Middle blocker Hayley Cmajdalka (14) and outside hitter Camille Evans (9) attempt to block a shot during the team’s 3-2 loss to Temple University on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 in Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies will look for revenge as they take on the Owls Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Temple University. (Sam Mahmud/The Daily Campus)
UConn women’s volleyball will be looking to snap a four game loss streak as they travel to take on Temple. The Huskies will hope to avenge their previous five-set loss to the Owls that took place at Gampel Pavilion on Sept. 28.
UConn (13-8, 4-6 conference) lost their last two games against Eastern Carolina University and Cincinnati this past weekend and hope to take down Temple (14-6, 7-3 conference), the number four team in the American Athletic Conference in order to turn their season around.
Temple has shown itself to be a powerhouse in the conference, with a large number of great players who have proven themselves compared to the other players in the conference. Irem Asci sits second in the American in terms of kills, with 342 on the season at an average of 4.79 kills per set. Kirsten Overton provides more support with a .365 hitting percentage that also ranks second in the conference. Temple assist leader Kyra Coundourides ranks second and third in the conference for assists and service aces, respectively. Coundourides has averaged 10.48 assists per set and has 27 service aces on the season.
As a team, Temple ranks below third in the conference for only digs. They are number two in the American for blocks and service aces, and number three for hitting percentage, kills and assists. The team has recorded 13.54 kills per set, 12.7 assists per set and a .243 hitting percentage across the team.
UConn, on the other hand, has started to slip in terms of their statistics over their last four losses. While they were previously ranked first in hitting percentage as a team, the team has slipped to fourth with a .239 hitting percentage. Despite a fall in some statistics, the team has still managed to hold onto their number one ranking for assists and kills, averaging 13.37 assists per set and 14.32 kills per set.
Although the team as a whole has slipped in hitting percentage, Tosin Adeniyi continues to lead the conference with a .372 rating. Hayley Cmajdalka ranks fifth in the conference with a .345 hitting percentage, however not a single other UConn player ranks in the top five for any other category.
UConn’s game at 5 p.m. on Wednesday will take place in McGonigle Hall at Temple. The Huskies will follow this performance with a game 12 p.m. this Sunday when they host Memphis at Gampel Pavilion.
Joe Burns is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at joseph.burns@uconn.edu.
