University of Connecticut Athletics
Volleyball Heads West for Nike Pacific Challenge
9/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Huskies ready for Nike Pacific Challenge
Fresh off a 4-0 weekend, the UConn volleyball team travels west this weekend for the Nike Pacific Challenge in Stockton, CA. With Northwestern from the perennially powerful Big Ten Conference, nationally-ranked University of the Pacific and 2000 Atlantic 10 Champion George Washington as participants, the tournament will be an early season measuring stick for the Huskies.
UConn opens the tournament against Northwestern on Friday evening at 5 p.m. Although Northwestern does not have a single senior on its roster, the Wildcats return five starters and 10 letterwinners from last season. Among them is sophomore middle blocker Erika Lange, a preseason selection to the All-Big Ten Team. Lange, who captured Freshman All-Big Ten honors, paced the team with 393 kills and 162 blocks last season.
On Saturday, Connecticut faces Pacific and George Washington. Nationally-ranked No. 8 Pacific represents the biggest challenge of the young season for the Huskies. The Tigers stormed back from a 0-2 deficit against Washington State to claim the Cougar Invitational last weekend and are led by the assault of sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Joines, who ranks first among the Tigers in kills (121), kills per game (5.04) and blocks (34) and boasts an impressive .308 hitting percentage.
George Washington captured the 2000 Atlantic 10 Championship after rallying around a core of talented and experienced seniors. With this year’s squad, the story is more of youth as the Colonials return only one starter, sophomore outside hitter Ruth Lazzari, who recorded 70 kills and 274 digs in 2000.
Pacific and Northwestern represent new faces for the Huskies, as the two have never squared off against UConn. Connecticut holds a 0-2 record against George Washington with the last match coming on Sept. 5, 1998 when the Huskies lost to the Colonials 1-3 in the Sun Devil/Phoenix Airport Hilton Challenge.
Homecoming for “California Girls”
With eight Huskies claiming the Golden State as home, this weekend signifies a homecoming for two-thirds of the UConn squad. Sophomore setter hails from Stockton, CA, while junior outside hitter is from nearby Linden, CA. Other Californians on the Connecticut squad include freshman (Benicia, CA), junior (North Fork, CA), junior (Lancaster, CA), freshman (Irvine, CA), junior (Ridgecrest, CA), and sophomore (Ridgecrest, CA).
A Look Back: Sweet Repeat
The Huskies successfully defended their 2000 IKON Husky Classic crown this past weekend when they posted a 4-0 record in the 2001 tournament, besting UMass, Texas Christian and New Hampshire in sweeps before knocking off Pac-10 opponent California in five sets on Sunday, Sept. 2.
UConn was led by junior middle hitter (Lancaster, CA) who notched 47 kills and 19 blocks in the tournament. Twelve of those blocks came against Cal, tying her career high. Lambert, who posted a .392 attack percentage, was named 2001 IKON Husky Classic MVP.
Lambert was also awarded Co-BIG EAST Player of the Week for her performance in the IKON Husky Classic. She shared the honor, the first of her career, with Malinda Goralski of Notre Dame.
Junior (Ridgecrest, CA), the 2000 IKON Husky Classic MVP, joined Lambert on the All-Tournament Team. The 6’0 outside hitter leads the Huskies in kills with 62 (4.43 per game).
Sister Act
Junior and sophomore make up a deadly attack for UConn. Melissa Wooley finished first among returning starters last season in kills (342) and service aces (30). The elder Wooley has continued the assault in 2001, with a team-leading 62 kills and five service aces. She registered double-doubles in three matches of the IKON Husky Classic and led UConn in kills against UMass (16), Texas Christian (16) and California (20).
Sister Laura Wooley, a member of the 2000 All-BIG EAST Rookie Team, ranks third on the team in kills (41) and second in digs (42). She notched 12 kills against UMass and 14 against the Golden Bears of California.
Return to Sender
Opponents are seeing a lot of attacks come back at them this season courtesy of sophomore middle hitter (Marshall, MN) and junior middle hitter (Lancaster, CA). The two form a potent 1-2 punch on net defense for the Huskies, claiming 34 blocks on the season between them. Both are averaging more than one block per game with Lambert posting 1.36 per game, up from her 1.24 average, which led the team last season. Lambert averaged 1.58 blocks per game in BIG EAST contests last season which ranked first in the league.
Fresh Faces
Two Husky freshmen saw action in this past weekend’s IKON Husky Classic. Outside hitter (Benicia, CA) played in eight games for UConn, posting 14 kills and 18 digs. Hadenfeldt was instrumental in Connecticut’s five set victory over California as she registered seven kills and 13 blocks.
Middle blocker (Bargersville, IN) also saw time for the Huskies. She played in one game versus New Hampshire and recorded one kill.
