Volleyball Set for Three Matches in Akron
9/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
On its longest winning streak in 13 years, the Youngstown State volleyball team will try to extend its winning ways this weekend with three matches at the Akron Zips Invitational. On Friday, the Penguins will play Binghamton at 11 a.m. and SIU-Edwardsville at 5 p.m., and they'll play the host Zips on Saturday at 2 p.m. Live stats and live video will be available for all of YSU's matches through YSUsports.com. Links are below:
- Sept. 7 vs. Binghamton at 11 a.m. - Live stats | Video
- Sept. 7 vs. SIUE at 5 p.m. - Live stats | Video
- Sept. 8 vs. Akron at 2 p.m. - Live stats | Video
The Penguins are coming off a sweep in their home opener against Robert Morris on Tuesday (25-12, 25-17, 25-16). YSU hit .304 as a team and had five players collect at least seven kills. Alexis Egler led the way with nine kills, and Shannon Watson posted seven kills and six blocks. YSU won for the sixth straight match and improved its record to 6-2. That 6-2 mark is currently tops in the Horizon League. The Penguins have already surpassed last season's five-win total, and they are one win away from matching the win total from the previous two seasons combined. YSU has posted a hitting percentage of at least .300 in each of its last four matches after having just one match above .300 in the last three years combined.
The six-match winning streak for YSU is its best since winning 20 consecutive matches in 1999. The Penguins have won more than six straight matches only three times in their history - the 20-match streak in 1999, a 10-match stretch in 1995 and an eight-match streak in 1998. YSU has swept each of its last four opponents, which is the longest stretch of consecutive sweeps since the Penguins blanked five straight teams in 2001. YSU swept a school-record seven straight matches in 1995, and it assembled a stretch of five straight sweeps in 2001, 1995 and 1994. YSU posted just two sweeps combined in the last two seasons. Tuesday's sweep of Robert Morris was the Penguins' first in Beeghly Center since 2008.
Longest Winning Streaks
- 20 - 1999
- 10 - 1995
- 8 - 1998
- 6 - 2012, 1994, 1991
Most consecutive sweeps
- 7 - 1995
- 5 - 2001, 1995, 1994
- 4 - 2012, 2000, 1999
Scouting Binghamton
Binghamton will enter the match with Youngstown State possessing a 1-6 record. The Bearcats beat Fordham in straight sets on Aug. 25, but lost the three matches prior and the three matches since. Five of their losses have come to schools in BCS conferences. Binghamton ranks second in the America East Conference in blocks per set (1.92) and fourth in digs per set (13.88). Senior outside hitter Iva Partaleva ranks third in the conference with 3.32 kills per set, and Alex Roland's 1.04 blocks per set leads the league. Binghamton returns five starters and its libero from last year's squad that finished 13-17. YSU is 2-1 all-time against Binghamton with wins in 2001 and 2003 and a loss in 2007.
Scouting SIU-Edwardsville
SIUE enters the Zips Invitational with an even record at 3-3. The Cougars have gone at least four sets in all six of their matches this season and have wins over Western Illinois, Indiana State and Horizon League member Loyola. SIUE leads the Ohio Valley Conference in opponent hitting percentage, holding teams to a .184 clip. The Cougars also rank second in the conference with 16.19 digs per set. Junior Kelsey Augustine was a preseason all-OVC pick, and she averages a team-best 2.74 kills per set, and freshman Kristen Torre is hitting .343 and has a 20-kill match on her resume. SIUE returns four starters and its libero from last year's team that finished 13-19. The Penguins and Cougars will be meeting for the first time.
Scouting Akron
Akron is 2-4 this season despite leading the Mid-American Conference with a .233 hitting percentage. The Zips beat UNC Asheville in their season opener and swept Quinnipiac in Akron last Friday. Tina Dimitrijevs leads the MAC with a .369 attack percentage, and fellow middle blocker Paiton Twitty is fourth in the conference with a .305 attack percentage. Akron also ranks third in the MAC in blocks per set with 2.05. Akron is 42-7 against Youngstown State and has beaten the Penguins in 27 consecutive matches. YSU's last win over the Zips came in 1985.
Up Next
Youngstown State will complete its non-conference schedule next weekend with three matches at the UNC Greensboro Spartan Spiketacular. The Penguins will play Morehead State, UNC Greensboro and UNC Wilmington in the tournament.
