SFA To Battle Pilots And Shockers In Wichita
9/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 2, 2010
Shocker Classic Game Notes
Baylor Classic Tournament Central
Portland (1-2, 0-0 WCC) - 12:00 p.m., Sept. 3
Wichita State (2-1, 0-0 MVC) - 7:00 p.m., Sept. 3
Portland (1-2, 0-0 WCC) - 5:00 p.m. Sept. 4
Charles Koch Center (10,506) - Wichita, Kan.
FOR STARTERS
After splitting its first four matches of the season, SFA travels north for three matches over the weekend at the Shocker Classic, hosted by Wichita State.
SFA played the first of just two home non-conference matches on Tuesay at Johnson Coliseum when it knocked off ULM in five sets. That came on the heels of a 1-2 trip to Waco over the weekend that included a win over Butler and a pair of losses to Baylor and SMU.
SFA VS THE FIELD
vs Wichita State, WSU leads 2-1
The last time: SFA 3, WSU 2 • Aug. 27 • Houston
---
vs Portland, First Meeting
FOLLOW THE LADYJACKS
LIVE STATS: Live stats will be available for all three SFA matches at the Shocker Classic and can be found at www.goshockers.com
RADIO: Fans can listen to SFA's match vs Wichita State at 7:00 p.m. on Friday by tuning in online at www.shockerradio.com. It will be broadcats in the Wichita area on 103.7 KEYN
AT THE TOP OF TEXAS: Since 2004, only one Division I school in the state of Texas has had more wins and/or a better wining percentage than the SFA Ladyjacks, the perennially powerful Texas Longhorns. SFA has picked up 157 wins in the last six seasons, just three win less than the University of Texas.
LOW FIVE TO HIGH FIVE: After going just 1-6 in five-set matches in 2009, SFA has already been pushed to the limit twice in just four matches in 2010, and already the Ladyjacks have responded in a positive way. SFA pulled out a five-set win over Butler on Saturday at the Baylor Classic and then once again at
MC HAMMER: Already twice this season junior middle blocker MC Bottles has shown why she was selected to the all-conference team in each of her firs two years as a Ladyjack, hitting the 20-kill mark in each of SFA's two wins against Butler and ULM. Her career-best 23 kills against Butler was the first time in her career she had hit the 20-kill plateau, but it only took her two matches to do it again, posting 20 kills in a five-set win over ULM on Tuesday.
TKO: Senior outside hitter Kelsey Owens has already picked up three double-doubles in just four matches this year, showing her versatility with 10 or mor kills and digs in each of her last three matches. She topped out with a 17-kill, 25-dig outing in a five-set win over Butler for the first of her three straight; however, she hasn't even hit a personal best yet. The senior from The Colony pulled off the feat of four straight double-doubles last season in a mid-year stretch.
LOOKING FOR A FRESHMAN REPEAT: SFA will enter 2010 with a redshirt-freshman setter, the first time that Debbie Humphreys has had a freshman run the offense as the primary setter since JJ Jones in 2004. That season Jones was named the league's freshman of the year and led the Ladyjacks to the first of four consecutive Southland Conference titles. This season freshman Allison Gideon will be looking to imitate that feat when she takes over after watching last season from the sidelines.
FRESH WAVE OF NEWBIES: Every year a new wave of players make their way onto the roster, but some seasons bring more newcomers than others. This season the Ladyjacks will have six new faces on the roster, including five true freshmen. Debbie Humphreys brought in three freshman outside hitters in Leslie Jackson, Monica Pannone and Lauren McDaniel who will each compete for immediate playing time, while 5-2 Meagan Veach gives Humphreys an option at both setter and as a defensive specialist on the back line. The other point of emphasis came at depth at the middle blocker spot, and the coaches found answers in freshman Lindsay Hill and current Ladyjack high jumper Carrie Hahn.
STRIVING FOR SEVEN: SFA posted a 24-13 record in 2010 for its sixth consecutive 20-win season, but the team is still years behind the all-time record for consecutive 20-win seasons. From 1992-99 SFA put together eight straight 20-win seasons, which also ties UT-Arlington's run of eight staight from 1982-89 for the Southland Conference record.
-SFA-
