DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Valparaiso
DPU Takes On Chippewa Invitational
8/29/2018 4:11:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
DePaul @ Chippewa Invitational | Friday, Aug. 31- Saturday, Sept. 1 | McGuirk Arena
CHICAGO – The DePaul volleyball team will depart for Michigan to compete in the Chippewa Invitational, featuring non-conference foes Valparaiso, Central Michigan and La Salle. DePaul (1-1, 0-0 BIG EAST) will lead off the tournament on Friday, Aug. 31 with a 9 a.m. match against Valparaiso. Later that evening, DPU will face host Central Michigan in a 6:30 p.m. match. The Blue Demons will wrap up the invitational on Saturday, Sept. 1 with a noon match against La Salle.
Last weekend, the DePaul volleyball team experienced a weekend of firsts, tallying their first win in the first match of the season. The win also accounted for head coach, Marie Zidek's first career win, which happened to be against her alma mater and tournament host, NIU. At the Northern Illinois Invitational, DPU topped Northern Illinois in an intense five-set battle, 3-2 (25-22, 14-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13). DePaul went on to get swept by Oklahoma for the final match of the tournament.
Junior Claire Anderson and sophomore Isabell De La Rosa were named to the NIU Invitational All-Tournament Team after putting up an impressive performance over the weekend. Anderson put up her first double-double in DePaul's win over NIU with 13 kills and 16 digs. On Friday, Anderson led the team in points (16) and total blocks (2). De La Rosa would garner the highest hitting percentage of the night, hitting a .636.
"This tournament offers us the opportunity to improve upon last weekend's matches," said head coach, Marie Zidek. "We have been practicing hard and making adjustments to how we play certain situations on offense and defense in addition to working on our competitive mentality.
"All three of our opponents this weekend play very different styles of volleyball from each other so it presents a unique opportunity to apply what we have worked on in practice in terms of decision making in pressurized situations.
"Playing on the road only makes you a better competitor as well, so we are looking forward to continuing our growth together as a team."
Last Time vs. Valparaiso
The Blue Demons and Crusaders last met in 2011 for the first match of the DePaul Invitational, where DPU battled late but came up short against Valpo in three sets (14-25, 8-25, 20-25).
Scouting The Crusaders
The Crusaders began the 2018 season last weekend at the EIU Panther Invitational where they fell 3-2 in their season-opener against Fresno State. Later on day one, VPU bounced back and won 3-1 over St. Francis. On day two, Valparaiso took both of their matches after sweeping Iona in straight sets (25-19, 27-25, 25-8) and then taking down host EIU 3-1 (25-20, 20-25, 25-20, 25-13) to make them 3-1 on the season.
The Crusaders finished the 2017 season with a 17-16 overall record after falling to Illinois State, 3-1 (23-15, 25-15, 25-23, 25-19). Coming off of a fifth place finish in the MVC last season, Valpo returns five starters, their libero and 11 returning letterwinners, including Crusader sophomore Rylee Cookerly, who was one of just ten freshmen nationwide to be honored as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Midwest Region Freshman of the Year. Cookerly recorded 686 digs on the 2017 season – a new Valpo freshman record and the fourth-most overall in a single season in program history. Her average of 5.86 digs/set ranked ninth nationally and topped all Division I freshmen, as Cookerly was one of just two rookies to rank among the top-25 in the nation in digs.
The Crusaders led the country in digs/set in the 2017 season, with their average of 20.03 digs/set being the second-highest single-season average by a Division I team since the move to 25-point scoring prior to the 2008 campaign.
Last Time vs. Central Michigan
The Blue Demons and Chippewas last met in 2014 when DePaul ended the Evansville Invitational with a four-set loss (25-21, 25-21, 20-25, 25-17) to Central Michigan, marking CMU's first program win against DPU.
Scouting The Chippewas
Last season, the second season under head coach Mike Gawlik, the CMU volleyball program finished above .500 (15-14) and earned a Mid-American Conference Tournament berth. It was the first time the Chippewas have accomplished either feat since 2012. CMU finished third in the MAC West, their best placing since 2009.
Though they started the 2018 season with a victory against Maryland Eastern Shore on the first day of the UIC Invitational, the Chippewas fell in both of their matches on Saturday to conclude the tournament. CMU fell to Bryant, 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-22, 15-11) and then got swept by host Flames (25-23, 25-21, 25-20) to close out the invitational.
The Chippewas take on a youthful appearance in the 2018 season with 12 underclassmen on their 16-player roster, with just two seniors, defensive specialist/ outside hitter Emily Wenglikowski and setter Marissa Grant dotting the roster.
CMU's talent is led by sophomores Kalina Smith, Lyza Meyers and Grace Butler, junior Megan Kern and Wenglikowski. Smith, who was recently named to the Preseason West All-MAC Team, finished fourth on the team in kills last season with 191. Her 2.22 kills/set average ranked second among the Chippewas.
Butler, the CMU setter, averaged 10.53 assists/ set last season, being fifth in the MAC and second among league freshmen. Kern posted a team-best 409 digs.
Last Time vs. La Salle
Saturday will mark the first contest between the Blue Demons and the Explorers.
Scouting The Explorers
After sweeping Morgan State in their season-opening match, the Explorers went on to drop both of their final matches to conclude the Delaware Classic, putting them at a record of 1-2. La Salle was swept by Villanova (25-11, 28-26, 25-21) before falling to Delaware, 3-1 (22-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-23) to cap off the invitational.
The Explorers ended their season 14-16 in 2017 after falling in the conference final against Duquesne (25-22, 18-25, 25-20, 25-20).
La Salle welcomes back senior libero Jensen Sharrits who was recently recognized as Atlantic 10 Volleyball Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Sharrits was named to the All-Tournament team after competing in the Delaware Classic last weekend, where she totaled 68 digs over three matches. She posted a season-high with 31 digs against Delaware and led the team in their 3-0 victory over Morgan State.
Previously, Sharrits was ranked first in digs in the Atlantic 10 with an average of 5.05 digs/set during the 2016 season.
Live Coverage
For this weekend's matches, fans can visit the Central Michigan schedule page for all live coverage, links and more. Full recaps and statistics after each match will be posted to the Women's Volleyball Page.
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