Temple University Athletics
Friday, November 9
McGonigle Hall
5:00 PM
Temple University
vs
La Salle
(L to R): Jingyu Zhang, Chelsea Tupuola and Caitlin McMillen
Volleyball Set to Celebrate Senior Day on Friday at 5:00 pm vs. La Salle
11.6.12 | Women's Volleyball
PHILADELPHIA - Three senior student-athletes and two senior managers will be honored when Temple volleyball celebrates its Senior Day on Friday, Nov. 9 at 5:00 p.m. vs. La Salle. The introductions will take place just before 5:00 in McGonigle Hall, and the athletes will be recognized again at halftime of Temple's 7:30 p.m. women's basketball game.
Caitlin McMillen, Chelsea Tupuola and Jingyu Zhang will be playing in their final match at McGonigle. Managers Blair "Bubba" Chase and Amela Kuduzovic will also be recognized for their contributions to the program. For live stats of the match, click HERE, and a live webcast will be available to subscribers HERE.
TEMPLE NOTES...
The Owls are 17-10 overall and 7-6 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, having one of their best seasons in years. Temple will earn a spot in the six-team A-10 Tournament with a win Friday, but could possibly earn a berth even with a loss. The Owls split matches on the road last weekend, winning a 3-2 thriller at Saint Louis before losing 3-1 at Butler. Gabriella Matautia knocked down a career-high 32 kills in the win, while Tupuola recorded a career-high 39 digs in the contest.
With 5.27 digs per set, Tupuola ranks first in the A-10 and 33rd in NCAA Division I. Tiffany Connatser currently ranks 43rd in the nation in assists per set at 10.89, which also ranks second in the A-10. Matautia ranks second in the A-10 with 4.05 kills per set, and leads all players in the conference with 0.39 aces per set (38 total aces this season, 37th in the nation).
As a team, defense has been key to Temple's success. The Owls' 17.87 digs per set rank 17th among all NCAA Division I teams, and first in the Atlantic 10.
SCOUTING LA SALLE...
The Explorers are 4-25 this season and winless in the Atlantic 10 at 0-13. Defense is a strong point for La Salle, who ranks seventh in the league in digs. Seniors Samantha Tulskie (4.22 digs per set) and Breanna Mazalewski (4.03 digs per set) rank sixth and seventh, respectively among all players in the A-10.
ALL-TIME SERIES...
Temple leads La Salle 47-1 in the all-time series. The Owls defeated the Explorers three times in 2011, and suffered the only loss of the series in 2010. Temple is already 2-0 this season, sweeping the Explorers in both meetings so far.
SENIOR DAY...
Temple has three seniors to honor who are playing in their final match at McGonigle.
Caitlin McMillen
Has seen action in 28 matches in her career including nine this season and 14 as a junior...Averaged 0.83 kills and 0.48 digs per set in 2011...Recorded a career-high seven kills in a win vs. Rider on Sept. 6, 2011...Named to Temple's President's Honor Roll in both 2010 and 2011 for having a GPA above 3.5...Named to Temple's Director's Honor Roll in 2009...Is majoring in criminal justice with a minor in Spanish.
Chelsea Tupuola
Named 2012 Big 5 Tournament MVP...2012 Miami (OH) Invitational All-Tournament Team...2011 Temple Invitational All-Tournament Team...Leads all players in the Atlantic 10 with 5.27 digs per set in 2012...Has recorded 1,366 career digs coming into Friday, which ranks seventh all-time at Temple...Has started every match so far in 2012 and started all 28 matches in 2011...Recorded a career-high 39 digs in a win at Saint Louis on Nov. 2, which ranks as the second-most in the A-10 in a match this season...Led the team as a junior with 429 digs (4.25 digs per set)...Recorded double figures in digs in 25 matches as a junior, and tallied 20 or more digs in six of those...Played in all 29 matches as a sophomore and in 23 matches as a freshman...Majoring in sport and recreation management.
Jingyu Zhang
Named Best Spiker at the 2012 Temple Invitational...Led all players with 18 kills in a 3-1 win vs. Central Connecticut...Currently third on the team with 1.86 kills per set...Recorded a double-double of 12 kills and 19 digs at George Washington...Prior to Temple, played for two seasons (2008 & 2009) at Saint Petersburg College in Florida...Named to the NJCAA All-American First Team...Was a volleyball standout at Tianjin Sports High School in Tianjin, China...Named a National Top Tier Athlete of China...Member of champion teams at the National Junior and National Youth Volleyball Championships...Majoring in strategic communications and minoring in business at Temple.
The team would also like to recognize and thank two senior managers: Blair “Bubba” Chase and Amela Kuduzovic for their hard work and contributions to the program.
Caitlin McMillen, Chelsea Tupuola and Jingyu Zhang will be playing in their final match at McGonigle. Managers Blair "Bubba" Chase and Amela Kuduzovic will also be recognized for their contributions to the program. For live stats of the match, click HERE, and a live webcast will be available to subscribers HERE.
TEMPLE NOTES...
The Owls are 17-10 overall and 7-6 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, having one of their best seasons in years. Temple will earn a spot in the six-team A-10 Tournament with a win Friday, but could possibly earn a berth even with a loss. The Owls split matches on the road last weekend, winning a 3-2 thriller at Saint Louis before losing 3-1 at Butler. Gabriella Matautia knocked down a career-high 32 kills in the win, while Tupuola recorded a career-high 39 digs in the contest.
With 5.27 digs per set, Tupuola ranks first in the A-10 and 33rd in NCAA Division I. Tiffany Connatser currently ranks 43rd in the nation in assists per set at 10.89, which also ranks second in the A-10. Matautia ranks second in the A-10 with 4.05 kills per set, and leads all players in the conference with 0.39 aces per set (38 total aces this season, 37th in the nation).
As a team, defense has been key to Temple's success. The Owls' 17.87 digs per set rank 17th among all NCAA Division I teams, and first in the Atlantic 10.
SCOUTING LA SALLE...
The Explorers are 4-25 this season and winless in the Atlantic 10 at 0-13. Defense is a strong point for La Salle, who ranks seventh in the league in digs. Seniors Samantha Tulskie (4.22 digs per set) and Breanna Mazalewski (4.03 digs per set) rank sixth and seventh, respectively among all players in the A-10.
ALL-TIME SERIES...
Temple leads La Salle 47-1 in the all-time series. The Owls defeated the Explorers three times in 2011, and suffered the only loss of the series in 2010. Temple is already 2-0 this season, sweeping the Explorers in both meetings so far.
SENIOR DAY...
Temple has three seniors to honor who are playing in their final match at McGonigle.
Caitlin McMillen
Has seen action in 28 matches in her career including nine this season and 14 as a junior...Averaged 0.83 kills and 0.48 digs per set in 2011...Recorded a career-high seven kills in a win vs. Rider on Sept. 6, 2011...Named to Temple's President's Honor Roll in both 2010 and 2011 for having a GPA above 3.5...Named to Temple's Director's Honor Roll in 2009...Is majoring in criminal justice with a minor in Spanish.
Chelsea Tupuola
Named 2012 Big 5 Tournament MVP...2012 Miami (OH) Invitational All-Tournament Team...2011 Temple Invitational All-Tournament Team...Leads all players in the Atlantic 10 with 5.27 digs per set in 2012...Has recorded 1,366 career digs coming into Friday, which ranks seventh all-time at Temple...Has started every match so far in 2012 and started all 28 matches in 2011...Recorded a career-high 39 digs in a win at Saint Louis on Nov. 2, which ranks as the second-most in the A-10 in a match this season...Led the team as a junior with 429 digs (4.25 digs per set)...Recorded double figures in digs in 25 matches as a junior, and tallied 20 or more digs in six of those...Played in all 29 matches as a sophomore and in 23 matches as a freshman...Majoring in sport and recreation management.
Jingyu Zhang
Named Best Spiker at the 2012 Temple Invitational...Led all players with 18 kills in a 3-1 win vs. Central Connecticut...Currently third on the team with 1.86 kills per set...Recorded a double-double of 12 kills and 19 digs at George Washington...Prior to Temple, played for two seasons (2008 & 2009) at Saint Petersburg College in Florida...Named to the NJCAA All-American First Team...Was a volleyball standout at Tianjin Sports High School in Tianjin, China...Named a National Top Tier Athlete of China...Member of champion teams at the National Junior and National Youth Volleyball Championships...Majoring in strategic communications and minoring in business at Temple.
The team would also like to recognize and thank two senior managers: Blair “Bubba” Chase and Amela Kuduzovic for their hard work and contributions to the program.
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