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Women's Volleyball Set For Northwest Challenge
Sept. 3, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format
Upcoming Matches:
TOP STORY: Gonzaga University women's volleyball heads to Seattle, Wash. for the Northwest Challenge hosted by the University of Washington. The Zags will open the tournament, which features all Northwest institutions, against Washington on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs will then play both Portland State University (1 p.m.) and Boise State University (5 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 5. WASHINGTON HUSKIES: This will the 12th meeting between the University of Washington and Gonzaga University. The Huskies, who finished the 2007 season with a 27-4 overall record, participated in their sixth-straight NCAA Tournament a season ago. UW holds a 9-2 lead in the all-time series and has won six-straight. Washington enters the Northwest Challenge with a 2-0 record after having defeated both Montana State University and the University of Portland last weekend. The Huskies are currently led by Kindra Carlson, who is averaging 3.80 kills per set and 3.00 digs per set. UW is coached by Jim McLaughlin, in his eighth year at the helm. PORTAND STATE VIKINGS: This will be the 10th meeting between Portland State University and Gonzaga University. The Vikings, who hold a slight 5-4 advantage in the all-time series, last played the Bulldogs in 2006; earning a 3-1 victory. PSU enters the Northwest Challenge with a 2-1 overall record after having defeated the College of Charleston and the University of Wyoming and losing to Oregon State University last weekend. Portland State is led by Marija Vojnovic (2.08 kill per set) and Lindsey Steele (3.92 digs per set). The Vikings are coached by second-year head coach Michael Seemann. BOISE STATE BRONCOS: This will be the 20th meeting between Boise State University and Gonzaga University. The Broncos hold a 12-7 advantage in the all-time series and have won three out of the five meetings during Zag head coach Kip Yoshimura's six seasons. BSU currently holds a 0-3 record after falling to Seattle University, Cal State Northridge and Washington State University at the Bronco Invite last weekend. Boise State has five players averaging more than 2.00 kills per set, including Alisha King who leads the team at 2.64 kills per set. The Broncos are coached by Robin Davis, in his third year at the helm. A LOOK AHEAD: Gonzaga University women's volleyball opens its home schedule Sept. 12-13 by hosting the third-annual Bulldog Tournament. The Zags welcome San Diego State University, UTEP and Weber State University to the Martin Centre. Gonzaga University Tournament Saturday - Sept. 13 HEAD COACH Kip Yoshimura: Kip Yoshimura enters his seventh year as Gonzaga University's head coach. Yoshimura has compiled a 49-132 record during his tenure with the Bulldogs. A former assistant coach at Gonzaga during the 1992 season, Yoshimura has complied a 300-204 career record which includes nine seasons at Lewis-Clark State College where he guided the Warriors to nine-straight NAIA tournament appearances. A 1990 graduate of Long Beach State University, Yoshimura entered the coaching ranks as a student-assistant on Long Beach State's 1989 NCAA National Championship team. THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA TOURNAMENT RECAP: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team opened its 2008 season with a 1-3 record at the University of Montana Tournament. The Bulldogs started the season strong with a sweep of Bradley University, but then dropped three-straight; a 3-1 setback to host Montana, a 3-2 heartbreaker to North Dakota State and a 3-0 loss to UC Riverside. A DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Junior outside hitter Emily Johnson recorded her second career double-double against North Dakota State University, Aug. 30. Johnson tallied 11 kills and collected 11 digs in the loss to register her second career double-double. Her only other double-double came as a freshman when she had 13 kills and 11 digs against the University of Idaho. CAREER RECORD: Senior Paige Dillingham, who assumed the libero role this season, broke her career digs record and then tied her new career digs record at the University of Montana Tournament this weekend. Dillingham entered into the season with a career-high 12 digs, registered against North Dakota State University on Aug. 26, 2006. Dillingham collected 17 digs in Gonzaga University's 3-1 setback to Montana Aug. 29 and then had 17 digs in the Zags heartbreaking 3-2 loss to North Dakota State University Aug. 30. NEW SETTER STANDS OUT: Freshman setter Denise Van de Mortel jumped into her starting setter role with a bang. Mortel averaged 10.27 assists over four matches at the University of Montana Tournament. She only committed four ball handling errors and had no reception errors. Mortel also had six blocks, 29 digs and 12 kills, along with a team-best .611 hitting percentage. VOLLEYBALL RULE CHANGES: NCAA volleyball rules changes this year include three important changes. First, the term "set" has replaced the word "game" as it is used internationally. Second, the number of points to win a set has been reduced from 30 to 25. Teams must still win by two points and the fifth set will still be played to 15. And lastly, because sets are now shorter, the number of allowable subs per set has been reduced from 15 to 12. LIVE ON THE INTERNET: All Gonzaga University women's volleyball home matches are available via Gametracker and live streaming on the internet at www.gozags.com. Check the Gonzaga website for all Gametracker and live streaming links. Gametracker for selected away matches are also available. Check out gozags.com for all Gametracker links.
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