Davidson Hosts Rhode Island, Fordham in Final Home Weekend

Teams	Davidson vs. Rhode Island
Date	Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
Venue	John M. Belk Arena
Live Stream	Atlantic 10 Network
Live Stats	Live Stats

Teams	Davidson vs. Fordham
Date	Sunday, Nov. 15 at 12 p.m.
Venue	John M. Belk Arena
Live Stream	Atlantic 10 Network
Live Stats	Live Stats

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DAVIDSON, N.C. -- The Davidson volleyball team returns to the friendly confines of Belk Arena this weekend to close out its 2015 regular season versus Rhode Island and Fordham. The Wildcats will first take to the court Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. versus Rhody before hosting the Rams on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.

Thank You, Seniors!
Prior to Sunday's match versus Fordham, Davidson will honor the playing careers of its five senior student-athletes; Gaylen Fronk, Morgan Shannon, Michelle McNeight, Layne Doctson and Hannah Rau. In addition to helping Davidson in its first season in the Atlantic 10 last year, the Class of 2016 has been part of 41 wins, while posting 20 wins against conference foes.

Vitamin Drive
The Davidson Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will hold a Vitamin Drive in support of Timmy Global Health during the volleyball and men's basketball game on Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 15. They are seeking adult multi-vitamins (not gummy kind), pediatric multi-vitamins and pre-natal vitamins. Collection bins will be located at the entrance of Baker Sports Complex. Each year during Winter Break 7-8 Davidson students travel to Quito, Ecuador and volunteer their time to set up temporary medical clinics there. Your help is greatly appreciated!

Where We Stand
Entering the final weekend of regular season, Davidson sits in seventh place at 4-8. Dayton (13-0), Saint Louis (10-3) and Rhode Island (8-4) are at the top of the conference, but are being chased closely by George Washington, Duquesne and VCU who are all 7-5. George Mason (3-9), Fordham (2-10) and La Salle (0-12) round out the bottom of the league.

Last Time Out
The Davidson volleyball team suffered a setback Sunday afternoon at Duquesne, falling to the Dukes in straight sets, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-18.

Sabrina Shepherd paced the Davidson offense with 12 kills. Emily Franklin and Ciera Cockrell chipped in six strikes each. Mason Rooney tallied 19 assists, while Mikayla Derochie finished with 14 helpers.

Morgan Shannon and Hannah Rau had 11 and 10 digs, respectively to help the defense. Franklin led the way with five blocks, while Derochie turned in three block assists.

Rookie on the Rise
Freshman Sabrina Shepherd possess a unique skill set that allows her to make an impact on both sides of the ball. The Cave Springs, Ark., native currently leads the Wildcats with 2.21 kills per set to go along with a .346 hitting percentage, which ranks fifth among A-10 leaders. A force at the net, Shepherd is averaging 1.02 blocks per set, which is good for seventh in the conference.

Immediate Impact
Davidson has benefited from a balanced attack thanks to a trio of freshmen - Sabrina Shepherd, Mason Rooney and Ciera Cockrell.Shepherd is averaging a team-best 2.21 kills per set with a .346 hitting percentage, which ranks fifth in the conference. Rooney has turned in 161 kills for a 1.73 average, while dishing out 3.99 assists per set. Cockrell has accumulated 155 strikes for a 1.68 average per set. Cockrell owns a .127 hitting percentage.

Block Party
The Wildcats are third in the A-10 in blocks pet set (2.35) with Franklin and Sabrina Shepherd ranking fifth and seventh among conference leaders, respectively. Franklin is averaging 1.06 blocks per set, while Shepherd is stopping 1.02 balls per set. Davidson recorded at least 10 blocks in nine of its matches this season.

Can You Dig It?
Morgan Shannon ranks fourth in the A-10 with 3.87 digs per set, helping Davidson limit its opponents to a .202 hitting percentage, fourth-best in the conference. The Wildcats are averaging 13.34 digs per set, good for fifth. Mikayla Derochie (2.04) and Layne Doctson (2.16) have also helped anchor the back row.

Scouting Rhode Island (18-7, 8-4 A-10)
Rhode Island carries an 18-7 overall record and an 8-4 mark in league play into the weekend. The Rams sit in third place behind Dayton and Saint Louis.

Rhode Island ranks in the top five or better in the A-10 in all seven major team categories: hitting percentage (3rd, 2.50), Kills per set (2nd, 13.63), assists per set (2nd, 12.46), opponent hitting percentage (3rd, .191), digs per set (4th, 13.81), blocks per set (5th, 2.20) and service aces per set (5th, 1.38).

Individually, junior Callan Kinnan leads the conference and is ranked 45^th in the nation with 10.94 assists per set. Junior Audrey Castro is averaging 3.81 kills per set, while senior Franki Darnold is turning in 3.76 kills per set, to rank third and fourth, respectively in the A-10. Marie Gillcrist has registered 107 total blocks to own an average 1.07 blocks per set, which ranks fifth in the conference.

Scouting Fordham (8-21, 2-10 A-10)
Fordham enters the weekend with an 8-21 record and a 2-10 conference mark. The Rams sit in ninth place in the A-10. Fordham will visit VCU Friday night, before taking to the court at Davidson.

Offensively, Breanna Jones paces the Rams with 2.78 kills per set, while Natalie Martinez isn't far behind with 2.22 strikes per set. Emily Fronk, Fordham's primary setter, is averaging 8.25 assists per set, good for ninth in the conference. Defensively, Brennan Delsing has accumulated 270 digs for a 2.67 average with Clarissa Cartledge chipping in 2.31 digs per set. At the net, Olivia LaPorta is averaging 0.77 blocks per set.

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