9/30/2004 - Women's Volleyball
Mids to Face Army in Star Match, Holy Cross in Busy Weekend
Senior Amanda McHenry |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy volleyball team will return to Macdonough Hall and to Patriot League play this weekend as the Mids face Army and Holy Cross in a pair of matches this weekend. Both Friday's Star Match against the Black Knights and Saturday's league encounter with the Crusaders begin at 7 p.m. and are free to the public.
After opening the season with 10 wins in their first 11 matches, Navy has been swept in back-to-back matches. The Mids dropped a 30-19, 30-26, 30-21 decision to American last Thursday in the league opener for both teams, then lost a 30-16, 31-29, 30-17 contest Tuesday night at Georgetown.
"We let opportunities slip away from us in both matches," said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. "After starting slow in both matches, we made things worse by missing several chances to re-take control of things. We can't start slow and we can't let opportunities pass us by."
Outside hitter Ashley Van Hartesvelt (Sr., Breckenridge, Colo.) continues to lead the Navy offense at 4.53 kills per game, with the trio of middle blocker Beth McArthur (So., Roseville, Minn.), outside hitter Katey Geary (Sr., San Jose, Calif.) and outside hitter Diane Sheldon (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) all averaging two kills a game or better. Setter Ashley Musser (Industry, Pa.) has Navy hitting at a .206 clip, while also totaling a team-high 33 service aces.
Army enters the weekend having posted a 4-6 record on the season and is 1-0 in the league after defeating Holy Cross last week in Worcester, Mass. The Black Knights and the Mids have faced a number of common opponents this season, with each team having recorded the same result. Both teams defeated Fairleigh Dickinson and The Citadel, with both also losing to Air Force.
Senior middle blocker Caitlin Machon leads the Army offense at 3.58 kills per game and with a .245 hitting percentage. Five players are averaging over two digs a game for Army, with junior setter Abby Casciato leading the squad at 3.58 digs per game. Casciato and Machon are two of the five Black Knights to have totaled double-digit service aces.
"It is always an exciting match when Army and Navy face each other," said Schwob. "Both teams always play their hearts out. Momentum will be key in the match and the team that can put aside the emotion of the match and just concentrate on execution will have a big advantage."
Holy Cross enters a Friday match at American with a 1-11 overall record. Senior outside hitter Caitlin Agostinacchio leads Holy Cross with 3.52 kills per game and ranks second on the team with 2.90 digs per game. Senior setter Michelle Leahy has posted a team-best 19 service aces, while senior outside hitter Lauren Liesman has hauled in 3.40 digs per game.
"One of the challenges in the Patriot League is being ready to play two matches in as many days," said Schwob. "No matter what happens Friday, you have to come ready to play Saturday. That is especially true the weekend of an Army-Navy match as it always takes a lot out of both teams. When we wake up Saturday morning we have to put whatever the result of that match behind us and focus on Holy Cross. Holy Cross beat us at their place last year and we had a tight match with them at home, so we are preparing for another close match Saturday."
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