Friday, November 19
Chicago, Ill.
7:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
vs
Villanova
Blue Demons Host Villanova, Georgetown for Regular Season Finale
11/18/2021 5:30:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Blue Demons to honor six seniors prior to Saturday's match with the Hoyas
CHICAGO – DePaul women's volleyball will host Villanova and Georgetown for its final regular season matches of the 2021 slate on Friday and Saturday evening.
First serve on Friday is set for 7 p.m. from McGrath-Phillips Arena while Saturday's match against the Hoyas will begin at 6 p.m. Both matches will stream on FloSports with Peter Ferreri on the call for both matchups. Live stats can be found on DePaulBlueDemons.com.
Prior to Saturday's match, DePaul will honor its six seniors for their contributions to the program throughout the years, including Allison Dennemann, Molly Murrihy, Meredith Wallace, Mireya Garcia, Emma Price and Donna Brown.
Postseason Bound: DePaul punched its ticket to the 2021 BIG EAST Championship last Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 victory over Xavier. The Blue Demons qualified for the postseason tournament for the first time in program history since joining the league in 2005. The 17 wins thus far for the Blue Demons are the most in a single season since the 2001 NCAA Tournament team won 24 matches.
Demon Doings; The Blue Demons enter the weekend riding a four-match win streak and are winners of five of their last six matches. DePaul sits at 17-11 on the season and 10-6 in BIG EAST play.
DePaul is led by a committee of offensive attackers led by Jill Pressly (3.41 kills per set), Emma Price (2.43 kps) and Hanna Karl (2.38 kps).
Donna Brown chips in 2.14 kills per set at an extremely efficient clip of .331 while leading the Blue Demons in blocks at .94 per set.
Setters Ashely Cudiamat, Molly Murrihy and Phoenix Lee have all shared time leading the 6-2 offense with Cudiamat averaging 5.36 assists per set and Murrihy and Lee dishing out 4.86 and 4.68 respectively.
Rachel Krasowski, reigning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, anchors the back line with 4.77 digs per set which is good for third in the conference.
DePaul ranks third in the conference in kills per set (13.59) and digs per set (16.21)
Rising in the RPI: DePaul moved up five spots in the RPI to a season-high 56 after picking up two victories last week. The Blue Demons are one of four BIG EAST teams in the top-100 with Creighton leading the way at 12 and Marquette at 14. UConn checked in at 69. The Blue Demons began the season at 109.
Scouting Villanova: Villanova heads into Friday's matchup at 15-13 and 7-9 in conference matches. The Wildcats last lost to nationally ranked Creighton last weekend and have dropped three of their last four. Belle Morgan directs the offense for the Wildcats with 9.95 assists per set while Riley Homer boasts a heavy swing with 3.34 kills per set, good for sixth in the conference. VU is 4-5 away from hoe this season
Scouting Georgetown: The Hoyas enter the weekend 7-20 on the season and 3-13 in BIG EAST action. Georgetown is coming off of a 3-1 win over Providence in four-sets last Saturday. Peyton Wilhilte provides the offense for GU with 146 kills in BIG EAST play while Giselle Williams chips in 2.78 kills per set. Lilly Costigan controls the offense with 8.25 assists per set in conference matches.
Series Stuff: The Blue Demons will go for the season sweep against both the Wildcats and Hoyas. Villanova leads the all-time series 20-4 despite the Blue Demons picking up victories in the previous two meetings. Georgetown holds the overall series 15-12, with DePaul winning the last two meetings.
Weekly Honors: Rachel Krasowski was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after leading the conference in digs last weekend. Krasowski totaled 55 digs (6.88 digs per set) across wins over Butler and Xavier. Monday marked the second time this season the sophomore was named Defensive Player of the Week in the league. Teammate Hanna Karl earned the first Honor Roll selection in her career after posting a pair of double doubles in two key victories. The sophomore outside hitter recorded an average of 4.25 kills per set at a .341 clip to go along with 2.63 digs per set.
From Head Coach Marie Zidek: "Villanova and Georgetown was how we started this journey and they are how we will end the regular season. Both have high motors in transition and are stubborn defensively. It should be a fun weekend getting pushed offensively."
Up Next: DePaul is set to face either No. 21 Creighton or Marquette in the Semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep on Friday, November 26 at the Al McGuire Center. The action can be seen on the BIG EAST Digital Network on FloSports with first serve time set for 3 p.m. CT.
First serve on Friday is set for 7 p.m. from McGrath-Phillips Arena while Saturday's match against the Hoyas will begin at 6 p.m. Both matches will stream on FloSports with Peter Ferreri on the call for both matchups. Live stats can be found on DePaulBlueDemons.com.
Prior to Saturday's match, DePaul will honor its six seniors for their contributions to the program throughout the years, including Allison Dennemann, Molly Murrihy, Meredith Wallace, Mireya Garcia, Emma Price and Donna Brown.
Postseason Bound: DePaul punched its ticket to the 2021 BIG EAST Championship last Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 victory over Xavier. The Blue Demons qualified for the postseason tournament for the first time in program history since joining the league in 2005. The 17 wins thus far for the Blue Demons are the most in a single season since the 2001 NCAA Tournament team won 24 matches.
Demon Doings; The Blue Demons enter the weekend riding a four-match win streak and are winners of five of their last six matches. DePaul sits at 17-11 on the season and 10-6 in BIG EAST play.
DePaul is led by a committee of offensive attackers led by Jill Pressly (3.41 kills per set), Emma Price (2.43 kps) and Hanna Karl (2.38 kps).
Donna Brown chips in 2.14 kills per set at an extremely efficient clip of .331 while leading the Blue Demons in blocks at .94 per set.
Setters Ashely Cudiamat, Molly Murrihy and Phoenix Lee have all shared time leading the 6-2 offense with Cudiamat averaging 5.36 assists per set and Murrihy and Lee dishing out 4.86 and 4.68 respectively.
Rachel Krasowski, reigning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, anchors the back line with 4.77 digs per set which is good for third in the conference.
DePaul ranks third in the conference in kills per set (13.59) and digs per set (16.21)
Rising in the RPI: DePaul moved up five spots in the RPI to a season-high 56 after picking up two victories last week. The Blue Demons are one of four BIG EAST teams in the top-100 with Creighton leading the way at 12 and Marquette at 14. UConn checked in at 69. The Blue Demons began the season at 109.
Scouting Villanova: Villanova heads into Friday's matchup at 15-13 and 7-9 in conference matches. The Wildcats last lost to nationally ranked Creighton last weekend and have dropped three of their last four. Belle Morgan directs the offense for the Wildcats with 9.95 assists per set while Riley Homer boasts a heavy swing with 3.34 kills per set, good for sixth in the conference. VU is 4-5 away from hoe this season
Scouting Georgetown: The Hoyas enter the weekend 7-20 on the season and 3-13 in BIG EAST action. Georgetown is coming off of a 3-1 win over Providence in four-sets last Saturday. Peyton Wilhilte provides the offense for GU with 146 kills in BIG EAST play while Giselle Williams chips in 2.78 kills per set. Lilly Costigan controls the offense with 8.25 assists per set in conference matches.
Series Stuff: The Blue Demons will go for the season sweep against both the Wildcats and Hoyas. Villanova leads the all-time series 20-4 despite the Blue Demons picking up victories in the previous two meetings. Georgetown holds the overall series 15-12, with DePaul winning the last two meetings.
Weekly Honors: Rachel Krasowski was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after leading the conference in digs last weekend. Krasowski totaled 55 digs (6.88 digs per set) across wins over Butler and Xavier. Monday marked the second time this season the sophomore was named Defensive Player of the Week in the league. Teammate Hanna Karl earned the first Honor Roll selection in her career after posting a pair of double doubles in two key victories. The sophomore outside hitter recorded an average of 4.25 kills per set at a .341 clip to go along with 2.63 digs per set.
From Head Coach Marie Zidek: "Villanova and Georgetown was how we started this journey and they are how we will end the regular season. Both have high motors in transition and are stubborn defensively. It should be a fun weekend getting pushed offensively."
Up Next: DePaul is set to face either No. 21 Creighton or Marquette in the Semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep on Friday, November 26 at the Al McGuire Center. The action can be seen on the BIG EAST Digital Network on FloSports with first serve time set for 3 p.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
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