DePaul Volleyball Opens NIVC Play Against Southern Illinois
11/28/2023 12:38:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Blue Demons taste postseason for first time in over twenty years
CHICAGO - DePaul volleyball opens up play in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The Blue Demons will take on the Southern Illinois Salukis in the first round matchup on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Des Moines, Iowa. Coverage of the matchup can be found on ESPN+.Â
This matchup marks DePaul volleyball's first postseason appearance in over 20 years. The last time the Blue Demons tasted December volleyball was in 2001, when the team won the Conference USA Tournament and took the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.Â
"Post season is when you get the chance to represent your program and your conference when it matters the most," said head coach Marie Zidek. "There are teams that have much more experience than us here, so we will have to fight and claw our way to points and try to learn as we go. Play must be very sharp and desire must be at an all time high. This team has physically prepared for this moment throughout 2023 and now has a chance to mentally and emotionally show they can also attack this opportunity. Only 86 teams total out of 344 Division I teams are playing volleyball this week, so it is a tremendous privilege to be one of them. We hope to make DePaul proud."
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
- Southern Illinois concluded the 2023 season with a final record of 20-11 (11-7 Missouri Valley).Â
- The Salukis went on an eight match win streak, including their 3-0 win over Belmont in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship.Â
- Nataly Garcia leads the team in kills per set, averaging 3.60, which is good for seventh in the conference. Garcia also ranks second in service aces with 0.46 per set.
- Imani Hartfield finished third in the Missouri Valley in hitting percentage (.352) on 220 kills.
- Ed Allen is in his fifth season leading the Salukis.
SERIES STUFF
The Blue Demons lead the all-time series, 8-7. The two schools have not met for a matchup since 1991.
BLUE DEMON BITS
- DePaul wrapped up the season with a record of 17-14 (9-9 BIG EAST) and earned their first-ever win in the BIG EAST Tournament.
- Senior Jill Pressly was named to the All-BIG EAST Tournament Team as she totaled 32 kills in the tou, including 24 against Xavier, 17 digs, two service aces and a block.
- Pressly was also a unanimous choice to the All-BIG EAST Team. The Plano, Texas native continues to lead the conference in kills per set (4.57), which is good for top-30 in the nation.Â
- Senior libero Rachel Krasowski averages 5.02 digs per set, which continues to lead the conference and ranks 27th nationally. Krasowski was tabbed to the All-BIG EAST Team for the first time in her career last week.
- Maggie Jones and Ashley Cudiamat sit in sixth and seventh in assists per set, respectively. Jones is dishing out 5.29 assists per set, while Cudiamat is averaging 5.14 assists per set.Â
UP NEXT
The winner of Wednesday's matchup will take on the winner of the Chicago State-Drake. The second round match is set for Thursday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. CT.Â
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Volleyball, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
