The UConn women’s volleyball team is unstoppable. The Huskies are off to a 12-0 undefeated start, completely clearing their non-conference slate and making history with their best start in program history. Let’s take a deeper dive into the players that are doing so well for the Huskies that just keep on winning.
#12 Emma Werkmeister
Junior Emma Werkmeister is leading the team in kills with 170. The outside hitter is the anchor to the Huskies entire offense. She is ranked second in the Big East conference with 3.95 kills per set, ranks first in the nation in service aces per set with .79 and ranks second in the nation in total aces with 34, despite missing a match last Saturday. Against Brown last Saturday, Werkmeister had seven aces in the Huskies sweep, which is the most for any Big East player this season. The junior has emerged to be one of the most reliable and valuable players for the Huskies, and the possibilities are endless for how high Werkmeister can go.
“She’s been doing a great job thus far and I continue to think that she’s going be put in really good role and be in a really great space from here on out,” said head coach Ellen Herman-Kimball on Emma Werkmeister after one of their wins at home.
#11 Doga Kutlu
Doga Kutlu was named to the Big East honor roll this week. Last weekend, she averaged 9.90 assists and 3.10 digs per set as the Huskies cruised through a 3-0 weekend to conclude their non-conference play. The senior was the assists leader in all three matches of last weekend, logging 41 against New Hampshire (3-1), 29 against Brown (3-0) and 29 in their win over Central Connecticut State (3-0).
#13 Taylor Pannell
Graduate student Taylor Pannell is second on the Huskies offense with 106 kills. Pannell is fourth in the Big East conference in hitting percentage with a .366 average. She was also named to the Holly Young Invitational All-Tournament Team in New Hampshire as she had 22 kills on the weekend and rattled off four consecutive points in a row against Brown last Friday.
#18 Hanna Tyska
Last weekend, junior Hanna Tyska was named tournament MVP after her 33 kills, seven digs and four aces, all in the sweep over Central Connecticut State. Tyska averaged 3.3 kills per set, and she has made herself standout as having a larger role on the Huskies offense.
Some other names that have been standouts for the Huskies are junior Brenna Wyman and freshman Loren Winn, but one thing about this team is that it is filled with depth.
The Huskies have been on a roll and it will continue when they start their Big East slate this weekend on the road against Marquette and No. 6 Creighton.