseason coaches' poll prior to the season and posted a 22-8 mark with 13 conference wins in 2018.
The team is represented well on the outside with 192 kills in 14 sets last weekend. Ashley Lewis led the team with 51 kills and 3.64 kills per set average. Breanne Chausse also posted a 3.29 kills per set average for the Bearkats in the opening weekend. SHSU also tallied 13.50 assists per set with Madilyn Miles and Morgan Janda splitting time in the rotation.
On defense, Ashleigh Traylor led the team with 43 digs with a 3.07 digs per set average and Kaira Hunnicutt posted a team-high 13 blocks.
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UP NEXT
LIU will conclude tournament play next weekend with a trip down to Florida for the River City Tournament. The Sharks will open play on Friday, September 13 with a pair of matches against FIU at 1:00 p.m. and tournament host, UNF at 7:00 p.m. Competition will end with a 11:00 a.m. match against Charleston Southern on Saturday, September 14.
