DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL GAME NOTES
October 23, 2008
Contacts: Brett Kahn, Media Relations Assistant ? (302) 857-6239
Delaware State (10-9, 4-2) vs. UMES (19-8, 6-0)
Friday, October 24 -- Memorial Hall -- 6 p.m.
Live Stats: dsuhornets.com
Delaware State (10-9, 4-2) vs. Howard (11-14, 5-1)
Sunday, October 26 -- Burr Gymnasium-- 2 p.m.
Live Stats: N/A
For Complete .PDF Version of the Volleyball Game Notes: Click here
Hornets Face Cream of the Crop of MEAC
After their second three-game winning streak of the season, the Hornets return home to host first-place UMES (10/24), then travel to face second-place Howard (10/26). DSU is 29-32 all-time against UMES and 7-44 against Howard.
Looking Back
The Hornets lost to both of these teams earlier in the season. On October 5, the Hornets fell to UMES, 3-0, and on October 10, Delaware State fell to Howard, 3-2.
Leading the way against UMES was Junior Cassandra Joyner with 10 kills and six digs. Against Howard, Joyner also led the way with a season-high 20 kills, six digs, and six total blocks.
Head Coach Renee Arnold
DSU Head Coach Renee Arnold (60-93) is in her fifth season with the Hornets. In 2008, she led the Hornets to a 3-0 showing at the Delaware State Tournament in late September. She has also led DSU to two three-game winning streaks this season.
Last season, Arnold led the team to a 11-20 overall record and a 7-3 MEAC record. She also led DSU to a MEAC Tournament win over North Carolina A&T before falling to Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-3) in the semifinals. Arnold's 2007 overall record included contests against #2 Stanford and #3 Penn State, along with major conference foes Boston College and Michigan State.
The 2008 Hornets
Junior Cassandra Joyner leads the team in kills (202), kills/game (3.01), total blocks (54) and blocks/game (0.81).
Sophomore Erica Tajchman leads the Hornets in digs (133), digs/game (2.15) and service aces. (29) She also ranks second in kills, (155) and kills/game, (2.50)
Freshman Martina Ferrari leads the team in assists (300) and assists/game (4.62).
As a team, the Hornets rank second in the MEAC in opponents hitting percentage (.179), hitting percentage, (.197) blocks/game, (1.85) and service aces/game, (2.00) (All as of 10/20)
Sophomore Sarah Wheatcroft- S
In 2008, Wheatcroft has tallied two out of the three triple-doubles in the MEAC. Wheatcroft currently ranks second on the team in assists (255) and third in kills (110).
Three is Key
After their win against Hampton on 10/24, the Hornets have now registered two three-game winning streaks this season. This is the first time DSU has accomplished this feat in two years. (9/30/06-10/6/06 and 10/21/06-10/27/06)
Junior Cassandra Joyner- OH/MB
Joyner is tied for the MEAC lead in most 20-kill games this season. (2) She hasn't, however, eclipsed more than 20, in 2008.
Above .500
After 19 matches, the Hornets are 10-9. They have a chance to post the first winning season for DSU since 1991.
Serving the Competition
As of 10/20, the Hornets rank sixth in the nation with 2.00 service aces/game. They are second in the MEAC behind UMES (2.05).
The Art of the Home and Away Weekend
DSU will be faced with their second home and away weekend of the season. Under head coach Renee Arnold, the Hornets are 7-7 when are faced with this scenario.
“Digging” Up a New School Record
Freshman Setter Sonja Banicevic set a new school record with 30 digs against Hampton, 10/3. The previous record stood at 26 by Kinga Muszynski. (10/7/06 vs. Howard)
UMES Player to Watch - Christina Estebane' ? S
Estabane' is making a strong case for MEAC player of the year. She leads the Hawks with 9.74 assists/game (first in MEAC), 2.99 digs/game, and 0.55 service aces/game (first in MEAC and 10th in nation).
She has won the MEAC Player of the Week Award four times this season.
Last season, she was named as part of the first team All-MEAC.
Howard Player to Watch - Gazelle D'Artois ? OH
D'Artois continues to lead the Bison in 2008. She leads the team with 3.17 kills/game, 2.39 digs/game, and 0.79 blocks/game. She ranks second in the MEAC with four double-doubles in 2008. (Last: 11 kills and 14 digs)
