DePaul University Athletics
Volleyball Set to Compete at Penn State Alumni Classic
9/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
DePaul Notes 
CHICAGO - The DePaul volleyball team travels to University Park, Pa. where it will take part in the Penn State Alumni Classic as the Blue Demons (2-7) wrap-up non-conference play in the three-match, two-day event, Sept. 19-20.
Five teams make up the tournament, as DePaul splits time on the hardwood with East Carolina (4-0), Eastern Illinois (5-4), No. 3 Penn State (8-1) and UIC (4-8). The Blue Demons square off with Penn State on Friday at 6:30 p.m. before taking part in a double-header on Saturday starting with Eastern Illinois at 10:30 a.m. and concluding with East Carolina at 1 p.m. DePaul will not be facing UIC.
The Blue Demons come into the classic at a 2-7 mark after falling in all three matches at the Evansville Invitational last weekend. DePaul was swept in its opener by IUPUI on Friday before losing a pair of four-set matches to Evansville and Central Michigan on Saturday.
DePaul was led by All-Tournament Team selections Saige Gallop and Randi Leath. Gallop totaled 45 kills throughout the weekend, reaching double figures in all three matches en route to being named to her third straight All-Tournament Team. Leath was a menace at the net, slamming home 14 kills and picking up 11 blocks in all three matches.
Colleen Smith picked up a pair of double-doubles over the weekend as the junior setter now has four on the young season. Smith tallied 41 assists and 11 digs against Evansville and closed out the tournament with a performance of 23 assists and 11 digs versus Central Michigan.
As a team, DePaul landed its second-most kills of the season with 55 in the duel with Evansville. The Blue Demons also reached double figures with 11 total team blocks against IUPUI, marking the fifth time the team has accomplished the feat. DePaul's 126 assists were its second-highest tournament total of the season.
Series Histories
The Blue Demons have dueled with Eastern Illinois 22 times in program history. The Panthers hold a 16-6 edge in the series, despite DePaul winning last year's matchup in Des Moines. The Blue Demons have fared well against East Carolina, holding a 5-1 advantage in program history. The latest game occured in 2004 with the Pirates taking a five-set victory. Penn State won the only meeting with DePaul in 2012 with the Nittany Lions claiming a three-set sweep.
Scouting The Nittany Lions
Last year's national champions roar into their own tournament with an 8-1 record and the No. 3 national ranking. Of the team's nine matches, only two have made it past the third set, with Penn State sweeping seven of its opponents. Senior setter Micha Hancock leads the team with 347 assists and service aces with 27. Middle hitter Nia Grant has a team-high .513 attacking precentage which ranks fourth in the country.
Scouting The Panthers
Eastern Illinois flies into Pennsylvania having finished in second in two of its three non-conference tournaments. Outside hitter Abby Saalfrank leads the team with 130 kills and ranks second with 104 digs. Setter Marah Bradbury has dished out a team-high 363 assists.
Scouting The Pirates
East Carolina rolls into the weekend without a blemish on their record at 4-0. The Pirates are led on the attack by outside hitters Sydney Darden and Ashton Mares with 44 and 33 kills, respectively. Defensively, Darden has a team-high 40 digs.
