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VB: Huskies begin defense of Southland regular season title

Picked first in preseason poll, HCU faces daunting stretch of five matches in 10 days



HCU at Nicholls
  • Thursday - 6:30 pm (Stopher Gymnasium - Thibodaux, Louisiana)
  • LIVE STATS 
HCU vs. UIW HCU begins defense of its regular season title, as a pair of matches this week open up a daunting stretch of matches to kick off conference play. The Huskies take to the road for the Southland Conference opener at Nicholls State on Thursday, followed by a Saturday matinee at home with rival Incarnate Word.

The Huskies are coming off a tough non-conference slate that saw them go 5-7. HCU  claimed the Molly Howard-Gerwig Memorial Tournament at home by winning four matches in three days, and most recently knocked off host Tulane in it's own tournament in New Orleans on Saturday. 

After going 14-4 in conference play and winning the league for the first time in school history in 2022, the Huskies were selected first in this year's SLC Preseason Poll.

A solid defense has paved the way for the Huskies thus far, as they rank at the top of the conference leaderboard in several team defensive categories. HCU currently ranks first in both digs and opponent's hitting percentage, while also being second in team blocks.

That effort is highlighted by six players averaging over two digs per game, led by Kaley Feris at a SLC-best 4.28 per game. Alexia Jones and Tatiana Evans chip in 2.77 and 2.67 per respectively. Audrey Pearce is averaging 1.11 blocks per game with 44 total on the season, both of which rank second in the Southland.

Grace McLaughlin is second in the league in assists per game at 8.78, and also adds 2.39 digs on the defensive side. HCU has a quartet of ladies over two kills per on the offensive side of the net, led by Sara Arroyo at 2.72 and Cassidy Drapela at 2.69. Anna Gadway adds 2.47 kills per game while Pearce goes for 2.37.

HCU will face a Nicholls team on Thursday that is currently 2-8. The two teams have faced off 16 times overall, with the Huskies holding a 14-2 lead in the series, including twice beating the Colonels in five last season.

Nicholls is paced by outside hitter Autumn Perry, who averages 2.61 kills, 2.27 digs and 0.39 service aces. Outside hitter Trinity Vinzan adds 2.16 kills and 2.78 digs per while sophomore setter Taylor Heeb tosses up 3.8 assists per game.

The conference home opener on Saturday will feature HCU welcoming long-time rival UIW, as the Huskies return to Sharp Gym for the first time since September 2. The two teams have met 35 times, with the Cardinals holding a slim 18-17 lead after splitting the pair last season.

UIW is off to one of it's best starts in several years at 8-4. Senior outside hitter Allison Palmi leads the offensive charge at 3.09 kills per game, while Kyla Malone, a sophomore outside hitter adds 2.79 and 2.57 digs. Junior setter Natalie Kimmel dishes out 5.9 assists to go with 2.15 digs per game for the Cards.

The two games this week begin a stretch of five matches in 10 days for the Huskies. The three tilts next week include a pair in Sharp Gymnasium, where the Huskies are 4-0 this season and 31-3 overall dating back to 2020. 

#DawgsUp 

 
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