Games Against Dayton, Saint Louis Ahead for Davidson

Teams	Davidson at Dayton
Date	Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.
Venue	Frericks Center
Live Stream	Atlantic 10 Network
TV	TWC SportsChannel
Live Stats	Live Stats

Teams	Davidson at Saint Louis
Date	Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. (EST)
Venue	Chaifetz Pavilion
Live Stream	--
Live Stats	Live Stats

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Davidson volleyball team returns to Atlantic 10 play this weekend with a two-match road swing at Dayton and Saint Louis this weekend. The Wildcats will first take on the Flyers Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. before facing off against the Billikens Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m.

About Davidson
The Wildcats carry an 8-11 overall record and a 2-3 Atlantic 10 mark into the weekend. Davidson is averaging 10.4 kills per set, to go along with a .163 hitting percentage. The Wildcats have stepped up defensively, ranking in the top half of the conference in blocks (first, 2.49 bps) and digs (third, 14.02 dps). Davidson's 2.49 blocks per set is good for 35th in the country.

Last Time Out
After dropping the first set, Davidson rallied to defeat North Carolina A&T at John M. Belk Arena in a midweek contest. The victory came by set scores of 17-25, 25-18, 25-19 and 25-22.

Freshman Sam Thompson had a big night, turning in a team-high eight kills to go with a .161 hitting percentage, 10 digs and two blocks. Grace Schlicht registered seven kills, while Ciera Cockrell chipped in five strikes. Gaylen Fronk, meanwhile, finished with 13 assists, four digs and a service ace. Morgan Shannon led the defensive charge with 28 digs, while Davidson finished the match with four total blocks.

On the Block
Emily Franklin and Sabrina Shepherd have helped Davidson average 2.49 blocks per set through the first 19 matches, good for first in the Atlantic 10 and 35^th in the nation. Emily Franklin leads the team with 65 total blocks and is sixth in the A-10 with an average of 1.07 blocks per set. Shepherd has recorded 63 total blocks for an average of 1.12 blocks per set, good for fourth among conference leaders.

Can You Dig It?
Davidson enters the weekend ranked third in the conference in dig pet set (14.02). Senior Morgan Shannon, the starting libero for the Wildcats, is averaging 3.96 digs per set, which is good for third in the conference.

Rookie on the Rise
Freshman Sabrina Shepherd has made an immediate impact for Davidson. The Cave spring, Ark., native currently leads the Wildcats with a .351 hitting percentage, which ranks fourth among A-10 leaders. Shepherd has also been a force at the net, averaging 1.12 blocks per set, which is fourth in the conference.

The Hitters
Davidson has benefited from a balanced attack thanks to a trio of freshmen – Mason Rooney, Sabrina Shepherd and Ciera Cockrell. Rooney is averaging a team-best 1.88 kills per set to go with a .230 hitting percentage. Shepherd has turned in 112 kills for a 2.00 average, whiling hitting at the .351 plateau, which ranks fourth in the A-10. Cockrell has accumulated 112 strikes for a 1.67 average.

Junior Emily Franklin is averaging 1.26 kills per set, to go along with a .295 hitting percentage, which is 10^th in the conference. Mikayla Derochie (1.06 kills pet set) and Kelly Friers (2.10 kills per set) have also been regular contributors to the attack.

Setting it Up
Junior captain Mikayla Derochie and freshman Mason Rooney have shared the setting duties as the team has shifted into a 6-2 offensive system. The Wildcats are averaging 9.65 assists per set. Derochie and Rooney have registered 284 assists apiece for a 4.18 average.

Scouting Dayton (13-5, 6-0 A-10)
Dayton and Saint Louis sit atop the A-10 standings with an unblemished 6-0 conference record. The Flyers, defending conference champions, own a 13-5 overall record and are riding an 11-match win streak. Dayton ranks 15th in the nation in hitting percentage (.273), 21st in kills (14.20) and 27th in assists (13.15). The Flyers lead the A-10 in those categories.

Alaina Turner's 4.48 kills per set ranks 13th in the country and is tops in the A-10. Jane Emmenecker, the primary setter for the Flyers, leads the conference with 11.22 assists per set, which ranks 23rd in the nation. Defensively, the Flyers rely on Jane Krafka, who is turning in 3.91 digs per set. At the net, Amber Erhahon's 1.23 blocks per set ranks second in the A-10.

Last season, Davidson dropped both meetings with Dayton in straight sets.

Scouting Saint Louis (17-5, 6-0 A-10)
Riding a 15-match win streak, Saint Louis is tied with Dayton at the top of the A-10 standings with a 6-0 conference mark and a 17-5 overall record. Saint Louis ranks second in the A-10 in hitting percentage (.258), and is fourth in both kills per set (13.16) and assists per set (12.06). Defensively, the Billikens are fifth with 2.24 blocks per set and seventh with 13.65 digs per set.

Danielle Rygelski's 4.14 kills per set pace the offense, while Megan Gilbert (.367) and Taylor Paulson (.366) rank first and second in the conference, respectively, in hitting percentage, while Meredith Boe's 10.43 assists per set is good for fourth in the conference.

Last season, Davidson upset Saint Louis, 3-2, to earn its first-ever A-10 win before dropping a 3-0 decision at Belk Arena.

Up Next
The Wildcats return home to John M. Belk Arena to host Duquesne and La Salle Oct. 23-25.

DavidsonPhotos.com

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results