Aug. 28 2007

Volleyball Looks Extend Win Streak at Duquesne/Robert Morris Invitational
    After tying the best start in school history, the Youngstown State volleyball team is looking to break the school mark when it takes on UNC-Greensboro, Friday, Aug. 31, at 4 p.m. in the first round of the Duquesne/Robert Morris Invitational in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Penguins also face North Dakota State and Robert Morris on Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

Attempting to extend the streak will be a daunting challenge for the Guins. UNC-Greensboro and North Dakota State are both 4-0 and Robert Morris is 2-1 after the first week of play.

UNC-Greensboro enters the tournament with a perfect 4-0 mark after knocking off Radford, 3-0, UNC-Wilmington, 3-1, Austin Peay, 3-2, and North Carolina A&T, 3-0. The Spartans also take on East Carolina, Tuesday, Aug. 28, before heading North for the tournament.

Branagan Fuller leads UNCG with 4.93 kills and 3.07 digs per game while Kaitlin Nortz is averaging 3.07 kills and 0.93 blocks per game.

North Dakota State acquired its 4-0 mark after winning the Sun Bowl Volleyball Invitational last week in El Paso, Texas. The Bison swept Texas-Pan American, Marist and Texas Southern and rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat UTEP in the championship.

Senior middle hitter Christy Stuewe was named tournament MVP after notching a career-high 26 kills in the title match, senior Kari Fagnan was named Most Valuable Libero after collecting a school- and Sun Bowl-record 42 digs against UTEP, and sophomore outside hitter Kelly Lopez made the all-tournament team after belting 18 kills in Friday’s opener against Texas-Pan American to set a Sun Bowl three-game record.

Robert Morris 2-1 after the first weekend of play. The Colonials lost in straight sets to Central Michigan and swept Wisconsin-Green Bay and Siena at the Central Michigan tournament last weekend.

Senior middle/outside hitter Emily Wolthuis is averaging 3.89 kills and 3.56 digs per game, while 6-foot-2 freshman middle blocker Amanda Graham is 3.11 kills and 1.11 blocks per game.

Up Next
For the second straight season and the third time in the last four years, the Youngstown State volleyball team will take on the 13th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, Tues., Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. at St. John Arena.

The Buckeyes entered the 2007 campaign ranked No. 16 in the CSTV/AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll but moved to No. 13 after defeating Southeast Missouri State, 3-0, Maine, 3-0, and Ball State, 3-0 last week.

Last season, the Penguins hosted the Buckeyes for the first time in school history but lost, 3-0.

‘Guins Tie Best Program’s Start
By winning its first four matches of the season, the Youngstown State volleyball tied a school mark for best record to start a season. The only other time YSU won its first four matches was during the 1981 campaign.

Fraley, Drost Pick Up Honors
Youngstown State senior Jessica Fraley and freshman Abigail Drost were named to the Temple Invitational All-Tournament Team after leading the Penguins to a 4-0 record over the weekend.

Fraley averaged 3.19 kills per game, 1.44 digs per game and 0.81 blocks per game while hitting at a .273 clip. Fraley recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs against LaSalle, 17 kills with a .433 hitting percentage against Lehigh, eight kills and a .438 hitting percentage against Rider and 13 kills against Temple.

Drost averaged 2.31 kills and 3.62 digs per game. She posted a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs against Lehigh and just missed double-doubles with nine kills and 19 digs against LaSalle and nine kills and 12 digs against Temple. Drost also collected 14 digs in a three-game sweep of Rider.

Leslie Nabs Career High
Sophomore Dana Leslie played a major role in the Penguins’ 4-0 start last week. Leslie averaged 5.75 digs per game, including a career-high 29 against LaSalle in the season opener. Against Rider, Leslie posted 17 digs.

Boscaljon Fast to 400
Sophomore Ruth Boscaljon took just 36 career matches to reach the 400 kills mark. With 47 kills over the weekend, Boscaljon pushed her career total to 410 kills and needs 90 more to reach 500.

Everhart Reaches 1,300
Junior setter Karla Everhart became the seventh player in school history to reach 1,300 career assists. Everhart ranks seventh all-time with 1,309 career assists and need 81 more to move into sixth. She needs 91 more to became the sixth player to post 1,400 assists in a career.

Drost Nets Double-Double
Freshman Abigail Drost turned posted a double-doubles and just missed two more in her first four matches. Drost tallied 12 kills and 13 digs against Lehigh. She also posted nine kills and 19 digs against LaSalle and nine kills and 12 kills against Temple. Drost also led the Penguins with 10 aces.

Boscaljon Nets League Honors
Last season, sophomore Ruth Boscaljon became the first volleyball player in school history to earn All-Horizon League honors. The 6-foot-3 middle hitter led the Penguins with 363 kills, 3.27 kills per game average, 128 blocks, 1.15 blocks per game and a .300 hitting percentage. Boscaljon was also tabbed the Horizon League’s Co-Newcomer of the Year.

Everhart Named Team MVP
In her first season with the team, junior setter Karla Everhart was named the team’s most valuable player for the 2006 campaign. Everhart tallied 1,125 assists, 10.25 assists per game, 300 digs, 121 kills and 40 blocks. She also posted 17 double-doubles and just missed three triple doubles. Everhart’s 33 service aces was also a team high.