Match 23
Thursday, Nov. 3
No. 21 San Diego at Gonzaga, 6 p.m.
Spokane, Wash. - Martin Centre
Live stats and video links available at GoZags.com
Series Record: Pepperdine leads the all-time series 40-9
What happened the first time around?:
GU lost 3-1 at then-No. 17 San Diego Oct. 8
Match 24
Saturday, Nov. 5
Saint Mary's at Gonzaga, Noon
Spokane, Wash. - Martin Centre
Live stats and video links available at GoZags.com
Series Record: Saint Mary's leads the all-time series 27-23
What happened the first time around?:
GU lost 3-0 at Saint Mary's Oct. 6
THIS WEEK: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team hosts its final homestand of the 2011 season when it welcomes both the University of San Diego and Saint Mary's College to the Martin Centre. The Bulldogs host the No. 18 Toreros Thursday at 6 p.m. and the Gaels on Saturday for Senior Day at Noon.
RECOGNIZING THREE SENIORS: When the Gonzaga University women's volleyball team plays Saint Mary's College Saturday it will recognize its three seniors prior to the contest. Playing in their final home match of their careers are setter Denise Van de Mortel, outside hitter/libero Laura Day and outside hitter Kaprina Goodwin.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO TOREROS: The University of San Diego women's volleyball team is currently ranked No. 21 in the latest AVCA poll and stands in second in the West Coast Conference standings with a 8-3 mark. Overall the Toreros are 23-3. The three losses have come to the University of San Francisco (3-0), Pepperdine University (3-0) and to Saint Mary's College (3-2). USD is led by Amber Tatsch with a team-leading 3.20 kills per set, which is also sixth highest in the WCC. She also is averaging 1.88 digs per set and has served up a WCC leading 48 service aces. Kandiss Anderson is leading the squad in digs per set at 4.06; fifth most in the West Coast Conference. The Toreros are coached by Jennifer Petrie in her 12th year at the helm.
ABOUT THE SAINT MARY'S GAELS: The Saint Mary's women's volleyball team is currently 11-12 overall and 5-6 in the West Coast Conference. The Gaels are coming off a 3-2 upset victory over then-No. 17 University of San Diego. SMC is led by Jordan Shaw and Lauren Corp who are averaging 3.42 and 3.06 kills and 2.47 and 2.56 per set, respectively. Sarah Reams leads the team at 4.10 digs per set, fourth most in the West Coast Conference, and has served up 30 aces, second most on the team. Saint Mary's is coached by Rob Browning in his seventh year at the helm.
RECORD SETTING ATTENDANCE AGAINST BYU: A rowdy 1,197 fans were in attendance to cheer on the Gonzaga University women's volleyball team as it took on BYU, Oct. 17. The 1,197 fans in attendance is the highest attendance since at least 2004 (when computer records go back to). It is the second time since 2004 Gonzaga has cracked 1,000. The Bulldogs had 1,112 fans come out to see them play the University of Washington on Aug. 31, 2007.
HEAD COACH DAVE GANTT IN HIS THIRD SEASON: Gonzaga University women's volleyball head coach is his third season at the helm of the Zags. Gantt previously coached at Montana State University and Oregon State University. To check out Gantt's full bio please head to GoZags.com.
NEW TIMES THIS SEASON: In a switch this year, all weekday HOME West Coast Conference matches will begin at 6 p.m. In previous years, matches had a start time of 7 p.m. For the second consecutive year, all Saturday HOME West Coast Conference matches will begin at Noon.
MORE TOTAL WINS THAN 2010: Gonzaga University women's volleyball currently holds a 7-15 overall mark. The seven wins are three more than the total amount of victories the Bulldogs finished with in 2010.
TWENTY SEVEN DIGS FOR DAY: Gonzaga University women's volleyball senior Laura Day, who began the season as an outside hitter for the Bulldogs, has since switched into the libero roll. A defensive specialist by nature, Day was all over the floor for the Zags in their tough 3-2 setback at Loyola Marymount University this past Saturday, finishing with a match and career-high 27 digs. The 27 digs are the ninth highest dig total in the West Coast Conference this season and is the highest output for a Bulldog this season. Day is currently averaging 2.89 digs per set, second best on the squad.
LEFTY DEEDE EXPLODES AGAINST SANTA CLARA: Redshirt freshman Hannah Deede registered a career-high 14 kills Gonzaga University 3-1 setback to Santa Clara University, Oct. 2. Deede, who had played sporadically while battling an injury this fall, played the full four-sets for Gonzaga. Coming into the match she had tallied three total kills on the year but exploded for 14 on 37 attempts, with just six errors, for a team-high .216 attacking clip. Her best set came in the Bulldogs 25-23 second set victory as she hammered down five kills on seven attempts.
CAREER HIGH DIGS FOR WANG: Gonzaga University women's volleyball junior Mengya Wang, the Bulldogs back up setter and defensive specialist, collected a career-high 12 digs in their 3-1 setback to Santa Clara University, Oct. 1. Wang was one of three Zags to break the double-digit dig barrier with her 12. Her defensive abilities were crucial in Gonzaga sticking with Santa Clara in the first set as she picked up six of the teams 18 digs.
CRENSHAW BLOCKS A TON: Redshirt sophomore Meredith Crenshaw turned into a blocking wall in Gonzaga University's 3-2 victory over Portland State University. Crenshaw finished the match with a career-high 13 blocks, including six block assists and two solo blocks over the crucial fourth and fifth sets. Her 13 blocks ranks tied for third in Gonzaga's all-time record book for single-match block total. She is tied with former Bulldog assistant coach Abby (Cullen) Bennett, who had 13 blocks against the University of Portland in 2002 and with Christine Kubista who also had 13 blocks. Kubista's came against Santa Clara University in 1995. On the season, Crenshaw is averaging a team-best 1.01 blocks per set which stands in seventh in the West Coast Conference. Crenshaw has registered double-figure blocks two other times this season; 10 vs. Loyola Marymount (9/22) and 11 versus Santa Clara University (10/1).
ALL-TOURNAMENT SELECTIONS THIS FALL:
UniWyo Wyoming Invite: Laura Day, Denise Van de Mortel
Hoosier Classic: Terran Poindexter, Meredith Crenshaw
VAN DE MORTEL GETS GREAT EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER: Gonzaga University women's volleyball senior setter Denise Van de Mortel, the starting setter for three-years, has come into her own in the past year. After leading the Bulldogs in 2010 with 8.98 assists, 2.14 digs per set, along with a team-leading 19 service aces and 70 blocks, third highest on the team, she participated in the open tryouts for the U.S. Women's National A2 Program, being named an alternate, and spent time playing in China this past June.
GOODWIN RETURNS TO THE MIX AFTER SEASON ENDING INJURY IN 2010: Gonzaga University women's volleyball senior outside hitter Kaprina Goodwin returned to the action after an elbow injury cut her junior season short. She was averaging 2.07 kills per set last season before the injury occurred in the opening match of West Coast Conference play.
YAMAMOTO LONE NEWCOMER: Freshman defensive specialist Maggie Yamamoto is the sole freshman on the competitive roster this fall.
DISHIN' WITH DENI: Gonzaga University women's volleyball senior setter Denise Van de Mortel will be keeping fans up-to-date on everything women's volleyball throughout the 2011 season. Head to GoZags.com every Tuesday to check out her new blog to get the inside look into the Zags volleyball program!
BULLDOGS PICKED NINTH IN WCC COACHES PRESEASON POLL: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team has been selected to finish ninth in the 2011 West Coast Conference season according to a preseason vote of the league's head coaches. The Bulldogs received eight votes in this year's poll after losing five players, including four starters off a team that went 4-27 and 1-13 in the conference a season ago.
Women's Volleyball 2011 Preseason Poll
1. Pepperdine - 62 (7); 2. Saint Mary's - 55 (1); 3. San Diego - 52 (1); 4. Santa Clara - 43; 5. Loyola Marymount - 35; 6. BYU - 31; T7. Portland - 19; T7. San Francisco - 19; 9. Gonzaga - 8 (First place votes)
TWITTER: Yes, the Gonzaga University Bulldogs are on twitter! You can find us at www.twitter.com/GonzagaBulldogs. We provide inside scoop on all Bulldog athletics as well as in-game updates for all home and selective road matches. CHECK US OUT!
FACEBOOK: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team is on Facebook. Search for Gonzaga University women's volleyball when signed into facebook and LIKE the page. Get inside scoop on the team, see photos from the season, read recaps of matches and watch video. ENJOY!
