University of Connecticut Athletics
Volleyball's UConn Toyota Classic Set for This Weekend
9/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - Continuing the season in tournament play, the University of Connecticut volleyball team will take on Long Island at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the second game of the UConn Toyota Classic. This season, the Huskies welcome Texas Christian and New Hampshire in addition to Long Island to the tournament field on Friday and Saturday at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
UConn hits the hardwood of its own court still in search of its first win of the 2009 season. After a four-match stint out west at the Nevada Courtyard Marriott/Fairfield Invitational, the Huskies came back to Storrs with a 0-4 record. Junior Rebecca Murray and sophomore Jordan Kirk led the team in kills over the weekend, helping UConn force a pair of five-set matches. Against the host school, Nevada and against UC Irvine, the Huskies took each match to five sets before ultimately falling.
Murray earned a spot on the all-tournament team with 54 kills over the matches in addition to a team-best hitting percentage (.250), service aces (6) and total blocks (16). Kirk finished the weekend with a 2.53 kill per set average, totaling 43 over four matches.
The first UConn opponent, Long Island, makes a return to the UConn Toyota Classic field after a two-year hiatus. The Blackbirds were among the competition field in 2007 and finished their time at Gampel with a 0-3 record. Long Island is the defending Northeast Conference Champions and is the second team the Huskies will face that was part of the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
Joining Connecticut among the teams looking for its first victory of the season Long Island and New Hampshire both arrive with 0-3 records. The Wildcats failed to win a single-set during the Big Orange Tournament with losses against Syracuse, Sacramento and Siena. UNH (0-3) did win an exhibition game on Sept. 1 against Bentley although the Wildcats will not see their true home opener until they host their own tournament in mid-September.
Texas Christian started the season off with a pair of wins and comes to Storrs with a .500 record after dropping the final two matches of its own tournament last weekend. The Horned Frogs won matches against Arkansas and Grambling State before falling to Loyola Marymount and Baylor.
The first 100 fans in attendance for the Huskies' 7:30 p.m. game against Long Island will receive a FREE slice of pizza for "Pack the Pavilion Night." Those unable to attend can follow all of the weekend's action via Gametracker on UConnHuskies.com.
Gametracker links for the Weekend
Texas Christian vs. New Hampshire 5 p.m.
UConn vs. Long Island 7:30 p.m.
Texas Christian vs. Long Island 10 a.m.
UConn vs. New Hampshire 12:30 p.m.
Long Island vs. New Hampshire 5 p.m. UConn vs. Texas Christian 7:30 p.m.
