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DePaul Departs For Second BIG EAST Road Trip
Oct. 18, 2012
CHICAGO - The DePaul volleyball team will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak when they head east to face Villanova and Georgetown in a pair of BIG EAST Conference matches on Friday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 21. The Villanova match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start on Friday, and the Blue Demons will have a quick turn to face Georgetown at 1 p.m. on Sunday. DePaul is coming off a three set loss to Notre Dame last week and will be looking to avoid setting a season-high with a fifth consecutive loss. The Blue Demons have at least one double-double in seven of their past nine matches and will tie their win total from all of 2011 with a victory this weekend. The Blue Demons have already won 30 total sets in the 2012 season, eclipsing the 29 sets DePaul took from opponents in 2011. Last Time Out Led by Callie Huebener's career-high three solo blocks, the Blue Demons outblocked the Irish, 10-7, including 6-3 in the third set. Four different Blue Demons recorded six kills to lead the team, as junior Natalie Rizzo posted an error-free night and hit .375. Scouting the Wildcats Freshman outside hitter Lauren Carpenter leads the offense with 224 kills (2.77 per set) and is one of five Wildcat options with 111 or more kills. Ally Moskitis has a dangerous serve with 29 aces. Emma Pettit runs the offense and has recorded 530 assists, while Mariah Henley paces the defense with 451 digs. Villanova leads the all-time series 7-0. Scouting the Hoyas The Hoyas are led sophomore OH Alex Johnson, who averages 3.71 kills per set to rank fourth in the BIG EAST. Dani White is a strong presence at the net, ranking second in the conference with 1.17 blocks per set. Setter Haley Lowrance leads the offense with 823 assists (10.83 per set) and has a dangerous serve (28 aces), as the Hoyas have three players in the top-10 in the BIG EAST in aces. Georgetown leads the all-time series 7-4. Double-Double Trouble Sophomore setter Laura Witt has also recorded five assist-dig double-doubles since Sept. 14. Freshman Aubree Hord picked up her first career double-double (14 assists, 11 digs) at No. 10 Louisville on Friday, Sept. 21 and added another on Saturday, Oct. 6 versus St. John's (13 assists, 10 digs). In the Demons' 20 matches, DePaul has gathered 16 double-doubles total and has at least one in 14 competitions -- including seven of its past nine. By comparison, in 2011, the Blue Demons recorded six double-doubles all season. Senior Lauren Blasi led the Blue Demons with two kill-dig double-doubles (Katie Gamsky had four assist-dig double-doubles). Super `Nova At the two-day tourney, Zapryanova led the Blue Demons to a pair of sweeps and paced the offense with 3.70 kills per set. It was the first BIG EAST weekly award for DePaul volleyball since Sarah Cullen was selected to the honor roll on October 13, 2008. She leads the team in kills (244), kills per set (3.17) and total attempts (720). The Sofia, Bulgaria-native is also third in aces (18) and second in digs (183). Zapryanova was named to All-Tournament teams over three straight weekends from Aug. 31-Sept. 15 (First State Skyhawk Invitational, Chicago Classic, Loyola Rambler Challenge). Rise of Rizzo Rooks' Run
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