Guins Open Three-Match Home Stand on Friday Against Wright State
10/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Youngstown -- The Youngstown
State volleyball team will begin its longest home stretch of the
season on Friday when Wright State visits Beeghly Center.
The Penguins play three straight matches
and four of their next six at home as they look to climb the
Horizon League standings.
First serve against the Raiders is set
for 7 p.m. Both the Penguins and Raiders will recognize National
Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing "pink ribbon" t-shirts
during warm-ups. Fans may also purchase t-shirts and bracelets or
make donations at the gate to support breast cancer research.
YSU has won two of its last three
conference matches and is 2-2 against league opponents at home.
Wright State is currently second in the Horizon League standings
while Butler and Valparaiso, who come to Youngstown next weekend,
sit third and fourth.
Penguins Showcase Defense at Loyola
YSU had its best defensive match
of the season against Loyola last Friday in a 3-2 victory. The
Penguins posted 20 total blocks against the Ramblers, which tied
the previous top mark for five sets against Kent State on Nov. 12,
1995. Five different Penguins also registered double digits in
digs. Haley Kapferer had seven blocks while Kaitlin O'Hara and
Allison Heinz had six apiece, and Laurie Shives posted a team-high
15 digs.
Barbosa Reaches 900 Kills
Senior outside hitter Ebony Barbosa
surpassed 900 kills in her career last week by posting 28 in the
three matches. She reached 900 on her 10th kill at Pittsburgh on
Tuesday before registering 12 at Loyola and six at UIC. Barbosa
currently has 182 this season and 918 in her career. She also has
971 digs in her career. If she can reach 1,000 in both digs and
kills, she'll be just the fifth student-athlete in school history
to accomplish the feat. With YSU having a minimum of seven matches
remaining this season, Barbosa would need to average 11.8 kills and
4.2 digs per match to reach 1,000 in each.
Others Eclipse Personal Milestones
Barbosa wasn't the only player to pass a
significant total in career kills last week. Senior setter Karla
Everhart registered her 300th kill during her triple-double at
Pittsburgh on Oct. 14, and junior Kaitlin O'Hara surpassed 400 at
Loyola on Friday. Everhart also has 3,039 assists and 880 digs in
her career. If she can reach 1,000 digs, she'll become just the
third player in school history to have 2,000 assists and 1,000
digs.
