Temple University Athletics
Friday, August 27
McGonigle Hall
7:00 PM
Temple University
vs
Delaware
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Volleyball Set to Host Temple Invitational to Open the 2010 Season This Weekend
8.25.10 | Women's Volleyball
Watch preseason interviews with head coach Bob Bertucci and senior Cayleigh Ashman
Temple Athletics YouTube - Volleyball Head Coach Bob Bertucci and senior Cayleigh Ashman
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The 2010 season will begin for Temple volleyball at home this weekend, Friday, August 27 and Saturday, August 28. The Owls will play host to Delaware at 7:00 p.m. Friday night in McGonigle Hall, and will take on Virginia at 7:00 p.m. Saturday night.
Valparaiso and Virginia will play at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, and Delaware will face Virginia at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free for all matches.
The 2010 team has some big shoes to fill from its graduated seniors, but 16th-year head coach Bob Bertucci thinks his squad is up to the task. The Owls lost two seniors, but return all four of their other starters from a successful season a year ago.
Finishing with an overall record of 14-12, the 2009 team earned a 14th-straight Atlantic 10 Tournament berth after finishing fourth in the conference. The Owls rallied to win their quarterfinal match against George Washington before falling in the semifinals to eventual tournament champ Dayton.
Temple played limited non-conference games last season after a scheduling conflict forced the Owls to take a weekend off early in the season. This year Bertucci has made sure his team will be better prepared, as Temple will play in four early-season tournaments and also travel for two separate non-conference contests.
The Owls' returning offensive threats will have to fill the void left by Yun Yi Zhang who exhausted her eligibility after 2009. Zhang led all players in NCAA Division I in kills per set at 5.55, and was an honorable mention AVCA All-American.
Seniors Cayleigh Ashman and Jess Antosz averaged 1.96 and 1.53 kills per set, respectively, and Antosz also led the team with 80 total blocks.
In the back row, Temple returns senior Ariel Pierre who led the team with 3.29 digs per set in 2009. Sophomore Chelsea Tupuola also stepped up in her rookie season a year ago, averaging 2.58 digs per set.
The Owls have two more returning seniors in Jovana Radojevic (1.04 kills per set, 0.54 blocks per set in 2009) and Ashley Carr. Carr, who averaged 2.15 kills per set as a sophomore, was sidelined for most of the 2009 season by injury but will be back as an offensive threat for Temple in 2010. Junior Liz Prang started in 14 matches last year and is a versatile player for the Owls.
Seven new faces join the team this year, including two junior transfers who already have collegiate playing experience. Also unfamiliar to Temple fans is redshirt freshman Caitlin McMillen who suffered a season-ending injury in week one last year.
Bertucci has been more than pleased with how the team has performed in the weeks leading up to the season, saying it is "possibly the best preseason we've had in the 15 years I've been here. The girls came back in better shape than any other team we've had. I'm pretty excited about the progress we've already made.”
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The 2010 season will begin for Temple volleyball at home this weekend, Friday, August 27 and Saturday, August 28. The Owls will play host to Delaware at 7:00 p.m. Friday night in McGonigle Hall, and will take on Virginia at 7:00 p.m. Saturday night.
Valparaiso and Virginia will play at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, and Delaware will face Virginia at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free for all matches.
The 2010 team has some big shoes to fill from its graduated seniors, but 16th-year head coach Bob Bertucci thinks his squad is up to the task. The Owls lost two seniors, but return all four of their other starters from a successful season a year ago.
Finishing with an overall record of 14-12, the 2009 team earned a 14th-straight Atlantic 10 Tournament berth after finishing fourth in the conference. The Owls rallied to win their quarterfinal match against George Washington before falling in the semifinals to eventual tournament champ Dayton.
Temple played limited non-conference games last season after a scheduling conflict forced the Owls to take a weekend off early in the season. This year Bertucci has made sure his team will be better prepared, as Temple will play in four early-season tournaments and also travel for two separate non-conference contests.
The Owls' returning offensive threats will have to fill the void left by Yun Yi Zhang who exhausted her eligibility after 2009. Zhang led all players in NCAA Division I in kills per set at 5.55, and was an honorable mention AVCA All-American.
Seniors Cayleigh Ashman and Jess Antosz averaged 1.96 and 1.53 kills per set, respectively, and Antosz also led the team with 80 total blocks.
In the back row, Temple returns senior Ariel Pierre who led the team with 3.29 digs per set in 2009. Sophomore Chelsea Tupuola also stepped up in her rookie season a year ago, averaging 2.58 digs per set.
The Owls have two more returning seniors in Jovana Radojevic (1.04 kills per set, 0.54 blocks per set in 2009) and Ashley Carr. Carr, who averaged 2.15 kills per set as a sophomore, was sidelined for most of the 2009 season by injury but will be back as an offensive threat for Temple in 2010. Junior Liz Prang started in 14 matches last year and is a versatile player for the Owls.
Seven new faces join the team this year, including two junior transfers who already have collegiate playing experience. Also unfamiliar to Temple fans is redshirt freshman Caitlin McMillen who suffered a season-ending injury in week one last year.
Bertucci has been more than pleased with how the team has performed in the weeks leading up to the season, saying it is "possibly the best preseason we've had in the 15 years I've been here. The girls came back in better shape than any other team we've had. I'm pretty excited about the progress we've already made.”
Ep. 10: Temple Homecoming Preview; Volleyball Assistant Coach Taylor Davenport
Tuesday, October 07
Ep. 9: Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Shaw
Friday, October 03
Ep. 8: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Women's Cross Country Runner Amelia Sabatino
Tuesday, September 30
Ep. 7: Temple Field Hockey Alumna Cherifa Howarth
Friday, September 26
