Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Radford
Volleyball Set for Three Matches at the George Mason Patriot Invitational This Weekend
9.4.13 | Women's Volleyball
Video Preview (Tiffany Connatser & Emily Carlin)
Patriot Invitational Live Video l Patriot Invitational Live Stats
PHILADELPHIA - Three opponents await Temple volleyball this weekend at the Patriot Invitational, hosted by George Mason University. The Owls (1-1) will play Radford (2-1) at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, followed by matches against Coppin State (1-3) and George Mason (0-3) on Saturday.
In their opening weekend of competition, the Owls split matches at the University at Buffalo Invite. After losing to host Buffalo in three sets, Temple rebounded with a 3-2 win vs. Niagara the next day. The Owls will travel to two more tournaments on the road before returning home to host their own Temple Invitational on Sept. 20-21.
FIRST WEEKEND HONORS
Senior Gabriella Matautia and sophomore Sandra Sydlik were named to the All-Tournament Team at the University at Buffalo Invite, and Matautia was also named to the American Athletic Conference Volleyball Honor Roll for her efforts over the weekend. She recorded 29 kills in the two matches, including a double-double in the five-set win over Niagara with 21 kills and 17 digs. Sydlik also notched a double-double in the Niagara win, stepping in as setter and tallying 40 assists to go with 13 digs and three blocks.
After the first weekend of play, Matautia leads the team with 3.62 kills per set, sophomore libero Alyssa Drachslin leads in digs with 3.50 per set, and junior middle blocker Jennifer Iacobini is the blocks leader with 1.12 per set.
HOMECOMING FOR CONNATSER
Tiffany Connatser, a junior setter for Temple, is from Fairfax, Va., right down the road from George Mason. She attended Robinson High School, located less than two miles from the university.
RADFORD
The Highlanders went 2-1 at their own Highlander Invitational to open the season, and will play another match against CSU Bakersfield before traveling to George Mason. Radford defeated North Carolina A&T 3-0 and Kennesaw State 3-1, but lost 3-2 to Eastern Kentucky. Head coach Marci Jenkins is in her seventh year with the program, which returns four starters from a team that went 16-16 a year ago. Rachel Wiechecki is leading the way so far both offensively and defensively, with 3.25 kills per set along with 2.67 digs per set.
Temple senior Emily Carlin is well-acquainted with the Radford team, after playing for the Highlanders for three seasons before transferring to Temple in January of 2013. As a junior she led the team with 199 kills, and she completed her three years at Radford ranked 10th all-time in digs with 669.
COPPIN STATE
The Eagles are 1-3 after their opening weekend of play at the Hofstra Invitational and another match against Towson. They swept St. Francis (PA), 3-0, but lost 3-0 to host Hofstra, 3-1 to Siena and dropped a 3-1 decision to Towson earlier this week. Coppin State went 11-14 in 2012 and has returned all six starters plus its libero from that team. Head coach Ashley Preston is in her second season with the program. Sophomore outside hitter Cindy Okpegbue is leading the team so far with 3.31 kills per set, while junior libero leads the team with 4.21 digs per set.
GEORGE MASON
The Colonials have yet to get their first win in 2013 after going 0-3 at the D.C. Volleyball Challenge, losing 3-1 to Georgetown and 3-0 to both Howard and American. GMU, who finished at 5-10 in 2012, will play at UMBC on Sept. 4 before returning home to host the Patriot Invitational. Pat Kendrick is in her 29th season as head coach of the program.
