BALTIMORE, Md. – Coppin State volleyball will participate in the Hampton Inn-vitational Tournament this weekend which is being hosted in Smithfield, Rhode Island by Bryant University. The Lady Eagles will square off with Quinnipiac, Friday night at 7 p.m., before facing the host Bulldogs at 12 p.m., and Middle Tennessee at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
What You Need to Know
- Live Stats: https://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/wvball/2018-19/boxscores/20180908_dryb.xml
- Television: http://necfrontrow.com/webcast.php/BRY-5555/ (Match vs. Bryant only)
- Radio: N/A
- Records: Coppin State 2-7 (0-0 MEAC), Quinnipiac 0-7 (0-0 MAAC), Bryant 4-4 (0-0 NEC), Middle Tennessee 1-5 (0-0 C-USA)
- Location: Smithfield, RI – Chace Athletic and Wellness Center
Scouting the Quinnipiac Bobcats
- Quinnipiac has not broken into the win column yet in 2018 and have only won two sets in the seven games played so far.
- QU currently places third in the MAAC with 42 total blocks.
- Gabby Horman has been denying a lot of attacks for the Bobcats this season as she currently resides at second in blocks per set (1.10) and total blocks (23) in the MAAC.
- Senior Kat Miller is lethal with her serves, as she leads the conference in total aces (11) and is second in aces per set (0.48).
- The Bobcats get most of its assists from Maria Pansari, who rounds out the top three in the MAAC with 179 assists on the season.
Scouting the Bryant Bulldogs
- Bryant has played .500 ball in the early going but have lost three of its last four matches.
- The Bulldogs have excelled in a few key areas as it holds a top-10 national ranking in assists (3rd), kills (4th), total attacks (6th), and service aces (7th), while finishing within the top-15 in digs (15th).
- NEC Rookie of the Week Caroline Kennedy has been a standout performer for BU this year, as she currently places 17th in points, 20th in kills and 25th in total attacks in the NCAA.
- Northeast Conference reigning Setter of the Year and All-NEC first-teamer Kirstyn Sperry has been a dual threat once again for the Bulldogs, as she is a top-20 performer in the country with 15 service aces and 280 assists already in 2018.
Scouting the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
- Middle Tennessee has unable to find consistency in the opening stretch, with its only win coming against Robert Morris, in comparison to five losses.
- MTSU has been able to put pressure on its opponents with regularity, as it has averaged 36.77 attacks per set, which is good for third in Conference USA.
- The Blue Raiders have a solid pair of playmakers in Sarah Sumida and Brienna Tankesley, who both place fifth within the conference in assists per set (9.62) and digs per set (4.32), respectively.
Coppin Contributors
- Coppin State is leading the MEAC in service aces with 49.
- Freshman Libero/Defensive Specialist Rebekka Hauri has shown her offensive prowess so far, as she ranks third in the conference with 10 aces on the year, placing her at 73rd nationally.
- Brianna Lang has been consistent, leading the team in assists every game and currently residing in third place for total assists in the MEAC with 199.
