Amelia Armstrong and Nahirka Malpica high five

Geoff Schneider

Wildcats Host Gannon, Travel To Roberts Wesleyan In Midweek Matchups

10/14/2024 1:21:00 PM

By: CONTACT: Mary Margaret Johnson, Assistant Athletics Communications Director | mmjohnso@daemen.edu

BACK AT IT
The Daemen University women's volleyball team is set to play two matches this week, first hosting Atlantic Region powerhouse Gannon University in a non-conference match on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Lumsden Gymnasium then wrapping up the first half of East Coast Conference play on the road at Roberts Wesleyan University on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The Wildcats sit at 11-5 overall and 3-2 in ECC play. The Golden Knights are 12-5 on the year and 5-0 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matches, while the Redhawks are 10-6 overall and 2-2 in ECC play.

LAST WEEK
The Wildcats were 1-1 at home last week, first dropping their second conference match of the year in a five-set thriller to D'Youville, 2-3, on Thursday night. Coming in with a 10-0 all-time record over the Saints, it marked the first time that the Wildcats ever lost to D'Youville in program history. Daemen rebounded on Friday with a 3-0 sweep over Wilmington University in a non-conference match to get back on track and move to 11-5 on the season. Graduate student right side Giselle Giraud (Orlando, Fla.) led the Wildcats offensively over the two matches, totaling 25 kills (3.125 kills/set) on 65 attacks. The graduate student added seven digs, three aces, two blocks and two assists on the week. Giraud led the Wildcats with 14 kills and three errors on 35 attacks for a .314 hitting percentage against D'Youville. Junior outside hitter Nahirka Malpica (Caguas, P.R.) added 22 kills and 18 digs on the week along with five aces, while senior middle hitter Amelia Armstrong (River Falls, Wisc.) totaled 20 kills on 38 attacks for a team-high .467 hitting percentage.

IMPACT FRESHMEN
Four Wildcat freshmen have seen significant playing time this season. Right side Payton Gaylor (Bowmanville, Ont.) has played in 14 of Daemen's 16 matches and totaled 55 kills, 14 blocks and 20 digs for the Wildcats. She posted a career-high nine kills on 16 attacks for a .375 hitting percentage against D'Youville last Thursday as well as four block assists on the day. Outside hitter Avery Craig (Tomball, Tex.) has appeared in 10 matches and started three and has totaled 45 digs, 27 kills, six blocks and six aces. Craig posted a season-high 18 digs in Daemen's 3-0 win over Wilmington on Friday. Outside hitter Olivia Urbon (Chicago, Ill.) has played in 14 matches and started in two and has totaled 19 kills, 14 aces, 46 digs and three blocks on the year. Urbon tallied a season-high 16 digs and six kills on Sept. 29 against St. Thomas Aquinas. Middle hitter Vera Tops (Senigallia, Italy) has started two matches and played in five on the year and has nine blocks, five kills and 12 digs this season.

UP NEXT
Daemen begins the second half of ECC play next weekend, traveling across town on Thursday, Oct. 24 for a rematch against D'Youville at 6 PM.

THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
After going 27-5 and advancing to the Atlantic Regional semifinals in 2023, Gannon is back with another solid start to the season this year. The Golden Knights are 12-5 overall and began PSAC West play with a perfect 5-0 record and come into Tuesday's match on a five game win streak. Gannon is averaging 12.7 kills per set and have four players with triple-digit kills this season. They are led by 2023 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention senior right side Hailey Koch who has 181 total kills (2.87 kills/set) and 41 blocks. 2023 AVCA All-America Third Team senior outside hitter Journey Blevins has appeared in 11 of Gannon's 17 matches but leads the team with 3.67 kills/set (154 total) along with 72 digs and 22 blocks. 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker Ali Sorenson leads the team at the net with 84 blocks and ranks second on the team with 158 kills (2.47 kills/set).

SERIES HISTORY
In the 17 matches between Gannon and Daemen dating back to 1998, the Wildcats won just one game. Gannon has won 16 straight matches against Daemen, including last season's nailbiter five-set match on Oct. 18.

THE REDHAWKS
Roberts Wesleyan has put together their best season since 2014, opening the year with a 10-6 overall record and kicking off ECC play at 2-2. Ranking third in the conference in points, hitting percentage, kills, blocks, opponent hitting percentage, and second in digs, the Redhawks average 12.2 kills per set and are led offensively by 5-foot-9 senior outside hitter Sydney Yanak with 191 kills (2.98 kills/set ranks fifth in the ECC). 6-foot junior outside hitter Olivia Price ranks second on the team with 188 kills (2.94 kills/set is seventh in the league). Junior setter Caleigh Schroeder ranks second in the ECC with 9.75 assists/set and leads all players in the conference with 0.64 aces per set, totaling 41 on the year. 6-foot senior middle Celine Malosa leads the league with 0.98 blocks/set (40 total).

SERIES HISTORY
The Wildcats and Redhawks are longtime rivals and have played 57 times throughout the history of this matchup. Daemen owns a 37-20 record over Roberts Wesleyan and has won the last 18 meetings.

Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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