University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Air Force
Huskies start season at The Service Academy Challenge
8/28/2019 1:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Will face Gonzaga, Air Force, and Navy
STORRS, Conn.—The preseason for the UConn volleyball team has officially come to a close and the Huskies will now travel to compete in their first games of the 2019 season at The Service Academy Challenge.
UConn will play three games in two days against Gonzaga, host—Air Force, and Navy.
SCHEDULE
Friday, August 30th vs. Gonzaga @ 12:30 p.m.
Friday, August 30th at Air Force @ 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 31st vs. Navy @ 10:00 a.m.
*No live stats or stream will be available for this tournament.*
Takking on the Rams of URI in an exhibition Saturday, August 23rd the Huskies took the match four sets to one. The teams played to an agreed upon five sets. The race to 25 was quickly won by UConn in sets one through four with tallies of 25-13, 25-16, 25-8, and 25-17. URI bounced back in the fifth and final set, edging out the 15-10 set.
NEWCOMERS
There are six new faces on the 2019 volleyball roster including an upperclassman transfer. This recruiting class for UConn boasted a 'high honorable mention' from Prep Volleyball. The five freshmen are—Madi Whitmire (Prosper, Texas), Mia Ruffolo (South Barrington, Ill.), Allie Garland (League City, Texas), Jasmine Davis (Redondo Beach, Calif.), and Aset Baker-Falealili (Compton, Calif.). The in-state transfer Meredith Pellegrino (Norwalk, Conn.) joins the Huskies from Rider University. All will look to have an immediate impact on this youthful team.
YOUTH
The aforementioned youth is due to the roster's lack of a senior on the 2019 roster. With a total of 16 student-athletes, the battle test upperclassmen like 2019 American Athletic Conference preseason All-Conference selection Caylee Parkerwill look to be a guiding voice for UConn. The breakdown for the Huskies includes five juniors, five sophomores, and six freshmen. Depth and versatility will be a mainstay for UConn with at least two student-athletes for each position - setter (two), libero/defensive specialist (four), middle blocker (four), outside hitter (six), and rightside hitter (two).
TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
UConn's 2019 schedule holds four teams that competed at the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in Navy, Iona, as well as conference foes UCF and Cincinnati. The Huskies will also take on six teams with a 2018 RPI ranked in the top-100.
The American Athletic Conference has announced the inception of a volleyball conference tournament. The top-6 programs will head down to Orlando, Fla. to compete on November 22-24. In the 2019 preseason poll, UConn was selected 11th.
COACHING STAFF REBOOT
Longtime assistant and asset to the program, Ellen Herman-Kimball has transitioned to Head Coach of the program as announced on February 28th. Matt Scott added recruiting coordinator to his title with the addition of Abby Gilleland to complete the coaching staff. Gilleland was a student-athlete at Ohio, like Herman-Kimball.
