BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn volleyball team returns home after a two-week west coast trip to host the 2018 Blackbird Invitational. The Blackbirds welcome George Washington, Holy Cross and South Florida to the Steinberg Wellness Center for a two-day six game tournament beginning Friday, September 7.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, September 7
10 a.m. - George Washington vs. South Florida
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12:30 p.m. - Holy Cross vs. LIU Brooklyn
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4 p.m. - George Washington vs. Holy Cross
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6:30 p.m. - South Florida vs. LIU Brooklyn
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Saturday, September 8
11 a.m. - Holy Cross vs. South Florida
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2 p.m. - George Washington vs. LIU Brooklyn
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LAST TIME OUT
LIU concluded its west coast swing at the North Portland Marriott Invite hosted by the University of Portland. The Blackbirds dropped a pair of 3-0 decisions to Wyoming and Portland. LIU picked up a victory Friday night, rallying from a two set deficit to beat Montana State 3-2.
Senior Viktoria Fink was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 3.45 kills per set. She tied her career-high with 21 kills in the comeback victory over the Bobcats. Junior Amanda Hubbard tallied 98 assists on the weekend. Junior Natalia Rivera recorded 4.73 digs per set and freshman middle blocker Mrythe Maring registered nine total blocks.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Blackbirds entered the season with the fourth longest active home winning streak in the country at 17 straight wins at Steinberg Wellness Center. LIU has not lost in front of the home faithful since October 15, 2016 including a perfect 11-0 clip a season ago.
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
George Washington (2-3) comes into Brooklyn fresh off a 2-1 weekend at the CEFCU Invitational in Peoria, Illinois. The Colonials picked up a pair of five-set wins over Toledo and Western Illinois before falling to tournament host Bradley, 3-1.
Skylar Lott leads offense with 4.14 kills per set through five matches and leads the Atlantic 10 with 4.67 points per set. Jaimeson Lee has averaged 10.00 assists per set which ranks second in the Atlantic 10.
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
Holy Cross enters the weekend looking to secure its first victory of the season. The Crusaders (0-7) held its annual Holy Cross Invitational last weekend against Drake, Columbia and URI.
Regan Wright leads Holy Cross with 52 kills on the season and currently ranks second in the nation with 22 service aces for a .88 service ace per set average. Defensively, Sophie Van Severen leads the team with 4.26 digs per set and at the net Kristen Somerville boasts a 1.05 blocks per set average with 21 total blocks on the season.
SCOUTING THE BULLS
South Florida enters the weekend with a 5-1 mark after going 2-1 at the Tiger Classic in Baton Rouge. After a 3-1 defeat to Duke, the Bulls tallied back-to-back 3-2 wins over Texas A&M Corpus-Christi and LSU. CC Clausen is the reigning American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after recording 92 digs last weekend. She ranks eighth nationally with 152 digs on the season.
Offensively, the Bulls feature a balanced attack with four players reaching 50 kills through six matches. Jac'cara Walker leads the team with 68 kills and a 2.62 kills per set average.
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds conclude non-conference play with a two games in Florida against the University of Miami beginning Friday, September 14 at 6:00 pm.