The UConn volleyball team will seek redemption as they hit the road once again, facing Providence on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and returning home to Storrs to take on the Butler Bulldogs on Saturday.
The Huskies will make their way to Providence, RI. To take on the Friars for a second time in their conference run. Last time the two programs faced each other, the Huskies came out victorious, sweeping the Friars in a 3-0 win earlier this month in Storrs, CT. Since facing UConn, the Friars have not improved in their season. They currently stand with a 7-14 overall record and are struggling through a 10-game losing streak, having lost all of their conference games. Though they’ve struggled, the Friars still have many strong players, including, senior Shaliyah Rhoden who leads the team with 229 kills and senior Jiji Lykins who leads in service aces, 19 and digs, 258. The team will also bring a strong defense in senior Kyla Grant, leader in blocks, 73.0.
The Friars are not the only ones struggling lately, as the Huskies are coming off two consecutive losses to Xavier and DePaul last weekend. This marked their third and fourth losses of their season and snapping their six-game win streak. The Huskies will go into this game still without one of their star players, junior Emma Werkmeister, who got injured in the match against the Friars earlier in the season. However, the Huskies will bring plenty of star power, including graduate student Taylor Pannell, who is second in kills with 206. They also have a strong defensive player in redshirt sophomore Audrey Rome and freshman Loren Winn who hold first and second place in blocks.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, the Huskies will take on the Butler Bulldogs in Storrs. This will be the second time Connecticut faces Butler in their conference play. The last time these two faced off, the Huskies swept the Bulldogs, beating them 3-0. After losing to UConn, the Bulldogs went on a three-game winning streak. However, much like the Huskies, Butler also comes off of two consecutive losses. The Bulldogs lost last week to St. John’s and Villanova. They will bring senior Abby Maesch, who leads the team with 223 kills and Freshman Lauren Evans, who leads the team in both service aces, 24 and Digs, 191. Butler will be looking to redeem themselves from their recent losses, and turn their conference run around.
Both games will be streamed on FloSports. The Providence game will take place at 6 p.m. on Oct 30. The Butler game will be at the UConn Volleyball Center at 4pm on Saturday, Nov. 2.