DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL GAME NOTES
November 12, 2008
Contacts: Brett Kahn, Media Relations Assistant ? (302) 857-6239
No. 3(N) Delaware State (15-10, 7-3) vs. No. 2(S) South Carolina State (13-21, 5-3) ? MEAC Championship Quarterfinals -- Holland Hall (Hampton University)
Friday, November 14 -- 12 p.m.
Live Stats: N/A
For Complete .PDF Version of the Volleyball Game Notes: Click here
Hornets Start Play At MEAC Championships
The Hornets are coming into the 2008 MEAC Championship having won their last five matches and eight-of-nine. With their 7-3 MEAC record, they earned the three seed in the North Division after losing the tie-breaker to Howard. They will face off against the number two seed in the South, South Carolina State. This will be the 21st meeting between the two teams with the Hornets winning eight of them including a 3-0 win earlier this season.
Looking Back
The Last time these two teams met in the MEAC Championship was 1998 when DSU won 3-2 to advance to the second round.
Junior Cassandra Joyner and Freshman Elisa Hermann
Joyner (22 kills and 21 digs) and Hermann (10 kills and 14 digs) were both rewarded with this week's MEAC honors. For Joyner, it was her second in as many weeks. For Hermann, it was the first of her career. Joyner was also named to the All-MEAC First Team.
Head Coach Renee Arnold
DSU Head Coach Renee Arnold (65-94) is in her fifth season as the Hornets' Head Coach. This season, 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 and a five-game streak to end the season. The
2008 Hornets
Junior Cassandra Joyner led the team in kills (297), kills/game (3.19), total blocks (75) and blocks/game (0.81).
Sophomore Erica Tajchman led the Hornets in digs (183), digs/game (2.10) and service aces. (39) She also ranked second in kills, (220) and kills/game, (2.53)
Sophomore Sarah Wheatcroft led the team in assists (408).
As a team, the Hornets ranked second in the MEAC in hitting percentage (.206), service aces/game (1.98), and winning percentage (.600) They also rank third in blocks/game, (1.85) (All as of 11/9)
Five Alive
DSU finished the 2008 Campaign winning their last five matches. (10/26-11/8) This is the Hornets' first five-game winning streak since 1992. (10/21/92-10/28/92)
Sophomore Sarah Wheatcroft- S
In 2008, Wheatcroft has tallied two out of the four triple-doubles in the MEAC. Wheatcroft currently ranks first on the team in assists (408) and fourth in kills (143). Wheatcroft also leads the entire MEAC sophomore class with a .203 attack percentage.
Junior Cassandra Joyner- OH/MB
Joyner is tied for the MEAC lead in most 20-kill games this season (3) including a career-high 22 against NJIT(11/8).
Finishing Above .500
DSU finished the 2008 season with a overall record of 15-10. It is the first winning season since 1991 (17-14).
Dynamic Duo
Setters Martina Ferrari and Sarah Wheatcroft are the only setters on the same team in the MEAC to each average more than four assists/game this season. (Ferrari -- 4.82, Wheatcroft -- 4.53)
Aces in the Hole
This season, four DSU players ranked in the top 10 in the MEAC for service aces/game. Erica Tajchman -- 3rd -- 0.45 Sarah Wheatcroft -- 6th -- 0.34 Martina Ferrari -- 7th -- 0.34 Elisa Herrmann -- 9th -- 0.32
Serving the Competition
As of 11/9, the Hornets rank sixth in the nation with 1.98 service aces/game. They are second in the MEAC behind UMES (2.20).
“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)
South Carolina State Player to Watch -- Lauren Harris ? DS
Harris finished the 2008 season as the Bulldogs' best defensive player. She finished fourth in the MEAC with 3.15 digs/game.
