DePaul University
Buffalo
DePaul Continues Road Swing at WNY Invite
8/30/2023 4:47:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Blue Demons prepare for three-match weekend
CHICAGO - DePaul volleyball continues the 2023 campaign at the WNY Invite in Buffalo, N.Y. on Aug. 31-Sept. 2. The Blue Demons open competition against the host Buffalo Bulls on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. CT, followed by a match-up against the Binghamton Bearcats on Friday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. CT. DePaul will conclude the trip against Montana on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. CT. All matches will be streamed on YouTube.
"Buffalo, Binghamton, and Montana are all key opportunities to test if our dig to transition can improve and if our team can continue to build our offense from last weekend," said head coach Marie Zidek. "We look forward to the test!"
SCOUTING THE BULLS
- Buffalo sits at 3-0 after sweeping the competition at the UAB Invite, earning wins over Austin Peay, Florida A&M and the host UAB.
- Katrin Trebichavska leads in the early season with 33 kills (3.3 kills per set).
- Mandy Leigh and Courtney Okwara were named to the 2023 Preseason East Division All-MAC Team. During the 2022 season, Leigh ranked 52nd in the country in total assists (52) and Okwara owned a .420 kill percentage.
- The Bulls finished the 2022 season with a 19-14 (10-8 MAC) record and made a postseason appearance in the NIVC.
- Scott Smith is in his fifth season leading the Bulls.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
- Binghamton enters the WNY Invite with a 3-0 record, recording wins over Merrimack, Duquesne and Saint Peter's last weekend.
- Tsvetelina Ileva (32 kills) and Ella Schabort (31 kills) lead the squad after the first weekend of play.
- The Bearcats were picked to finish second in the America East Coaches' Preseason Poll.
- During the 2022 season, the Bearcats finished with a 17-9 (8-2 AE) record. The won the first regular season title in program history and led the conference in hitting percentage (.246) and blocks per set (2.60)
- Tsvetelina Ilieva was named an AVCA All-American, the first in program history, and was the America East Player of the Year. Ilieva tallied six double-doubles and 3.73 kills per set.
- Allie Yeager is in her second season at Binghamton and earned the 2022 America East Coaching Staff of the Year award.
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
- Montana comes into the tournament at 0-3, after dropping matches to UTRGV, No. 5 Pitt and No. 17 BYU.
- In the early season, the squad is led by Paige Clark with 26 kills and Alexis Batezel with 31 digs.
- The Grizzlies finished 2022 with a 17-12 record, their best record since 1999.
- Paige Clark was named to the 2022 All-Big Sky First Team averaging 3.87 kills per set. Carly Anderson was a 2022 Big Sky Second Team selection after ending the season with 2,618 career sets, eighth in program history.
- Head Coach Allison Lawrence is going into her eighth season at the helm of the Grizzlies. Lawrence was named the 2022 Big Sky Coach of the Year.
SERIES STUFF
This will be the first time that the Blue Demons meet all three teams.Â
BLUE DEMON BITS
- Rachel Krasowski leads the Blue Demons in the early season. The senior tallied 31 digs throughout two matches during the first weekend of play and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Cardinal & Gold Challenge. Krasowski ranked second in the BIG EAST during the 2022 season with 582 (4.97 digs/set) during the 2022 season, the most in a single season in program history.
- DePaul returns 13 letterwinners from the 2022 team and welcomes four newcomers to Lincoln Park. Of the four newcomers, there are three freshmen and one graduate transfer.Â
- Senior Jill Pressly was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team for the second consecutive season after leading the attack last season for the Blue Demons with 4.03 kills per set.Â
- Head Coach Marie Zidek enters her sixth season leading the Blue Demons.
UP NEXT
The Blue Demons will open their home slate with the DePaul Invite from Sept. 7-9. Northern Illinois, St. Thomas (Minn.) and Evansville will be in attendance. DePaul will open action against Northern Illinois on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.Â
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONSÂ
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.Â
2023 TICKET INFORMATION
Season ticket packages for the 2023 DePaul Volleyball season are available now. Season ticket packages start at just $39 and for a limited time includes an exclusive DePaul flag. Courtside season ticket options are also available for $79. Single-game tickets and Group Ticket Offers are also available and start at $5. Fans can visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets for more information.
