DePaul University Athletics
Volleyball Hits the Road this Weekend
10/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Weekly Notes
CHICAGO- The DePaul volleyball team will hit the road this weekend, with the hope of snapping a six-match losing streak. The Blue Demons will tangle with Conference USA opponents UAB and USF on Friday and Saturday afternoon, both matches are scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. (CST).
“This weekend gives us the opportunity to come back after a sub par performance at Marquette and play together as a team,” head coach Dawn Dockstader said. “We worked hard at practice this week and can’t let mistakes affect our play as they have in the past.”
Last week, the Blue Demons dropped a three-game match to Marquette falling to 0-3 in C-USA play and 7-12 overall. Amy Holmes led DePaul with 12 kills and a .333 attack percentage.
“We are looking forward to playing in the afternoon and changing things up,” Dockstader said.
The Blue Demons are 3-3 in matches played before 3:00 p.m. When DePaul plays in the afternoon, they have recorded more kills, blocks, assists and digs than their opponents. The most staggering “afternoon” stat is the Blue Demons ability to hold their opponents to a .160 attack percentage while swinging away at a .268 hitting percentage.
UAB
Friday, October 15 - 2:00 p.m.
Bartow Arena- Birmingham, Alabama
The Blazer (1-15, 0-4 C-USA) will also attempt to break their six match loosing streak on Friday. UAB posted their lone win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Samford on September 28th. Isabel Oquendo leads the team with 122 total kills.
USF
Saturday, October 16- 2:00 p.m.
at USF- The Corral- Tampa, FL
Coming into the weekend the Bulls (3-11, 1-3 C-USA) are on a three match loosing streak. USF recorded its second best season hitting percentage-.211 last weekend in Cincinnati. Setter, Juliana Nogueira averages 11.28 assists per game and looks for her favorite target, Flavia Silveira who leads the team with 189 kills.
In the preseason C-USA coaches poll the Bulls were slated to finish eighth in front of the Blue Demons who were forecasted to finish ninth.
Returning Home
The Blue Demons will return to the DePaul Athletic Center, Friday and Saturday October 22-23. DePaul will take on TCU on Friday and Houston on Saturday. Prior to the match on Saturday the Blue Demons will host Alumni Night. A pre-game reception will be held in the Alumni Room in the DePaul Athletic Center (second floor) and will begin at 5:30 for the alumnae and their families. Alumnae will also be honored in between games two and three.
Dig for Cure
The Blue Demons will participate in Dig for Cure on Saturday, October 23rd during their 7:00 p.m. home match against Houston. DePaul has partnered with 13 other Conference USA Volleyball programs in an effort to raise $30,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The players will be solicitating pledges and donations throughout the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Individuals may pledge per dig or make a blanket donation. The money raised by the Blue Demons will go to the Chicago affiliate of the Komen foundation.
Down on Ball
The Blue Demons are ranked second in C-USA in digs per game. DePaul is averaging 17.03 digs per game. Ellen Hayes leads the team and averages 3.86 digs per game and is ranked seventh in C-USA.
More from Moorberg
Junior outside hitter Mandy Moorberg leads the team in total kills, tallying 245 putaways. She is also averaging a team high 3.60 kills per game. Moorberg holds the team’s season best for most kills in a match (25), most attempts (61), most points (26.5) and most service aces (7). She was also named to the All-Tournament team at the IPFW Invitational.
Eye on 1,000
Senior Amy Holmes is on the verge of 1,000 career digs. Prior to the 2004 season she had registered 697 digs and this season, and has 232 this season. Holmes is averaging 12.2 digs per match which paces her to record her 1,000th dig at Saint Louis on October, 29th.
Thirsty for 30
On September 29, 2004 sophomore Ellen Hayes notched a season and career high 30-digs against Valparaiso. The 30-digs in a match, is the most by a DePaul player since the Blue Demons entered Conference USA in 1995.
Finding the Hitter
Senior setter Amie West set a new career best when she “assisted” 71 hitters in finding the wood against Virginia Commonwealth. West has accumulated 3,390 career assist and is in sole possession of the No. 3 for most career assists. Michelle Vonderheide (1989-1992) is second, she amassed 6,278 assist in her career.
Out for the Season
Freshman setter, Mandi Caputo will sit out the rest of the season due to a broken finger. Caputo will use this season as her red-shirt season and will have four years of eligibility left.
Ace in the Hole
Junior Mandy Moorberg found the defensive holes in the Eastern Illinois defense, notching a season and career high seven service aces on Friday, September 17th. The team notched 11 total aces.
Road Block
DePaul sophomore middle blocker Denae Gibson tallied six of the teams 10 solo blocks September 24, against Evansville. Individually, Gibson tallied seven of DePaul’s 16 total team blocks. Ellen Hayes, Morgan Ingersoll, Amy Holmes, Janet Goreham, and Mandy Moorberg also recorded at least one block assist during the match.
Goreham Gathers Honors
Senior Middle Blocker, Janet Goreham was named the MVP of the Mizuno Wildcat Classic in Davidson, N.C. The senior compiled a .425 hitting percentage and tallied 38 kills and digs, 16 total blocks and three service aces over during the tournament. At the Blue Demon Invitational September 17-18 Goreham was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 4.0 kills per game and notching 13 total blocks.
The Amie’s
Seniors Amy Holmes and Amie West were named to the Mizuno Wildcat Classic All-Tournament roster. Holmes finished the weekend with 37 kills, 48 digs and two blocks. West averaged 15 assists per game and tallied 135 assists over 10 games.
October Birthday’s
The Blue Demons will celebrate four birthday’s during the month of October, Aly Zavitz (10/3), Stacy Pando (10/17), Mandy Moorberg (10/23) and Denae Gibson (10/29).
Undefeated Demons
DePaul opened it season with a perfect 4-0 record for the first time since the 2001 season. The 2001 team started the season 9-0 and finished with a 24-9 record and made the program’s second NCAA Tournament appearance.
Success in North Carolina
The Blue Demons captured the Mizuno Wildcat Classic Crown on September 5th in Davidson N.C. DePaul defeated Florida Atlantic (3-0), Virginia Commonwealth (3-1) and host Davidson (3-0) to earn the championship honors. The team averaged 16.90 kills, 16.10 assists and 21.20 digs during their three matches.
The Class of 2008
Redshirt freshman Aly Zavitz was joined by true freshmen Mandi Caputo, Stacy Pando and Maureen Zigulich this season. Zavitz and Pando are middle blockers, Caputo a setter and Zigulich becomes DePaul first true libero.
