Geoff Schneider

Wildcats Host Rival Redhawks In Home Opener Thursday

Daemen seeking 13th straight win in series vs. RWC

9/29/2021 10:00:00 AM

Match #14
Daemen Wildcats (7-6, 2-0 ECC) vs. Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks (0-11, 0-2 ECC)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 30
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Amherst, N.Y. | Lumsden Gymnasium
Live Stream: Via ECC Sports Network
Live Stats: Via daemenwildcats.com

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. HOME SWEET HOME
After playing 13 straight road and neutral site matches to start the season, Daemen finally plays at the friendly confines of Lumsden Gymnasium on Thursday evening when they host long-time rival Roberts Wesleyan. The Wildcats are 21-9 at home since the start of the 2018 season. They'll enter with a 7-6 overall record this season, and they will look to remain unbeaten in East Coast Conference play.

2. WEEKEND ROUNDUP
The Wildcats posted a 2-1 record on a weekend road trip to Long Island, winning their first two East Coast Conference matches against Queens (3-0) and Molloy (3-0) before dropping a neutral site, non-conference contest vs. Southern Connecticut State (3-1). Senior Sam Logan and junior Maggie Burns paced the Daemen offense on the trip. Logan averaged 3.78 kills per set for the weekend and posted a career-high 18 kills in the loss to SCSU. Burns contributed 3.44 kills per set and posted a season-high 16 kills against SCSU. The match against Molloy featured teams that were picked first (Molloy) and second (Daemen) in the ECC preseason coaches' poll. It was Daemen's first win over the Lions since 2018.

3. JAS-ERCISE
Sophomore defensive specialist Jasmine Brundage earned ECC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third time in four weeks this season. The Western New York native averaged 4.22 digs per set across three matches. She was especially important in Sunday's doubleheader, totaling 13 digs in the win over Molloy and 19 more in the loss to SCSU. Brundage has appeared in 49 of a possible 50 sets this season, and she leads the ECC in total digs (195) and digs per set (3.98).

4. THRUWAY RIVALRY DOMINANCE
The rivalry between Daemen and Roberts Wesleyan dates back to 1997, but it has been all Wildcats of late. Daemen has won 12 straight meetings, a span that dates back to 2015, posting a 36-4 mark in sets during the run. RWC's last win - and their last win at Lumsden Gymnasium - came on Oct. 15, 2014.

5. UP NEXT
Daemen's three-match homestand continues Saturday when the Wildcats host St. Rose for a non-conference match beginning at 3 p.m. Lumsden Gymnasium will also serve as the site for St. Rose vs. D'Youville at 1 p.m.

ROBERTS WESLEYAN REDHAWKS SCOUTING REPORT
Roberts Wesleyan is a member of the East Coast Conference, and the Redhawks are led by head coach Doug Porterfield who is in his seventh season with the program. Eleven players return to a roster that also includes five freshmen. The Redhawks posted a 2-2 record in the shortened 2020 season played last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic, but are still searching for their first victory this fall. The've dropped 12 straight matches dating back to last season, including home setbacks this past weekend to Bridgeport (3-0) and Mercy (3-1) in their ECC openers. Freshman Teagan Weber has made an immediate impact defensively. She's averaging 3.54 digs per set, good for fourth among the ECC leaders. Freshman Sydney Yanak has paced the RWC offense thus far, averaging 2.24 kills per set.

ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. ROBERTS WESLEYAN
Series Record: Daemen leads 31-20
At Daemen: Daemen leads 15-9
Current Streak: Daemen won 12
Last Meeting: Daemen 3, Roberts Wesleyan 0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-20) | April 23, 2021 | at Amherst, N.Y.

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