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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Volleyball Heads To Hawaii For NCAA First & Second Rounds
11/27/2000 12:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 27, 2000
Salt Lake City - IT'S TOURNAMENT TIME: Utah (22-7, 10-4 MWC) makes its third-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Last year the Utes made the trek to Honolulu, Hawaii and won the first-round match over Colorado in three games (15-10, 15-6, 17-15). In the second-round match, Utah lost 3-0 (15-11, 15-6, 15-4) to its host Hawaii. In 1998, they traveled to Madison, Wisconsin where they posted a first-round win over Illinois State, but fell to Nebraska in four-games. This year, Utah will make its second consecutive trip to Hawaii, facing Texas Tech (24-8) in the first round on Thursday, Nov. 30, at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii at 5:00 p.m. (HST). The winner of that match advances to meet the winner of the Hawaii (27-1) vs. Davidson (24-11) match on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7:00 p.m. (HST).
The 1999 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship provides for a field of 64 teams. First- and second-round matches will be played at sixteen campus sites November 30-December 3. Winners will advance to four regional tournaments December 7-10, also to be played on the campuses of participating institutions. The four regional winners will meet for the championship December 14 and 16 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia.
A QUICK LOOK AT UTAH: The No. 18 ranked University of Utah won both its matches last week. The Utes defeated in-state rival Weber State 3-1 (14-16, 15-3, 19-17, 15-5) in Ogden, Utah on Wed., Nov. 22. On Sat., Nov. 25, Utah shut-down the University of Denver in three games, 15-3, 15-9, 15-6, at Crimson Court. The Utes made it as far as the semifinals of the McLeodUSA MWC Tournament two weeks ago. On Thurs., Nov. 16, Utah defeated UNLV, 3-1 (15-9, 15-3, 5-15, 15-9) in the quarterfinal round. On Fri., Nov. 17, Utah lost to in-state rival Brigham Young, 3-1 (14-16, 15-8, 8-15, 8-15) in the semifinal match of the McLeodUSA MWC Tournament. Utah is now 22-7 overall, 10-4 in MWC play.
Senior Lucie Turkov? and freshman Kim Turner were named to the 2000 McLeodUSA All-MWC team. Turner was named the 2000 Freshman of the Year and was selected to the 2000 McLeodUSA MWC All-Tourney team, while junior Alisa Geddes was named tournament defensive specialist.
The University of Utah women's volleyball team continues to stay in the Top 25 USA Today/AVCA poll. The Utes are currently No. 18 in the Nov. 20 poll. The Utes earned their first-ever national ranking, coming in 18th in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 poll released Mon., Sept. 11.
Possible starters for the Utes in the match-up against Texas Tech are: McKelle Stilson (Jr., MB), Jen Snow-Richards (Sr., OH), Lucie Turkov? (Sr., S), Alisa Geddes (Jr., OH), Katrena Ellett (So., OH), Brooke Barton (Sr., OH/DS), Kim Turner (Fr., MB) and Adrianne Bradley-Drake (Jr., OH/DS). The Utes return five starters, 12 letterwinners and add three true freshmen to this year's roster. Utah received 31 votes to rank 29th in the 1999 season end USA Today/AVCA Top 25 Poll. Utah's 1999 final RPI ranking, produced by the NCAA, was 22nd.
Media Information
Team Travel: The Utah travel party will depart Salt Lake City on Tues., Nov. 28 at 11:45 a.m. (Delta #1579), connect through Los Angeles, Calif. (Delta #1579) and arrive in Honolulu, Hawaii at 5:40 p.m. The Utes are scheduled to return on Saturday, departing Honolulu, Hawaii at 9:45 a.m. (Delta #1578), connecting through Los Angeles, Calif. (Delta #324) and arriving in Salt Lake City at 9:10 p.m.
Team Headquarters: The Utah travelling part will stay at the Aston Waikiki Sunset, (229 Paoakalani Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii, 96815). Phone: (808) 922-0511. Fax: (808) 923-8580. Utah Assistant SID Julie Lapomarda will be accompanying the team.
Practice Schedule: Wednesday's (Nov. 29) practice from 10:30 a.m.-12 noon will be open to the media. The Utes will have a closed practice on Thurs., Nov. 30 from 11:00 a.m.-12 noon. Utah players and head coach Beth Launiere will be available for interviews before and after practice on Wednesday only.
Post-match Interviews: The Utah lockerroom will be open 15 minutes after the cooling-off period (five minutes for the winning team and 15 minutes for the losing team) has concluded. Ute head coach Beth Launiere and at least two players will be available in the interview room. The winning team will go first, followed by the losing team.
Important Phone numbers: Hawaii Volleyball SID Derek Inouchi: (808) 956-4478, Hawaii SID Fax: (808) 956-4470, Stan Sheriff Center Press Row: (808) 956-9408.
NCAA Tournament Preview
Tournament Format: The 2000 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship provides for a field of 64 teams. First- and second-round matches will be played at sixteen campus sites November 30-December 3. Winners will advance to four regional tournaments December 7-10, also to be played on the campuses of participating institutions. The four regional winners will meet for the championship December 14 and 16 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia.
NCAA West Regional First & Second Rounds at Hawaii: Thursday (November 30), Match #1- Utah (22-7) vs. Texas Tech (24-8) 5:00 p.m. (HST), Match #2- Hawaii (27-1) vs. Davidson College (24-11) 7:00 p.m. (HST).
Friday (December 1), Match #3- Match #1 winner vs. Match #2 winner 7:00 p.m. (HST).
Utah Tournament Tid-Bits: Utah is one of six teams making its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament ... This is Utah's third-consecutive trip to the NCAAs ... The Utes are one of the 33 at-large selections ... Thirty-one teams were granted automatic qualification by virtue of winning their conference championship ... Utah is one of three Mountain West Conference teams to receive an NCAA Tournament bid ... Also advancing from the MWC are conference champion Brigham Young and regular-season champion Colorado State ...
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH: The Texas Tech volleyball team is 24-8 overall, 12-8 in the Big 12 Conference. The Red Raiders split their last two conference matches last week, losing to No. 1 ranked Nebraska and defeating Iowa State. Texas Tech lost in three games (15-2, 15-3, 15-9) to Nebraska on Wed., Nov. 22. in Lincoln, Neb. On Sat., Nov. 25, the Red Raiders defeated Iowa State, 3-0 (15-2, 15-7, 15-5) in Lubbock, Texas.
Colleen Smith leads Texas Tech, averaging 4.76 kills per game. Teammate Melissa McGehee totals 3.92 kills per game and 3.78 digs per game. Janelle Jones records 1.07 blocks per game, while Skydra Orzen posts 14.22 assists per game. Ann Romjue leads the team averaging 3.81 digs per game. As a team, Texas Tech averages 16.88 kills per game for a .246 hitting percentage, 15.49 assists per game, 1.68 service aces per game, 18.59 digs per game and 2.81 blocks per game.
Jeff Nelson enters his sixth year at the helm of the Red Raider volleyball program. He has accumulated a 110-58 record at Texas Tech.
SCOUTING HAWAII: With an unbeaten regular season record on the line, the second-ranked University of Hawaii, fell victim to an inspired Long Beach State squad, falling 15-13, 15-8, 13-15, 15-10, before 3,025 at The Pyramid, the 10th largest crowd in LBSU history. The Rainbow Wahine had their 27-match win streak come to a halt, in losing for the first time this season. The Wahine are now 27-1 overall, 16-0 in the WAC.
Lily Kahumoku leads the Wahine, averaging 4.62 kills per game and 2.04 digs per game. Kim Willoughby totals 2.94 kills and digs per game. Teammate Jessica Sudduth records 3.47 kills per game and 2.60 digs per game. Jennifer Carey posts 12.69 assists per game while Margaret Vakasausau adds 1.58 blocks per game. As a team the Wahine average 17.21 kills per game for a .299 hitting percentage. Hawaii totals 15.49 assists per game, 1.58 service aces per game, 16.18 digs per game and 3.10 blocks per game.
Dave Shoji has taken the Rainbow Wahine volleyball program to unheralded heights. Under his tenure, his teams have notched 710 victories, won four national championships and made a trip to the NCAA Tournament an annual occurrence. Shoji has compiled a 710-137-1 career record in 25 years at Hawaii.
SCOUTING DAVIDSON COLLEGE: The Davidson College volleyball team is 24-11 overall, 16-4 in the Southern Conference. On Sun., Nov. 19, the Wildcats defeated the Furman Paladins in three games, 15-12, 15-13, 15-8 to win their second consecutive Southern Conference title. With the win, the 'Cats gained an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Stephanie Metcalf leads the Wildcats, averaging 3.99 kills per game for a .242 hitting percentage and 2.87 digs per game. Stephanie Kropushek totals 2.68 kills per game and 2.66 digs per game, while teammate Becky Montague leads the team in blocks per game (1.11). Montague also adds 2.46 kills per game and 1.11 digs per game. Setter Carla Miali posts 13.54 assists per game, 1.12 kills per game and 2.75 digs per game. As a team, Weber State averages 17.23 kills per game for a .227 hitting percentage, 15.84 assists per game, 1.29 service aces per game, 16.88 digs per game and 2.21 blocks per game.
Tami Darwin, a 1995 graduate of Duke University enters her first season at the helm of the Davidson College volleyball program. At Duke, she was a member of the varsity volleyball team which brought home four straight ACC Championships, four straight NCAA tournament appearances and two "Sweet Sixteen" appearances. Darwin inherits a Davidson program ranked 48th in the Division I NCAA Rating Percentage Index. Last season, the Wildcats turned in a record-setting season, posting a 31-4 overall record and 20-0 in the Southern Conference. The team broke school records for fewest losses, highest winning percentage (.886), most conference wins and tied a school record for most wins. Wildcat volleyball program.
SERIES SHORTS: Utah leads the all-time series with Texas Tech, 5-2. In their last meeting on Sept. 4, 1999, Utah defeated Texas Tech, 3-0, (15-17-15, 15-0, 15-12) in Lubbock, Texas. Utah is 0-1 at home, 1-0 away and 4-1 at a neutral site vs. the Red Raiders. Hawaii leads the all-time series with Utah, 7-0. In their last meeting on Dec. 3, 2000, Utah lost to the Wahine in three games, 15-11, 15-6, 15-4, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Utah is 0-3 at home, 0-2 away and 0-2 at a neutral site vs. Hawaii. Utah and Davidson College may meet for the first time ever in the NCAA Second Round.
QUOTING LAUNIERE: On the upcoming NCAA Tournament: "Its funny how things have changed for our program. We used to be happy just to get a bid to the tournament and now we're playing for that seed. We felt like we put ourselves in the position to have a better seed than that. We got a lower seed than a lot of the teams that were ranked lower than us in the national coaches' poll and when you look at our season, we have a better record than we've ever had and we don't rally have any bad losses. I'm really surprised especially since we've doe so well in the tournament the last two years. Our team definitely knows what it means to be in the tournament in terms of traveling to Hawaii and playing in that facility. We'll do the same thing as last year, enjoy the Hawaiian experience, but when its time to play, its time to play."
UTES IN THE POLLS: The University of Utah women's volleyball team continues to stay in the Top 25 USA Today/AVCA poll. The Utes are currently No. 18 in the Nov. 20 poll.
The Utes earned their first-ever national ranking, coming in 18th in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 poll released Mon., Sept. 11. Utah, which wasn't ranked previously, received 417 points and boasted an 8-1 overall record entering the poll.
Utah has already defeated three ranked teams this season. The Utes defeated then-No. 1-ranked Stanford in five games on Tues., Sept. 5, and then-No. 24-ranked San Diego on Sat., Sept. 9. Utah lost its first match of the 2000 season to then-No. 13 ranked Arizona on Sat., Sept. 16. The Utes lost to then-No. 3 ranked Colorado State in three games, 15-1, 15-8, 15-10 on Sat., Sept. 30 in Fort Collins, Colo. Utah upset in-state rival and then-No. 13-ranked Brigham Young in a three game sweep, 15-5, 15-8, 15-7, on Fri., Oct. 6. The Utes lost to then-No. 3 ranked Colorado State in three games, 15-7, 15-2, 15-11 on Fri., Oct. 27 in Salt Lake City. On Fri., Nov. 3, Utah lost 3-1, 15-5, 12-15, 15-13, 16-14 to the No. 14 ranked BYU Cougars in Provo, Utah. At the McLeodUSA MWC Tournament on Fri., Nov. 17, Utah lost a heartbreaker to in-state rival Brigham Young. The Utes fell to the Cougars in four games, 16-14, 8-15, 15-8, 15-8.
Utah is one of three MWC teams ranked in the polls. Other MWC teams ranked are: Colorado State (6th) and BYU (12th).
"It is really nice recognition for our program and for our players because they deserve it," said Launiere. "Even though we are ranked now, we still have our focus and each match is an important one for us. We've done very well near the end of the season for the past few years and we want to continue that because that is when it counts."
Utah was one of three Mountain West Conference schools that appeared in the USA Today/AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches' Association) Preseason Poll, announced on Mon., Aug. 14. Colorado State and Brigham Young ranked 13th and 15th, while Utah, with 59 points, checked in at No. 30.
WEBER STATE RECAP: The University of Utah women's volleyball team defeated the Weber State Wildcats in four games, 14-16, 15-3, 19-17, 15-5 at the Dee Events Center on Wed., Nov. 22. Weber State ended its season with a 10-17 overall record.
Freshman middle blocker Kim Turner led the Utes with a career-high 22 kills for a .383 hitting percentage and a career-high nine total blocks. McKelle Stilson racked up 20 kills for an impressive .531 hitting percentage, while teammate Adrianne Bradley-Drake totaled 17 digs for the Utes. Junior Alisa Geddes recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 12 digs and senior Jen Snow-Richards added 13 digs, respectively. Setter Lucie Turkova totaled 10 kills and 66 assists in the match. As a team Utah had a .239 hitting percentage and added 16 total team blocks.
Stephanie Kropushek led the Wildcats with 17 kills. Teammate J. Stephanie Metcalf totaled 11 kills and 11 digs, while Mari Dean added 15 digs. Carla Miali posted 52 assists and 13 digs in the match. Weber State hit for .157 and added 12 total team blocks.
"Kim (Turner) and McKelle (Stilson) combined for 42 of our 84 kills and Weber had a rough time slowing them down and offensively they carried us tonight," said Assistant Coach Cory Solomon. "It was a great team effort though, we were down 14-8 in the third game and came back and won. I'm proud of the way our kids competed."
DENVER RECAP: The University of Utah women's volleyball team defeated the University of Denver Pioneers in three games, 15-3, 15-9, 15-6 at Crimson Court on Sat., Nov. 25. Denver ended its season with a 19-14 overall record.
Freshman middle blocker Kim Turner led the Utes with 11 kills for an impressive .529 hitting percentage and five total blocks. McKelle Stilson racked up eight kills for a .333 hitting percentage, while teammate Alisa Geddes totaled 11 digs for the Utes. Setter Lucie Turkova totaled seven kills and 29 assists in the match. As a team Utah had a .234 hitting percentage and added 11 total team blocks.
Julie Crockett led the Pioneers with seven kills. Teammate Clarice Golesh posted five kills for a .571 hitting percentage, 18 assists and seven digs. Denver had a .000 hitting percentage as a team and added eight total team blocks.
"I think we are playing some pretty crisp volleyball right now," said Head Coach Beth Launiere. "I think we are ready for the NCAAs and we are right where we want to be. It is nice to have 22 wins under our belts going into the NCAAs."
UTAH VS. RANKED OPPONENTS: Utah is 3-6 (.333) vs. opponents ranked in the Top 25 USA Today/AVCA Coaches' Poll. On Tues., Sept. 5, the Utes made a five-game comeback win over then-No. 1-ranked Stanford University in a 2 1/2-hour match at Crimson Court. Utah won 13-15, 12-15, 15-6, 15-10, 15-9. On Sat., Sept. 9, Utah shut-down No. 24 ranked San Diego in five games, (14-16, 15-6, 11-15, 15-12, 15-10). On Sat., Sept. 16, Utah was handed its first loss of the 2000 season by then-No. 13-ranked Arizona Wildcats. The Utes lost in three games, 15-3, 15-8, 15-10. Utah lost to then-No. 3 ranked Colorado State in three games, 15-1, 15-8, 15-10 on Sat., Sept. 30 in Fort Collins, Colo. The Utah women's volleyball team upset in-state rival in a three game sweep, 15-5, 15-8, 15-7, over then-No. 13-ranked Brigham Young on Fri., Oct. 6. Utah lost to then-No. 25-ranked Utah State in Logan, Utah on Tues., Oct. 10. The Utes lost, 3-1 (15-8, 8-15, 12-15, 10-15). Utah lost to then-No. 3 ranked Colorado State in three-games (15-7, 15-2, 15-11) on Fri., Oct. 28, in Salt Lake City. On Fri., Nov. 3, Utah lost 3-1, 15-5, 12-15, 15-13, 16-14 to the No. 14 ranked BYU Cougars in Provo, Utah. At the McLeodUSA MWC Tournament on Fri., Nov. 17, Utah lost a heartbreaker to in-state rival Brigham Young. The Utes fell to the Cougars in four games, 16-14, 8-15, 15-8, 15-8.
MWC ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS: Utah middle blocker Kim Turner took MWC Freshman of the Year honors. A native of Chandler, Ariz., Turner led the Utes with 236 kills and 91 blocks while playing in 82 of 91 games this season. She is currently eighth in the MWC in hitting percentage at .272. Utah was represented on the All-MWC team by senior Lucie Turkova (S) and freshman Kim Turner (MB).
Junior middle blocker Angela Knopf earned Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Year honors. Colorado State head coach Tom Hilbert garnered MWC Coach of the Year accolades for the second straight year. Colorado State junior Allison Peckham was named MWC Setter of the Year and San Diego State junior Jessica Allen was the MWC Defensive Specialist award winner.
Four BYU players earned All-MWC honors: juniors Jackie Bundy (MB) and Nina Puikkonen (MB), sophomore Sunny Tonga (MB) and freshman Karina Puikkonen (S)
Colorado State senior Summer Jennings (MB), and CSU juniors Courtney Cox (OH) and Soraya Santos (MB) were also named All-MWC honorees.
San Diego State landed a pair of players on the All-MWC team in senior Amy Hallquist (OH) and sophomore Melissa Wright (S), while UNLV junior Amber Graham rounded out the 2000 All-MWC Volleyball Team, which is selected by the MWC coaches.
MWC TOURNEY HONORS: BYU's Nina Puikkonen was named MVP of the championship, while teammate Sunny Tonga was also named to the all-tournament team. For Colorado State, Knopf and Cox were named to the squad and Peckham was named Setter of the Tournament. Utah's Kim Turner and San Diego State's Aspen McPartland rounded out the team, while Utah's Alisa Geddes was named tournament defensive specialist.
2000 VERIZON ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT VIII TEAM: The 2000 Verizon Academic All-District VIII Women's Volleyball first, second and third teams, selected by CoSIDA, were announced Thursday and 21 female student-athlete's representing 15 different NCAA Division I institutions were honored.
Utah seniors Jen Snow-Richards and Lucie Turkova received third-team honors. Snow-Richards, a starting outside hitter, boasts a 3.67 cumulative GPA and averages 2.36 kills per game and 2.43 digs per game for the Utes. Turkova, an all-MWC selection as a setter also has a 3.67 cumulative GPA. She averages 1.47 kills per game, 11.85 assists per game and 2.12 digs per game.
The six first team members are now on the National Verizon Women's Volleyball Academic All-America ballot. First, second and third team national winners will be announced on Tues., Dec. 12, 2000. A total of 61 eligible student-athletes were nominated by 32 different schools on the District VIII ballot. Members of CoSIDA in the states of California, Hawaii, Alaska, British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada and Utah were responsible for voting on the squad.
NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL ATTENDANCE: Utah ranks just out of the top 30 in the nation in home match attendance this week. In 11 matches at home, the Utes have brought in 8,331 fans, an average of 757 fans per match. Utah's match with then-No.-13 ranked Brigham Young on Oct. 6, ranks in as the 186th highest with a single-match attendance of 1,427. Utah's match-up with then-No. 3 ranked Colorado State ranks in as the 260th highest with a single-match attendance of 1,113. Utah's match with then-No. 1-ranked Stanford on Sept. 5, ranks in as the 271st highest with a single-match attendance of 1,072.
MWC Granted Automatic Qualification: Entering its second year in existence, the MWC was granted automatic qualification by the NCAA, meaning the champion of the postseason tournament will receive an automatic bid to the 64-team 2000 NCAA Volleyball Tournament.
TURNER NAMED VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Freshman middle blocker Kim Turner from Utah was named the Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week (Nov. 27), marking the first time she has earned the award.
A native of Chandler, Ariz., Turner helped Utah to wins over Weber State (14-16, 15-3, 19-17, 15-5) and Denver (15-3, 15-9, 15-6) last week. The MWC Freshman of the Year totaled a match high 22 kills and nine blocks in the four-game win over Weber State, and picked up a match-high 11 kills and five blocks in the sweep over Denver. For the week, Turner racked up 33 kills (4.71 kpg) and 14 blocks (2.0 bpg) while hitting .422 (33k-6e-64a). Turner is currently sixth in the MWC for hitting percentage (.298) and blocks per game (1.20).
TURKOVA NAMED VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior setter Lucie Turkov? from Utah was named the Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week (Oct. 9-13) after leading the Utes to victories over Idaho State and then-No. 13 BYU last week. The Player of the Week honor was the first for Turkov?.
A native of Brno, Czech Republic, Turkov? became just the second Mountain West Conference player to record a triple-double this season after totaling 32 assists, 10 kills and 10 digs while hitting .600 (10k-1e-15a) in a three-game upset over then-No. 13 BYU (15-5, 15-8, 15-7) Fri., Oct. 6. The Ute win snapped a nine-match drought vs. the Cougars, and marked the first conference victory for Utah over BYU since 1985. Turkov? also racked up 36 assists and hit .222 (3k-1e-9a) in a three-game sweep over Idaho State (15-6, 15-10, 15-5) on Tues., Oct. 3.
An Academic All-MWC selection in 1999, Turkov? set the single match assist record with 81 vs. then-No. 1 Stanford on Sept. 5.
ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Three Utah players were named to the 2000 University of New Hampshire All-Tournament Team. They were: Lucie Turkov?, Jen Snow-Richards and Tournament MVP Katrena Ellett.
Three Utah players were named to the 2000 Cal Poly SLO All-Tournament Team. They were: Lenka Urbanov?, Jen Snow-Richards and tournament MVP, McKelle Stilson.
INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM NOTES: Senior Brooke Barton tied a career-high for kills (14) vs. Cal Poly SLO on Sat., Sept. 9, 2000. On Sept. 9, Barton recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs vs. Cal Poly SLO. She has posted double-figure kills one time and double-figure digs four times in 29 matches. Senior Jen Snow-Richards set a career-high .722 hitting percentage against UMass and a career-high four service aces vs. New Hampshire on Sat., Sept. 2, 2000 On Tues., Sept. 5, 2000, Snow-Richards racked up a career-high and a MWC record for digs in a five-game match (30). She racked-up a career-high 11 assists vs. Nevada-Reno on Fri., Sept. 8, 2000. Snow-Richards recorded a triple-double with 12 kills, 11 assists and 14 digs on Sept. 8 vs. Nevada-Reno. She had a season-high 14 kills on Sat., Oct. 28 against the Wyoming Cowgirls. Snow-Richards has posted double-figure kills nine times and double-figure digs 12 times in 29 matches. Senior setter Lucie Turkov? recorded a career-high 15 kills vs. SDSU on Sat., Oct. 21. She posted her first triple-double (10 kills, 10 digs, 32 assists) of her career on Fri., Oct. 6, vs. BYU. Turkov? posted a career-high 81 assists vs. Stanford on Tues., Sept. 5, 2000. Turkov? has recorded nine double-doubles to date this season. She has posted double-figure kills three times, double-figure digs 13 times and double-figure assists in all 29 matches. Adrianne Bradley-Drake tied a career-high with five total blocks vs. Stanford University on Tues., Sept. 5, 2000. On Sat., Sept. 9, 2000, Bradley-Drake broke Snow-Richards MWC record for digs in a five-game match with 31 digs. She also tied a career-high for assists with five. Bradley-Drake recorded double-figures in digs in eight out of 29 matches, including one double-double on Sept. 5, vs. Stanford. She also recorded double-figure kills one time this season. Lenka Urbanov? recorded a career-high .600 hitting percentage against New Hampshire on Sat., Sept. 2, 2000. On Sat., Oct. 21, Urbanov? posted a career-high 21 kills and 21 digs against SDSU. She has recorded nine double-doubles this season. Urbanov? has posted double-figure kills 12 times and double-figure digs 10 times in 28 matches. On Fri., Nov. 3, 2000, Katrena Ellett posted a career-high four service aces against BYU. Against San Diego State on Sat., Oct. 21, 2000, Ellett totaled a career high 16 digs. Against Stanford University on Tues., Sept. 5, 2000, Ellett racked-up a career-high 24 kills and three assists. She recorded three double-doubles so far this season. Ellett has posted double-figure kills six times and double-figure digs six times in 28 matches. In 14 out of 27 matches, junior Alisa Geddes has recorded double figures in digs and posted four double-doubles to date. She has recorded double-figure kills five times in 27 matches. Junior McKelle Stilson has posted double-figure kills in 13 out of 27 matches.
Utah set a school record for team assists (94), a school record for team kills (99) and a school record for team attempts (265) in the match-up with San Diego State on Sat., Oct. 21, 2000.
MWC STATISTICAL LEADERS: Utah as a team leads the conference in digs, averaging 16.16 DPG and is third with a .759 win-loss percentage. The Utes are currently third in kills (16.24 KPG), assists (14.42 APG) and in hitting percentage (.211). Utah is fifth in blocks (2.55 BPG) and fifth in service aces (1.43 SAPG). Individually, Utah ranks among some of the best in the conference. Senior co-captain, Lucie Turkov? is currently third in the MWC in assists, averaging 11.93 assists per game. Junior Alisa Geddes is fifth in the MWC in digs, averaging 2.73 digs per game. Freshman Kim Turner is sixth with a .298 hitting percentage and sixth in the MWC in blocks per game (1.20). Turner is ninth in kills (3.13 KPG). Junior McKelle Stilson is seventh in the MWC with a .295 hitting percentage.
CAREER LIST: Three current Utah players have made their way up the Utah career-leader lists. Senior Brooke Barton is currently fourth on the career-leader list with 126 service aces. Barton is 4th in games played (443) and seventh in digs (933). Senior setter Lucie Turkov? is currently fifth in the career-leader list with 1,703 assists and 122 matches played. She is tied for sixth in games played (431) and is 10th in digs (851). Junior middle blocker McKelle Stilson is currently third with a .284 hitting percentage. Stilson is third in block assists (324) and fourth in total blocks (356). She is 7th in kills (983) and 9th in attempts (2,179).
HEAD COACH BETH LAUNIERE: In her 11th season, Beth Launiere has not only resurrected the Ute volleyball program and turned it into a consistent winner, she has also guided Utah to unprecedented success on the national level.
Under Launiere's leadership, Utah made its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999, and for a second year advanced to the second round. It is the crowning achievement of Launiere's ten-year tenure at Utah, in which she has posted a 202-145 (.582) career record.
The winningest coach in school history, Launiere has overseen a significant transformation since her arrival in 1990. In the last six years alone, Launiere has guided the Utes to six 20-win seasons and Utah's third-place finish in the MWC in 1999 and 2000 marked its eighth consecutive upper division finish in conference play.
Launiere worked hard in 1999 to maintain the level of play and expectations of the previous season. With a 22-10 overall record, Utah posted its fourth consecutive, and fifth overall, 20-win season. The Utes' .688 overall winning percentage equaled the third-best in school history. Utah also equaled the third-best conference winning percentage in school history last season (10-4, .714).
Utah received 31 votes to rank 29th in the final USA Today/AVCA Top 25 Poll. Utah's final RPI ranking, produced by the NCAA, was 22nd.
LAUNIERE NOTCHED 200 WINS: Utah's winningest coach in school history, Beth Launiere hit the mark at the McLeodUSA MWC Tournament in Fort Collins, Colo. Launiere notched her 200th career win on Thurs., Nov. 16 with a 3-1 (15-9, 15-3, 5-15, 15-9) win over UNLV.
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