Temple University Athletics
Friday, August 28
McGonigle Hall
6:00 p.m.
Temple University
vs
Oregon
Temple opens play with #13 Oregon and also takes on St. John's and Navy
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Temple Volleyball Hosts Home Invitational; Owls Open with No. 13 Oregon on Friday
8.27.15 | Women's Volleyball
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple volleyball team will open the 2015 season at home, playing host to the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West Temple Invitational. The Owls welcome No. 13 Oregon, St. John's, and Navy for the event, which runs Friday and Saturday.
FROM COACH GANESHARATNAM
"I think we have a very strong tourament all around. Obviously, Oregon is a strong team, but so are St. John's and Navy. It's an exciting tournament for people to come out and watch and support. Overall we're very excited about where we are as a team, and about this weekend."
THE SCHEDULE
Navy and St. John's kick off the tournament on Friday at 3:00 p.m. Temple follows with a 6:00 p.m. match against Oregon. On Saturday, action begins at 10:00 a.m. with Navy taking on Oregon, while the Owls return to the court, playing St. John's at 1:00 p.m. The tournament wraps with Oregon taking on St. John's at 3:30 p.m. and Temple playing Navy at 7:30 p.m.
FAN EVENTS
Temple students can pick up a free Temple-Penn State football ticket at any of Temple's matches throughout the tournament, while supplies last. Students must have their Temple Student ID in order to receive the ticket. One ticker per TUID. If students already have the Wild Cherry Football Pass they do not need to attend to get their ticket. Wild Cherry Football Passes can be picked up at the Liacouras Center Box Office from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information visit: http://owlstix.com/football/#subTabs5.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
Temple returns all but one starter from the 2014 squad that went 24-8 and finished second in The American with a 15-5 mark. Senior setter Sandra Sydlik returns after a season that saw her earn honorable mention All-Region, first-team All-Conference, and American Athletic Conference Setter of the Year honors. Temple also returns 2014 second-team All-Conference selections in sophomore Dara Peric, and juniors Kirsten Overton and Tyler Davis. Peric was also honored at the 2014 American Freshman of the Year. Sydlik, Peric, Overton, and Davis all earned preseason honors from The American to start the year. The Owls also have a veteran anchoring the defense, as senior Alyssa Drachslin, who earned her 1,000th-career dig last season, returns to the back row.
SCOUTING OREGON
Oregon enters the season ranked 13th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Poll. Last year the Ducks went 23-10, advancing to the NCAA regional semifinals after finishing third in the tough Pac-12. As a team, Oregon ranked in the top five in the nation in both kills per set (14.54) and assists per set (13.70) in 2014. Individually, two Ducks come into the tournament as All-Pac-12 preseason selections. Outside hitter Martenne Bettendorf led Oregon with 3.52 kills per set last season, while libero Amanda Benso was tops on the team with 4.38 digs per set.
SCOUTING ST. JOHN'S
St. John's went 19-14 last season, finishing sixth in the Big East. Karin Palgutova, a three-time first-team All-Big East honoree, returns to lead the Red Storm. The outside led the team in kills per set with 4.32 and total kills with 523, finishing second in the conference in both categories. Palgutova joins libero Shawna-Lei Santos, who racked up 524 total digs last season, with pre-season All-Big East honors.
SCOUTING NAVY
Navy comes into the tournament after a 14-12 season in 2014, which including a third place finish in the Patriot league. The Mids return four starters from last season's squad, including outside hitter Gaby Smith, who was named to the Patriot All-Tournament team in 2014, while averaging 2.25 kills per set for the year. Team captain, Maeve Drummey, returns to head up the defense, after finishing with 2.01 digs per set in 2014.
ST. JOHN'S CONNECTION
Temple assistant coach, Ren Cefra spent two years as a volunteer assistant for St. John's University, helping to guide the red Storm to three All-Big East team selections in his time there. He was also a part of the team's 2012 Big East Tournament appearance.
OWLS VS. THE FIELD
Temple is 4-2 all-time against the tournament field. The Owls own a 2-0 advantage in the series against Navy, winning matches in 1996 and 2012. Against St. John's, Temple is 2-1 all-time, with wins in 1994 and 2009, but a loss in 1996. The Owls have swept both career matches against Navy, grabbing victories in both 2012 and 1996.
WATCH THE ACTION LIVE
Fans can attend the tournament free of charge at McGonigle Hall. For those fans out of the area, OwlsTV will stream all three matches online at: http://www.owlsports.com/watch. Live stats will also be available at: http://www.sidearmstats.com/temple/wvball
NEXT UP
Temple is back in action next weekend at the Seton Hall Invitational. The Owls open play on Friday against Hofstra at 4:30 p.m., and then take on Notre Dame (12:00 p.m.) and Seton Hall (7:30 p.m.) on Saturday. Both Seton Hall and Hofstra earned NCAA tournament bids last season.
Watch Live | Live Stats | Video Preview of Friday's FH/VB Doubleheader | Match Notes (PDF)
FROM COACH GANESHARATNAM
"I think we have a very strong tourament all around. Obviously, Oregon is a strong team, but so are St. John's and Navy. It's an exciting tournament for people to come out and watch and support. Overall we're very excited about where we are as a team, and about this weekend."
THE SCHEDULE
Navy and St. John's kick off the tournament on Friday at 3:00 p.m. Temple follows with a 6:00 p.m. match against Oregon. On Saturday, action begins at 10:00 a.m. with Navy taking on Oregon, while the Owls return to the court, playing St. John's at 1:00 p.m. The tournament wraps with Oregon taking on St. John's at 3:30 p.m. and Temple playing Navy at 7:30 p.m.
FAN EVENTS
Temple students can pick up a free Temple-Penn State football ticket at any of Temple's matches throughout the tournament, while supplies last. Students must have their Temple Student ID in order to receive the ticket. One ticker per TUID. If students already have the Wild Cherry Football Pass they do not need to attend to get their ticket. Wild Cherry Football Passes can be picked up at the Liacouras Center Box Office from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information visit: http://owlstix.com/football/#subTabs5.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
Temple returns all but one starter from the 2014 squad that went 24-8 and finished second in The American with a 15-5 mark. Senior setter Sandra Sydlik returns after a season that saw her earn honorable mention All-Region, first-team All-Conference, and American Athletic Conference Setter of the Year honors. Temple also returns 2014 second-team All-Conference selections in sophomore Dara Peric, and juniors Kirsten Overton and Tyler Davis. Peric was also honored at the 2014 American Freshman of the Year. Sydlik, Peric, Overton, and Davis all earned preseason honors from The American to start the year. The Owls also have a veteran anchoring the defense, as senior Alyssa Drachslin, who earned her 1,000th-career dig last season, returns to the back row.
SCOUTING OREGON
Oregon enters the season ranked 13th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Poll. Last year the Ducks went 23-10, advancing to the NCAA regional semifinals after finishing third in the tough Pac-12. As a team, Oregon ranked in the top five in the nation in both kills per set (14.54) and assists per set (13.70) in 2014. Individually, two Ducks come into the tournament as All-Pac-12 preseason selections. Outside hitter Martenne Bettendorf led Oregon with 3.52 kills per set last season, while libero Amanda Benso was tops on the team with 4.38 digs per set.
SCOUTING ST. JOHN'S
St. John's went 19-14 last season, finishing sixth in the Big East. Karin Palgutova, a three-time first-team All-Big East honoree, returns to lead the Red Storm. The outside led the team in kills per set with 4.32 and total kills with 523, finishing second in the conference in both categories. Palgutova joins libero Shawna-Lei Santos, who racked up 524 total digs last season, with pre-season All-Big East honors.
SCOUTING NAVY
Navy comes into the tournament after a 14-12 season in 2014, which including a third place finish in the Patriot league. The Mids return four starters from last season's squad, including outside hitter Gaby Smith, who was named to the Patriot All-Tournament team in 2014, while averaging 2.25 kills per set for the year. Team captain, Maeve Drummey, returns to head up the defense, after finishing with 2.01 digs per set in 2014.
ST. JOHN'S CONNECTION
Temple assistant coach, Ren Cefra spent two years as a volunteer assistant for St. John's University, helping to guide the red Storm to three All-Big East team selections in his time there. He was also a part of the team's 2012 Big East Tournament appearance.
OWLS VS. THE FIELD
Temple is 4-2 all-time against the tournament field. The Owls own a 2-0 advantage in the series against Navy, winning matches in 1996 and 2012. Against St. John's, Temple is 2-1 all-time, with wins in 1994 and 2009, but a loss in 1996. The Owls have swept both career matches against Navy, grabbing victories in both 2012 and 1996.
WATCH THE ACTION LIVE
Fans can attend the tournament free of charge at McGonigle Hall. For those fans out of the area, OwlsTV will stream all three matches online at: http://www.owlsports.com/watch. Live stats will also be available at: http://www.sidearmstats.com/temple/wvball
NEXT UP
Temple is back in action next weekend at the Seton Hall Invitational. The Owls open play on Friday against Hofstra at 4:30 p.m., and then take on Notre Dame (12:00 p.m.) and Seton Hall (7:30 p.m.) on Saturday. Both Seton Hall and Hofstra earned NCAA tournament bids last season.
Watch Live | Live Stats | Video Preview of Friday's FH/VB Doubleheader | Match Notes (PDF)
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
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