Troy University Athletics
Trojans Set For SBC Road Trip
10/15/2009 6:30:00 PM | Volleyball
MIAMI, Fla. - The Trojan volleyball team is in south Florida this weekend looking to build on their current four match winning streak. The Trojans will play at FIU on Friday at 6:30 p.m. EST and at Florida Atlantic on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST.
The Trojans (10-10, 5-3) enter the weekend after winning four straight matches, all at Trojan Arena, but venturing out onto the road has proven to be a much tougher task. The Trojans are 0-7 on the road this season, compared to 6-1 at home.
"We have a difficult weekend ahead of us and we want to continue to play hard," said head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick, "we are gaining confidence as a team and anything can happen."
The Trojans have already played against FIU and FAU. Troy fell to FIU, 3-0 at home back on September 25, but they rebounded and defeated FAU the next day, 3-2.
"We know them well, but they also know us well, and now it just comes down to who makes the adjustments," Kirkpatrick said. "We have a few adjustments that we want to make and that's what we're trying to do."
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
The Trojans have been led offensively this season by Meghan Gilroy who has posted 264 kills. Her 4.19 kills per set average is the second best average in the Sun Belt and the 29th best average in the nation. Her 4.93 points per set also rank high, placing her 23rd in the country.
Freshman Devin Von Pingel and sophomore Brittany McClelland also average over 2.00 kills per set with 2.17 and 2.06 respectively. Junior setter Megan Henderson has been guiding the Trojan attack all season, and has posted 693 assists, averaging 9.90 per set, the sixth best average in the Sun Belt.
Henderson also leads the Trojans in digs per set with 2.90. Her 203 total digs are one behind the leader on the team, freshman Lizzie Clough who has posted 204 digs and a 2.87 digs per set average. As a team the Trojans sit third in the Sun Belt with 14.39 digs per set.
At the net defensively, Von Pingel paces the Trojans with 60 total blocks thus far. Gilroy is second with 49 total blocks and recently became the leader in block assists in Troy's history with 209, surpassing former teammate Aubre Smith.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN PANTHERS
The 2008 regular season Sun Belt Champions currently hold the best record in the conference (17-2, 7-0). The Golden Panthers only two losses came to Top 25 teams in Kentucky and Florida State.
The Panthers are coming off of a weekend in which they swept both Denver and North Texas. FIU also found itself in the Others Receiving Votes category of the AVCA Top 25 Poll this week.
They are led by 2009 SBC Preseason Player of the Year, and Player of the Week for the last three weeks, Yarimar Rosa. Rosa is averaging 5.58 kills per set and has posted a .330 attack percentage. Natalia Valentin sets up the Panther attack, having posted 764 assists this year, averaging 11.94 per set, the best average in the Sun Belt and the sixth best in the nation.
Defensively, Chanel Araujo paces the Panthers with 230 digs and a 3.59 digs per set average. Andrea Lakovic leads FIU with 60 total blocks.
Since joining Division I in 1993, the Trojans have never defeated FIU in eight tries.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
The Owls (3-13, 2-6) have been struggling lately. In fact, since the Trojans defeated the Owls in five sets on September 26, FAU hasn't won a set, going 0-5 in that stretch.
They are led Krystena Castro and Kristyna Dzmuranova who have posted 115 and 114 kills respectively. Joanne Marras Tate has recorded 312 assists, averaging 9.45 per set.
Defensively, Cintia Nightingale has posted 170 digs and averages 3.15 digs pet set, the ninth best average in the conference.
Since joining Division I in 1993, the Trojans trail in the series against Florida Atlantic, 12-5. The last time the two teams met at FAU Gymnasium, the Owls won 3-1.
Live stats for the FIU match can be seen at the above link. Check back with TroyTrojans.com throughout the weekend for scores and stats from the volleyball court, as well as all of Troy Athletics.
