DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Visits Cross-Town Rival Loyola Tonight
10/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Chicago – The Blue Demons hope to keep their two-match winning streak alive and improve their record to one shy of the .500 mark, this evening as they visit Loyola. DePaul will face off against the 2002 Horizon League Champions, Loyola this evening at the Alumni Gym at 7:00pm.
The Blue Demons are coming off a 2-1 week, and have evened their Conference USA record at 2-2; after decisive three-game wins over Charlotte and East Carolina. The last time DePaul defeated two C-USA opponents in three-game consecutive matches was in 2000. The Blue Demons defeated both UAB in Memphis in September of 2000.
DePaul as a team held, Illinois State, Charlotte and East Carolina to a .105 hitting percentage. They held Charlotte to a season low, negative eight percent. DePaul middles, Janet Goreham and Lara Marks combined for 34 of the teams 69 blocks.
Another big defensive stat the Blue Demons put up last week, was defensive digs. As a team they tallied 186 digs while their opponents recoded 157 digs. The tandem of Janet Cotter and Ellen Hayes posted 63 digs.
Big defensive numbers this evening will be the key to keeping DePaul’s winning streak alive. Loyola averages 15.81 kills per game and is led by freshman Courtney Ashley who averages 3.42 kills per game. Ashley also leads the Ramblers in total points netting 287.5 points this season.
Loyola comes into this evening’s match on a two-match losing streak; losing to UW-Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee. DePaul is 1-1 versus those two teams this season, taking both matches to five games.
Last season the Blue Demons faced off against the Ramblers and lost in a tough five-game show down. Loyola leads the overall series 16-7.
Tonight match-up promises to be emotional one, for Blue Demon assistant coach, Julie Wiejak. Wiejak played middle for the Ramblers from 1995-1999. She still holds Loyola’s record for total season blocks; she knocked down 135 total blocks during the 1998 season.
