Temple University Athletics
Temple Volleyball Closes School Year with Spring Success, Awards
5.4.15 | Women's Volleyball
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple volleyball team closed out the 2014-15 school year with a successful spring semester. The Owls' sported an undefeated record in team competition, held their annual team banquet, and were also honored at the athletic department's Breakfast of Champions.
Competing in its non-traditional season, the Owls participated in three spring tournaments, capped by a home event. Overall, the team posted an undefeated 8-0-2 record in spring matches, with the Owls' owning points advantages in both of their ties.
"What we really wanted to work on this spring was individual techniques for each player," noted Head Coach Bakeer Ganes. "We feel like we got a lot accomplished this spring, especially with the freshmen. We tweaked some bad habits and we feel like we've made a lot of progress is that aspect."
Temple opened the spring season at Villanova, winning five of six sets at the tournament. The Owls faced Stony Brook, Penn, and Lehigh at the event. Temple swept Stony Brook (25-22, 25-10) and Lehigh (25-20, 25-13) and split sets with Penn (22-25, 25-10), but came out on top of the Quakers by total points scored.
In their second spring event, Temple went 3-0-1 at the Penn tournament. The team captured seven of eight sets against competition from Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh and Navy. In the first match of the day, the Owls split with Bucknell, but came out ahead in total points, winning the first, 25-14, and then dropping a tight second-set, 30-28. Following the opening split, Temple rattled off straight-set wins against Lafayette (25-10, 27-25), Leshigh (25-19, 25-21), and Navy (25-21, 25-11).
Closing out the spring competition, Temple swept six sets against Binghamton and Army at its home-tournament. Against Binghamton, Temple won 25-18, 25-19, 25-22, while against Army, the team came out on top, 25-22, 25-18, 25-16. The Owls then split sets in an exciting match with their alumni, dropping a tight first-set, 25-23, and then rebounding for a 25-16 win.
"The spring season went really well overall," said Ganes. "Our focus was really good, the team is determined to get better, and we also made a lot of progress in the weight room."
In addition to the spring tournaments, the team held its annual banquet on Thursday, April 23rd. Team awards were handed out at the event, with junior Sandra Sydlik taking home MVP honors, after a season that saw her earn American Athletic Conference Setter of the Year honors, as well as first-team All-Conference and honorable mention All-Region nods. The Most Improved award went to sophomore Kirsten Overton, who had a breakout year, culminating in an All-Conference selection. The Owls' Spirit Award was given to junior Kayla Yingling, whose positive attitude and high team spirit were noted all season.
A pair of Owls were also honored at the Athletics Department's annual Breakfast of Champions. Junior Alyssa Drachslin took home a pair of awards, first as a member of the Trustee Ten, the Owls' top ten student-athletes in terms of grade point average. She was also named the female recipient of the Temple Teammates Community Service Award, given to student-athletes who have demonstrated leadership qualities in the area of community service, inspiring others to engage in similar selfless civic endeavors for the purpose of improving the quality of life for those in the local community.
Senior Jennifer Iacobini was also honored at the event. She was named the recipient of the Diamond in the Rough award, given to recognize a student-athlete who has made substantial grade improvements throughout his or her academic career.
"This spring, we were able to set a foundation that we can build on throughout the summer and moving into preseason," added Ganes. "Even though it's early, we're very excited to get started on next year's goals."
The Temple volleyball team will return to action in the fall for the 2015 season. The Owls will open at home on August 28 and 29. A complete schedule will be posted in the coming weeks.
Temple Volleyball Spring Results
March 22 - at Villanova
Temple 2, Stony Brook 0 – 25-22, 25-10
Temple 2, Lehigh 0 – 25-20, 25-13
Temple 1, Penn 1 – 22-25, 25-10
April 18 - at Penn
Temple 1, Bucknell 1 – 25-14, 28-30
Temple 2, Lafayette 0 – 25-10, 27-25
Temple 2, Lehigh 0 – 25-19, 25-21
Temple 2, Navy 0 – 25-21, 25-11
April 25 - HOME - Alumni Tournament
Temple 3, Binghamton 0 – 25-18, 25-19, 25-22
Temple 3, Army 0 – 25-22, 25-18, 25-16
Temple 1, Owls' Alumni 1 – 23-25, 25-16
Competing in its non-traditional season, the Owls participated in three spring tournaments, capped by a home event. Overall, the team posted an undefeated 8-0-2 record in spring matches, with the Owls' owning points advantages in both of their ties.
"What we really wanted to work on this spring was individual techniques for each player," noted Head Coach Bakeer Ganes. "We feel like we got a lot accomplished this spring, especially with the freshmen. We tweaked some bad habits and we feel like we've made a lot of progress is that aspect."
Temple opened the spring season at Villanova, winning five of six sets at the tournament. The Owls faced Stony Brook, Penn, and Lehigh at the event. Temple swept Stony Brook (25-22, 25-10) and Lehigh (25-20, 25-13) and split sets with Penn (22-25, 25-10), but came out on top of the Quakers by total points scored.
In their second spring event, Temple went 3-0-1 at the Penn tournament. The team captured seven of eight sets against competition from Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh and Navy. In the first match of the day, the Owls split with Bucknell, but came out ahead in total points, winning the first, 25-14, and then dropping a tight second-set, 30-28. Following the opening split, Temple rattled off straight-set wins against Lafayette (25-10, 27-25), Leshigh (25-19, 25-21), and Navy (25-21, 25-11).
Closing out the spring competition, Temple swept six sets against Binghamton and Army at its home-tournament. Against Binghamton, Temple won 25-18, 25-19, 25-22, while against Army, the team came out on top, 25-22, 25-18, 25-16. The Owls then split sets in an exciting match with their alumni, dropping a tight first-set, 25-23, and then rebounding for a 25-16 win.
"The spring season went really well overall," said Ganes. "Our focus was really good, the team is determined to get better, and we also made a lot of progress in the weight room."
In addition to the spring tournaments, the team held its annual banquet on Thursday, April 23rd. Team awards were handed out at the event, with junior Sandra Sydlik taking home MVP honors, after a season that saw her earn American Athletic Conference Setter of the Year honors, as well as first-team All-Conference and honorable mention All-Region nods. The Most Improved award went to sophomore Kirsten Overton, who had a breakout year, culminating in an All-Conference selection. The Owls' Spirit Award was given to junior Kayla Yingling, whose positive attitude and high team spirit were noted all season.
A pair of Owls were also honored at the Athletics Department's annual Breakfast of Champions. Junior Alyssa Drachslin took home a pair of awards, first as a member of the Trustee Ten, the Owls' top ten student-athletes in terms of grade point average. She was also named the female recipient of the Temple Teammates Community Service Award, given to student-athletes who have demonstrated leadership qualities in the area of community service, inspiring others to engage in similar selfless civic endeavors for the purpose of improving the quality of life for those in the local community.
Senior Jennifer Iacobini was also honored at the event. She was named the recipient of the Diamond in the Rough award, given to recognize a student-athlete who has made substantial grade improvements throughout his or her academic career.
"This spring, we were able to set a foundation that we can build on throughout the summer and moving into preseason," added Ganes. "Even though it's early, we're very excited to get started on next year's goals."
The Temple volleyball team will return to action in the fall for the 2015 season. The Owls will open at home on August 28 and 29. A complete schedule will be posted in the coming weeks.
Temple Volleyball Spring Results
March 22 - at Villanova
Temple 2, Stony Brook 0 – 25-22, 25-10
Temple 2, Lehigh 0 – 25-20, 25-13
Temple 1, Penn 1 – 22-25, 25-10
April 18 - at Penn
Temple 1, Bucknell 1 – 25-14, 28-30
Temple 2, Lafayette 0 – 25-10, 27-25
Temple 2, Lehigh 0 – 25-19, 25-21
Temple 2, Navy 0 – 25-21, 25-11
April 25 - HOME - Alumni Tournament
Temple 3, Binghamton 0 – 25-18, 25-19, 25-22
Temple 3, Army 0 – 25-22, 25-18, 25-16
Temple 1, Owls' Alumni 1 – 23-25, 25-16
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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