The Quinnipiac Bobcats (4-13 overall, 3-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) volleyball team will welcome their conference opponent, the Siena Saints (0-14 overall, 0-3 MAAC), to Hamden Wednesday night at 7 p.m.. After opening their season 1-12, the Bobcats have rebounded to the tune of a 3-1 record in the past four matches. Quinnipiac has won two straight home matches, beating MAAC opponents Saint Peter’s and Rider. The Bobcats swept the season series with Siena last year, defeating the Saints by a combined score of 6-1.
Players to Watch
Quinnipiac – Jen Coffey (Junior Outside Hitter)
In the Bobcats two games against Siena last season, Coffey tallied 31 kills and 11 digs. She’ll look to continue her dominance of the Saints when the two teams meet again on Wednesday. In her four matches, the 6-foot-1 junior has collected 53 kills, an average of 13 kills per game. Coffey should have no problem setting the tone early for the Bobcats, as the Saints have yet to record a win this year. Though just a junior, the force in the middle has become a veteran for a roster carrying 10 underclassmen. Look for Coffey to get the scoring going early, along with Elizabeth Kloos.
Siena – Dakota Jackson (Freshman Outside Hitter)
Like Coffey, Siena freshman Dakota Jackson is a force from the outside hitter position. Also like Coffey, Jackson too is 6-foot-1. The first-year player has been terrific for the Saints, averaging 2.00 kills per set. Through the season, she’s racked up 84 total kills for a team that sorely lacks scoring prowess. The prized Saint has tallied 53 digs through the year for an average of 1.26 digs per set. In a lost season for the Saints, at least they’ve found what looks to be a cornerstone player for the next three years. If you only watch one thing during the watch, make sure you keep an eye on the Coffey-Jackson dynamic.
Keys to the Game for the Bobcats
Don’t overthink this
The Bobcats will be facing a team searching for its first win of the year nearly halfway through the season. After sweeping the lowly Saints last season, this match should be easy work for Quinnipiac. Coming into the match with a 4-13 record themselves, the Bobcats should not be overlooking the Saints, who are in search of that elusive first win. If anything, the Bobcats should be looking for a win to improve their conference record, which currently sits at 3-1. If Quinnipiac comes out on top, things could be turning around positively.
The Game
Make sure to tune into QBSN’s live broadcast of the match from Burt Kahn Court on Quinnipiac’s Mount Carmel campus. Ryan Chichester will provide play-by-play commentary, as Phil Akre will man color commentary duties. To receive updates through the game, make sure to follow @QUWVB and @QBSN on Twitter, as well as @ryanchichester1 and @philakre.
Link to the game: http://quinnipiacbobcats.com/watch/?Live=407&type=Live
