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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Volleyball To Host Tournament This Week
9/10/2001 12:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2001
Salt Lake City -
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COMING UP: Utah will host the Utah/Illinois Challenge on Fri.-Sat., Sept. 14-15 at Crimson Court. The Utes will face Illinois State on Sept. 14 at 7:00 p.m.. On Sept. 15, Utah will match-up with Illinois at 7:00 p.m.
A QUICK LOOK AT UTAH: The No. 21 ranked University of Utah women's volleyball team came in third-place at the Arizona Tournament last weekend. The Utes lost to No. 5 ranked Arizona in three games, 30-24, 30-22, 30-22 and lost to Louisville, 3-0 (30-22, 30-17, 30-26). Back at home, the Utes recorded a comeback victory over the No. 23 ranked Colorado Buffaloes at Crimson Court on Sat. Sept. 8. The Utes lost games one and two, but never gave up and pulled out the win in five games, 22-30, 21-30, 30-27, 30-22, 15-10. Two Utah players were selected to the Arizona Tournament all-tournament team: They were: Sylva Strzinkova and Kim Turner. The Utes are currently 4-2 overall, 0-0 in MWC play.
Possible starters for the Utes in the match-up against Illinois State and Illinois are: McKelle Stilson (Sr., MB), Kelsie Kartchner (Fr., S), Lenka Urbanov? (Sr., OH), Sylva Strzinkov? (Jr., OH), Katrena Ellett (Jr., OH/MB), Alisa Geddes (Sr., OH), Kim Turner (So., MB) and Adrianne Bradley-Drake (Sr., MB/OH).
The Utes return four starters, 10 letterwinners and add three true freshmen, along with two transfers to this year's roster. Utah is currently No. 21 in the Sept. 10 USA Today/AVCA Top-25 poll. The Utes have been ranked for three consecutive weeks. Utah received 254 points to rank 21st in the 2001 USA Today/AVCA Top 25 Preseason Poll released on Aug. 13th.
UTAH/ILLINOIS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Sept. 14 (Fri) Weber State vs. Illinois Salt Lake City Crimson Court 7:00 p.m. UTAH vs. Illinois State Salt Lake City Crimson Court 7:00 p.m.Sept. 15 (Sat) Weber State vs. Illinois State Salt Lake City Crimson Court 7:00 p.m. UTAH vs. Illinois Salt Lake City Crimson Court 7:00 p.m.* All matches at Crimson Court in Salt Lake City.
SERIES SHORTS: Utah leads the all-time series with Illinois State, 4-1. In their last meeting on Dec. 4, 1998, Utah defeated the Redbirds, 3-0 (15-11, 15-12, 15-5) at the NCAA First & Second Round Tournament in Lincoln, Neb. The Utes are 0-0 at home, 1-1 away and 3-0 at a neutral site vs. Illinois State. Illinois leads the all-time series with Utah, 4-0. In the last match-up the Utes lost to the Fighting Illini, 3-2 in Champaign, Ill. on Sept. 17, 1993. Utah is 0-0 at home, 0-1 away and 0-3 at a neutral site vs. Illinois.
QUOTING LAUNIERE: On the upcoming Utah/Illinois Challenge-"There are no easy teams on our schedule. Both teams we will face this weekend have a lot of tradition within their volleyball programs. I will expect some good matches this weekend."
ILLINOIS TEAM CAPSULE: Illinois (13-18, 4-16 Big Ten) 2000 Final National Ranking: NR 2000 Post-Season Finish: NA 2000 Conference Finish: 10th Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 4/9 Top Returners: Shadia Haddad (Sr., OH, 6-0), Lydia Gard (Sr., MB, 6-1), Sue Webber (Jr., OH, 6-1) Top Newcomers: Lauren Harks (Fr., OH/S, 6-1), Erin Virtue (Fr., S, 5-8), Jessica Belter (Fr., MB/OH, 6-4), Kathleen Bazzetta (Frs., DS, 5-7) Top Players Lost: Betsy Spicer (MB, AVCA All-Region, All-Big Ten)
The Illinois Fighting Illini are currently 6-1 overall, with wins over Georgetown, George Mason, George Washington, William & Mary, Loyola and Butler. Illinois suffered its first loss of the season to the 11th ranked Florida Gators. Shadia Haddad leads the team, averaging 3.29 kills per game for a .229 hitting percentage and 2.83 digs per game. Lisa Argabright adds 3.25 kills per game and hits for a .338 hitting percentage and 1.38 blocks per game. Head coach Don Hardin is in his sixth year at Illinois. He posts an 88-69 record at Illinois and a 280-145 career record.
ILLINOIS STATE TEAM CAPSULE: Illinois State (19-10, 15-3 Missouri Valley, 10th Region) 2000 Final National Ranking: NR 2000 Post-Season Finish: NA 2000 Conference Finish: 2nd Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 4/12 Top Returners: Becky Weber (Sr., S, 5-10, All-Missouri Valley 1st Team), Jenny Kabbes (Jr., MB, 6-0, 1999 All-Missouri Valley 1st Team in 1999--injured in 2000), Megan O'Connell (Jr., OH, 6-4, All-Missouri Valley 2nd Team) Top newcomers: Kelly Rikli (Fr., S, 5-10), Amber Rogers (Fr., MB, 6-1) Top Players Lost: Kendra Haselhorst (MB, 4-time AVCA All-Region, Missouri Valley career kill percentage leader, Illinois State career block leader), Jackie Utz (OH)
The Illinois State Redbirds are currently 3-3 overall, with wins over Missouri-Kansas City, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Purdue. The Redbirds lost to Louisville, Miami of Ohio and South Carolina. Megan O'Connell leads the team, averaging 3.75 kills per game for a .272 hitting percentage and 1.54 digs per game. Abby Lewis adds 2.17 kills per game and 3.75 digs per game. Head coach Sharon Dingman is in her second year at Illinois State. She posts a 19-10 record at Illinois State and a 208-124 career record.
WEBER STATE TEAM CAPSULE: Weber State (10-17, 6-10 Big Sky) 2000 Final National Ranking: NR 2000 Post-Season Finish: NR 2000 Conference Finish: 7th Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 5/10 Top Returners: Stephanie Metcalf (Jr., OH, 6-1), Kris Hollingsworth (So., OH, 5-11), Stephanie Kropushek (So., OH, 5-11), Becky Montague (Jr., MB, 6-0) Top Newcomers: Amy Bell (Jr., S, 5-6), Laura Robinson (Jr., S, 5-8) Top Players Lost: Carla Miali (S, 5-8), Mahavia Maxwell (OH, 6-1)
The Weber State Wildcats are currently 2-5 overall, with a win over North Texas, Saint Mary's and losses to Southern Methodist, Duke, Kentucky, Cal-State Fullerton and Nevada. Stephanie Metcalf leads the team, averaging 3.42 kills per game for a .312 hitting percentage and 2.52 digs per game. Head coach Al Givens is in his ninth year at Weber State.
NEXT WEEK: On Thurs., Sept. 20, the Utes open Mountain West Conference action on the road in Provo, Utah, facing Brigham Young at 7:00 p.m. On Sat., Sept. 22, Utah meets No. 24 ranked Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, Calif. at 7:00 p.m. (PDT). On Tues., Sept. 25, the Utes will face Idaho State at 7:00 p.m. in Pocatello, Idaho. Utah is back in action at home on Fri., Sept. 28 vs. Air Force and on Sat., Sept. 29 vs. New Mexico. Match times are set for 7:00 p.m.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE STATISTICAL LEADERS: Utah, as a team is fourth in the MWC in assists (13.38), fourth with a .226 hitting percentage and fifth in blocks (3.12) and kills (14.43). The Utes are sixth in digs (13.00) and seventh in service aces (1.33). Individually, Utah ranks among the top in the MWC statistical leaders. Junior Sylva Strzinkova is eighth in digs (2.80) and sophomore Kim Turner is eighth in blocks (1.48). Freshmen Kelsie Kartchner and Tracy Neumeier are eighth and ninth in assists (7.48, 5.33). McKelle Stilson is eighth with a .310 hitting percentage.
COLORADO RECAP: The Utes recorded a comeback victory over the No. 23 ranked Colorado Buffaloes at Crimson Court on Sat. Sept. 8. Utah lost games one and two, but never gave up and pulled out the win in five games, 22-30, 21-30, 30-27, 30-22, 15-10.
2001 ARIZONA TOURNAMENT WRAP-UP: Utah came in third-place at the 2001 Arizona Tournament last weekend. The Utes lost in three games to No. 5 ranked Arizona and to Louisville. Two Utah players were selected to the Arizona Tournament all-tournament team: They were: Sylva Strzinkova and Kim Turner.
2001 UTAH CLASSIC WRAP-UP: Utah won its own 2001 Utah Classic Tournament on Aug. 31-Sept. 1. The Utes went 3-0 with wins over Rhode Island, then No. 25 ranked Georgia Tech and Texas Tech. Three Utah players were selected to the Utah Classic all-tournament team: They were: Alisa Geddes, Sylva Strzinkova and tournament MVP Kim Turner. Kyleen Bell (Georgia Tech), Maja Pachale (Georgia Tech), Yolanda Cumbess (Texas Tech) and Yolanda Bogacz (Rhode Island) were also selected to the all-tourney team. Georgia Tech's Keight Vincent was named the 2001 Utah Classic Defensive Specialist. Final Standing of the tournament are: Utah (first-place), Georgia Tech (second-place), Texas Tech (third-place) and Rhode Island (fourth-place).
UTES ON THE RADIO: Utah's match with Illinois on Sat., Sept. 5, at 7:00 p.m. (MDT) can be heard live via the internet at www.utahutes.com and www.fightingillini.com.
NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL ATTENDANCE: Utah ranks 20th in the nation in home match attendance. In four matches at home, the Utes have brought in 2,148 fans, an average of 537 fans per match.
HEAD COACH BETH LAUNIERE: In her 12th 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 third-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000, and for a third-straight year advanced to the second round. It is the crowning achievement of Launiere's eleven-year tenure at Utah, in which she has posted a 207-148 (.583) career record.
The winningest coach in school history, Launiere has overseen a significant transformation since her arrival in 1990. In the last seven years alone, Launiere has guided the Utes to six 20-win seasons and Utah's third-place finish in the MWC in 2000 marked its eighth-consecutive upper-division finish in conference play.
Launiere worked hard in 2000 to maintain the level of play and expectations of the previous season. The 2000 season was a definite breakthrough year for Utah volleyball. Starting off on a good note, the Utes checked in with 59 votes in the preseason poll. With a 23-8 overall record, Utah posted its fifth consecutive, and sixth overall, 20-win season. The Utes' .742 overall winning percentage proved the best in school history. Utah also equaled the third-best conference winning percentage in school history last season (10-4, .714). The 2000 squad was the only team in school history to beat a No. 1 ranked opponent (a come-from-behind five-game victory over Stanford). With the win over Stanford and two more wins that next weekend, Utah earned its first-ever national ranking, coming in 18th in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 poll released Mon., Sept. 12, 2000. Launiere recorded her 200th career victory at the McLeodUSA MWC Tournament with a 3-1 (15-9, 15-3, 5-15, 15-9) win over UNLV on Thurs., Nov. 16, 2000.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Utes practice from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. in East 101 at the HPER building on the University of Utah campus. All practice times and dates are tentative and subject to change. For regular scheduled practice times, please contact Julie Lapomarda. Utah Women's Volleyball practices are closed to the media. To set up interviews before or after practice with Head Coach Beth Launiere or Ute players, please contact Julie Lapomarda women's volleyball SID at: (801) 581-3771 (office), or at (801) 468-0571 (home).
POST-MATCH SERVICES/INTERVIEWS: Head Coach Beth Launiere and Utah players will be available for interviews outside the Utah lockerroom following a 10 minute cooling off period. A member of the Utah sports information staff will gather interview requests immediately following the match. Box scores will be provided and faxed upon request.
WEEKLY INTERVIEWS: Members of the media who wish to interview Head Coach Beth Launiere should contact her at her office (801-581-6843) between 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. weekdays. Interviews with the athletes should be arranged through Julie Lapomarda (801-581-3771).
MWC PRE-SEASON POLL: In a survey of the Mountain West Conference coaches before the season, Utah, which ranked in at No. 21 in the preseason national poll, was picked to finish third. BYU is the favorite to win the 2001 Mountain West Conference title after earning five first-place votes and 46 points. Colorado State, which finished with three first-place votes and 45 points in the poll, is second.
AVCA PRE-SEASON POLL: 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. 13, 2001. Brigham Young and Colorado State ranked 11th and 14th, while Utah, with 254 points, checked in at No. 21.
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