BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn volleyball team heads south this weekend, for a final tournament tune-up before beginning Northeast Conference play next weekend. The Blackbirds will take part in the USF Classic in Tampa, Fla., taking on Wright State, Stetson and host South Florida, Friday, September 16 and Saturday, September 17.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, September 16
4:30 p.m. - Wright State vs. LIU Brooklyn
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Saturday, September 17
11:00 a.m. - Stetson vs. LIU Brooklyn
Live Stats
7:00 p.m. - LIU Brooklyn vs. South Florida
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SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
Wright State is 3-7 thus far on the year, coming off a 1-2 performance at the Butler Classic. There, the Raiders beat Tennessee State 3-1, but fell to Murray State and host Butler, 3-0. Eastern Michigan and Morehead State account for Wright State's other two wins this year.
Junior outside Katie Klusman leads the readers, with 122 kills so far this year, a 3.59 kills per set average. She's also second on the team with 94 digs, for a 2.76 digs per set average. Junior middle blocker Megan Hopkins is next on attack, with 88 kills (2.59 kills per set), and a team-high 32 blocks.
SCOUTING THE HATTERS
Stetson enters the weekend at 2-9 so far this season, after a 3-0 loss to Marshall Wednesday. Both of the Hatters' wins have come in the last four games, when they beat Alabama A&M (3-0) and North Carolina Central (3-0) at the UNC Asheville Invitational. They've suffered losses to two common opponents with LIU, falling to to USF (3-0) and Stony Brook (3-0).
Senior right side Madison Akins leads the team with 117 kills this season (3.16 per set), hitting .303. She's also second on the team in digs, with 61 so far (a 1.65 digs per set average), and leads the team in blocking, with 32 total blocks.
SCOUTING THE BULLS
Host USF started the season on fire, going 6-0 in the first two tournaments of the season. Last weekend, however, the Bulls struggled at the DePaul Invitational, falling in three close matches to DePaul (3-2), Illinois-Chicago (3-2) and Albany (3-1).
Senior outside hitter Dakota Hampton leads USF's attack, with 128 kills this year, a 3.76 kills per set average. She's also second on the team on defense, with a 3.18 digs per set average, and 108 digs this season. Senior right side Elyse Panick leads the team in digs, with 131, for a 3.97 digs per set average, and is one of the team's top blockers, with 25 stuffs so far this season. She also leads the Bulls with 13 service aces, and averages 2.09 kills per set.
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds return home to Brooklyn to open the NEC season. They will host FDU, Saturday, September 24 at 1 p.m., and Sacred Heart, Sunday, September 25 at 1 p.m.