Volleyball Travels to Florida to Battle USF, UCF

Friday, October 13

Tampa, Fla.

8:00 PM

Temple University

USF

Photo by: Carli Showmaker

Volleyball Travels to Florida to Battle USF, UCF

10.11.17 | Women's Volleyball

Watch Live (USF)Live Stats (USF)Watch Live (UCF $)Live Stats (UCF)Match Notes (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple volleyball team will head south to Florida this weekend, playing at USF on Friday at 8:00 p.m. and at UCF on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

THE OWLS
> Temple is 8-6 overall with a 4-2 record in conference play.
> The Owls split their last American series, falling 3-1 to ECU on Friday, but winning 3-1 against Cincinnati on Sunday.
> Senior Izzy Rapacz leads the team with 3.20 kills per set, also averaging 1.14 blocks per set.
> Redshirt Freshman Dana Westfield contributes 2.51 kills per frame.
> Janine Simmons (1.86 kills/set) and Iva Deak (1.86 kills/set) shore up the middle for the Owls.
> Simmons and Deak are also tied for second in the conference with 1.16 blocks per set.
> Senior Kyra Coundourides averages 9.48 assists per set, while junior Hannah Vandegrift adds 5.15 per set.
> Junior Mia Heirakuji tops the Owls' defense with 3.88 digs per set.
> Senior Dara Peric contributes all around with 1.72 kills per set and 2.76 per frame.
> As a team, the Owls hit .236, holding opponents to a .182 attack.

LAST TIME OUT
> Temple used a balanced team effort to take down rival Cincinnati, 3-1, on Sunday.
> The Owls got contributions from every rotation, hitting .247 while holding Cincinnati to a .160 attack.
> Temple racked up 14 total blocks, the team's best effort in conference play this season.
> The hosts combined to hit .340 in the first two sets, going up 2-0 with 25-20 and 25-18 wins.
> Cincinnati got in the board with a 25-19 win in the third, hitting .268 to Temple's .111.
> In the fourth set, Cincinnati had the momentum before a 9-0 Owls' run, keyed by an eight-point serving run from Coundourides, turned the tables.
> The Owls finished out the set 25-18, taking the match, 3-1.
> Temple got double-doubles from three players -- Coundourides, Rapacz, and freshman Katerina Papazoglou.

SCOUTING USF
> USF is 7-9 overall with a 2-4 mark in American Athletic Conference play.
> The Bulls split their last conference series, falling at SMU, 3-1, but winning at Tulsa, 3-2.
> USF has a balanced offense with four players who average between 2.29 and 2.49 kills per set.
> Doris Carter leads the way with 2.49 kills per set, while Priscella Ehieze has 2.36 per frame.
> Clara Payne averages 2.32 kills per set with Reagan Davey adding 2.29.
> Alex Mendoza runs the offense to the tune of 9.69 assists per set.
> Defensively, Maria McLamb leads the team with 4.15 digs per set, while Mendoza adds 2.56.
> Payne leads the team with 61 blocks, including 11 solo.
> As a team, USF hits .186, while opponents hit .202 against them.

TEMPLE VS. USF
> Temple is 5-11 all-time against USF.
> The teams split the season series last year, with each school winning on the road.
> The Owls have won five out of the last six matches against the Bulls.

SCOUTING UCF
> UCF is 9-9 overall with a 2-4 record against conference opponents.
> The Knights have lost three-straight matches after opening conference play 2-1.
> UCF is led by Kia Bright who has racked up 3.69 kills per set with 3.05 digs per set.
> Kristina Fisher (2.68 kills/set) and Alli Sabol (2.02 kills/set) also aid the Knights' offense.
> Erin Olson (5.69 assists/set) and Miranda Watkins (5.47 kills/set) split setting duties for UCF.
> Defensively, Jordan Pingel leads the team with 4.04 digs per set.
> Anne-Marie Watson (52), Jeanne Westney (51), and Taylor Wickey (49) account for 152 of the team's 212 total blocks.
> As a team, UCF hits .215, holding opponents to a .201 attack.

TEMPLE VS. UCF
> Temple holds a slim 6-5 edge in the all-time series against the Knights.
> The Owls have won four out of their last five against UCF.
> The teams split the series last year, with each squad winning on the road.

WHAT'S NEXT
> The Owls have back-to-back home series on tap.
> Temple hosts Tulsa on October 20 at 7:00 p.m., hosting the annual "Hawaiian Night."
> The Owls will then play SMU on October 22, honoring the 1997 Atlantic 10 Championship team at intermission.