DePaul University

CHICAGO –   The DePaul volleyball travels to Macomb, Illinois to participate in the Western Illinois Pizza Hut Invitational September 8-9 at Western Hall.  The Blue Demons face host Western Illinois, Friday at 7:00 p.m. before taking on Eastern Illinois and Butler at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. 

The Blue Demon’s defense has kept them in each match this season, averaging a BIG EAST best 20.80 digs per game. Senior Ellen Hayes leads DePaul and is ranked seventh in the conference registering 4.20 digs per game.  Sophomore Maureen Zigulich and freshman Sarah Cullen are also averaging four or more digs per game. Defensively at the net juniors Stacy Pando and Aly Zavitz have become walls, tallying 33 of DePaul’s 57 total blocks.

Scouting the Blue Demons

Record: 1-5, 0-0 BIG EAST

Head Coach: Amy Kleyweg (1st Season)

The Blue Demons (1-5) notched their first win of the season, defeating Texas San-Antonio 3-1 last weekend at the Holiday Inn Select Rice Invitational. Senior Morgan Ingersoll was named to All-Tournament team after finishing the tournament with a team-high 52 kills.  In DePaul’s win over the Roadrunner ‘s Ingersoll’s led the offense with 21 kills while junior Stacy Pando and freshman Emily McGinnis registered career-highs.  Pando finished with 17 kills and 21.0 points and McGinnis notched a 58 assists.

Facts on File

Western Illinois

Record: 0-6, 0-0 Mid Continent

Head Coach:  Kym McKay (5th Season)

Series: Tied 7-7

Last Meeting: 9/13/05: DePaul W, 3-2

The Westerwinds (0-6) are led by Ashley Bakker, who is averaging 2.71 kills per game and a .372 attack percentage.  In the Blue Demons 3-2 win in Chicago in 2005, Bakker notched a team-high 14 kills and chipped in three digs and six block assists. 

Eastern Illinois

Record: 3-1, 0-0 Ohio Valley

Head Coach:  Lori Bennett (1st Season)

Series: EIU leads 17-5

Last Meeting: 9/21/05: Eastern won 3-1

Eastern Illinois (3-1) boasts the best record in the Ohio Valley Conference and is led by setter Maren Crabtree, who averages 12.07 assists per game.  Crabtree favorite target this season is outside hitter Caitlin Balsam, who boasts a teams best 3.64 kills per game and a .314 attack percentage.  Against DePaul in 2005 Crabtree dished out 49 assists and a team-high 21 digs.

Butler

Record: 5-1, 0-0 Horizon League

Head Coach: Sharon Clark (7th season)

Series: Butler leads 7-6

Last Meeting: 9/2/00: DePaul won 3-2

The Bulldogs head into this weekend with the most wins of the tournament field and sit at the top of the Horizon League standings.  Butler is averaging 14.53 kills per game and are hitting a smoldering .223.  Krystal Hendrix and Porshia Allen are averaging 3.37 and 3.05 kills per game, respectively.   Hendrix leads the Bulldogs with a .433 attack percentage and 31 total blocks. 

BIG EAST Preseason Poll

Notre Dame was selected by the league’s head coaches to win the 2006 BIG EAST Conference volleyball regular season crown. The Irish return three starters from last year’s BIG EAST Championship squad that posted a record of 30-4 and enter the preseason ranked 21 in the College Sports Television/American Volleyball Coaches Association (CSTV/AVCA) preseason poll.

BIG EAST Championship

The University of Cincinnati will play host to the 2006 BIG EAST Championship at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The top eight teams, according to league records, will participate in a single-elimination tournament to be held Nov. 17-19.