Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Memphis
Volleyball Hosts Memphis Friday in American Athletic Conference Home Opener; Owls to Celebrate 80's Night
10.2.13 | Women's Volleyball
Live Stats l Live Stream
PHILADELPHIA - While also celebrating 80's Night, Temple volleyball will host the Memphis Tigers on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m, in the Owls' first-ever home American Athletic Conference contest. All fans are encouraged to get decked out in their best 80's styles and come have a fun night of Temple volleyball in the newly-renovated McGonigle Gym.
Live stats and a free live stream will be available for the match through the links above.
Temple is 10-4 overall and 1-1 after the first weekend of conference play, winning in four sets at Cincinnati last weekend before falling in four at Louisville. The Owls had a seven-match win streak during the non-conference season, which included winning the team title at the George Mason Patriot Invitational on Sept. 6-7.
Gabriella Matautia and Sandra Sydlik both earned a number of honors during the early part of the season. Most recently, both were named to the All-Tournament Team at the Temple Invitational on Sept. 20-21. The duo were also named to the All-Tournament Team at the University at Buffalo Invite on the first weekend of the season. The following week, Matautia was named MVP and Best Attacker at the George Mason Patriot Invitational, while Sydlik was named Best Setter. After being named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Sept. 9, Matautia went on to earn Most Valuable Opposite honors the next week at the Penn Invitational.
Matautia is leading the Owls with 3.73 kills/set and is also one of the defensive leaders with 2.75 digs/set. Her kills per set average is second among all players in the conference, while her 4.28 points/set ranks third in the league and ranks in the top 70 nationally.
Tiffany Connatser and Sydlik are averaging 9.39 and 8.98 assists/set, respectively. Alyssa Drachslin has 209 digs to lead the Owls (3.94 digs/set) and Jennifer Iacobini has 47 blocks to lead the team (0.90 blocks/set). Her 17 service aces are also a team best, and rank fifth in the American Athletic Conference.
SCOUTING MEMPHIS
The Tigers are 9-6 overall and 1-1 in league play, having a similar opening weekend to the Owls, defeating Cincinnati and falling to Louisville. Freshman outside hitter Catlin Lilly and senior outside hitter Viktorija Teivane lead the team with 3.25 kills/set and 3.10 kills/set, respectively, and both are among team leaders in digs as well. Junior libero Aleksandra Petronijevic leads the team and the American with 5.52 digs/set. Temple and Memphis are meeting for the first time in program history.
OPPONENTS STRUGGLING
Temple is currently leading all teams in the American in opponent hitting percentage, as the Owls' 14 opponents have averaged just .158 at the net. In other conference statistical categories, Temple ranks third in service aces as a team, as well as third in digs.
NOTABLE ANTHEM SINGER
The national anthem singer will be a special guest of Temple volleyball- assistant track & field coach Shameka Marshall. Marshall was a two-time All-American in the long jump at Rutgers University, and has also represented Team USA. At the Olympic Trials in 2012, Marshall finished eighth in the long jump.
