Rockets Open MAC Volleyball Season This Weekend
9/20/1999 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 20, 1999
TOLEDO, OH - The University of Toledo women's volleyball team (3-7) opens its 1999 Mid-American Conference campaign this week with a pair of road matches. The Rockets will travel to Ypsilanti, MI on Friday, Sept. 24 for a matchup versus Eastern Michigan at the Eagles' Convocation Center (8,824). On Saturday, Sept. 25, UT will be in Mt. Pleasant, MI to take on Central Michigan at Rose Arena (5,200). Each match is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. starting time.
UT HEAD COACH KENT MILLER
Head Coach Kent Miller possesses a 23-49 (.319) in three seasons as the Rockets' mentor. An assistant coach with the USA Women's Olympic Volleyball Team for 10 years (1987-1996), he guided the Rockets to their most wins (17) in 14 years in his first season at UT.
RECAPPING WRIGHT STATE'S RAIDER CHALLENGE
The Rockets won their first three matches of the 1999 campaign at the Raider Challenge and in the process equalled their win total from last season. UT had an opportunity to capture the tournament title, but fell to the host Raiders in its final match Saturday evening by a 3-0 margin (15-12, 15-9, 15-12). The Rockets were forced to play shorthanded against WSU after freshman Becky Radomski (Tustin, CA - Foothill) sprained her ankle in a 3-0 win over Oakland Saturday afternoon. The 5-9 outside hitter, who was the Rockets' top offensive threat in the tournament with 3.75 kills per game and a .375 attack percentage, still earned all-tournament team honors despite sitting out UT's final match. UT opened played Friday with a pair of three-game victories over Sacred Heart (15-2, 15-3, 15-8) and Chicago State (15-3, 15-1, 15-2). Radomski led the Rockets offensively by registering a team-high 10 kills in each win. The Rockets began Saturday's action with a 3-0 (15-8, 15-12, 15-7) victory over Oakland University. Senior middle blocker Cori Begle (Ferdinand, IN - Forest Park) registered a team-high 14 kills and a .550 attack percentage for the Rockets. Freshman middle blocker Jessica Buck (Northwood, OH - Northwood) led UT with five blocks, while freshmen outside hitters Bitsy Mayhle (Houghton, NY - Houghton) and sophomore outside hitter Amanda Rogers (Holland, OH - Springfield) shared the team lead with 13 digs. WSU finished with a perfect 4-0 mark to win the tournament title.
TRIO OF NEWCOMERS STEPPING TO FOREFRONT
The Rockets continue to receive significant contributions from their freshman trio of outside hitters Bitsy Mayhle and Becky Radomski along with middle blocker Jessica Buck. Radomski took charge last weekend by leading the team in kills per game (3.75) and earning all-tournament team honors. Mayhle leads UT with 93 digs (2.91/game) and shares the team lead in service aces (13) with Radomski. Buck ranks second on the team in blocks (17/0.61 per game) and posted a .277 attack percentage at the Raider Challenge. In addition, Radomski (2.48), Buck (2.46) and Mayhle (2.19) are three of four Rockets averaging more than two kills per game.
ROCKETS TAKING ON TOUGH OPPONENTS
Four of the Rockets' first six opponents this year were ranked in last week's AVCA Coaches' Top 25 poll and likely will be listed again this week. The Rockets saw a significant dropoff at last week's Raider Challenge and were able to post their first three wins of the season.
ROCKET ROUNDUP
* Senior middle blocker Cori Begle leads UT in kills (90/2.81 per game) and blocks (21/0.66 per game). She enjoyed a solid performance at the Raider Challenge by registering a .338 attack percentage with 35 kills and just nine errors in 77 attack attempts. * Senior setter Ashley Clark is averaging 10.2 assists per game, nearly two assists per game more than her average from a year ago. Clark also ranks first on the team with a .329 attack percentage and has guided the Rockets to a .146 mark as a team, nearly 50 points better than their attack percentage from a year ago. * The Rockets registered a season-high .420 attack percentage in their 3-0 win over Chicago State Friday. * UT holds a 68-53 advantage in the service ace department after dominating in that department, 31-13, versus its opponents at the Raider Challenge last weekend. * UT has been led in kills by one of their freshman in six of 10 matches this year.
A LOOK AHEAD
The Rockets open their 1999 home season next week on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at Savage Hall with a conference matchup against Marshall followed by a pair of weekend contests against MAC preseason favorites Miami and Ball State on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1-2.
