Volleyball Heads To The Mid-Atlantic For BIG EAST Play

PROVIDENCE, R.I.- The Providence College volleyball team will head to the mid-atlantic to play Seton Hall and St. John's this weekend. The Friars will play the Pirates on Friday, Oct. 4 in South Orange, N.J. at 7:00 p.m., before finishing the weekend against the Red Storm on Saturday, Oct. 5 in Queens, N.Y. at 1:00 p.m.

SCOUTING THE FRIARS: The Friars finished their first BIG EAST weekend 0-2 after falling to Georgetown in five sets and Villanova in four sets. The Friars took the first two sets against the Hoyas before dropping the final three sets. The Wildcats took the first two sets before the Friars rallied to take the third, and extended the match before falling in the fourth set. Providence stands at 5-10 overall and will look to claim their first BIG EAST victory of the season.

Jennifer Leitman (Irvine, Calif.) leads the Friars with 166 kills and is fourth in digs (105). The freshman ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in kills per set (3.32) and points per set (3.73).

Allison Barber (Woodbury, Minn.) has tallied a team-best 525 assists and 170 digs. Barber ranks fourth in assists per set (9.21) and tied for eighth in service aces per set (0.32) in the BIG EAST.

Jenae Alderson (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) ranks third on the team in kills (103) and first in total blocks (38). Alderson is fourth in the BIG EAST in hitting percentage (.332).

SCOUTING THE PIRATES: Seton Hall checks in at 5-11 overall, including an 0-2 mark in the BIG EAST after falling to Marquette in straight sets and DePaul in four. The Pirates defeated the Friars in both meetings last season (3-2 and 3-1).

Haylee Gasser leads the Pirates with 150 kills and is ninth in the BIG EAST in kills per set (2.83). Gasser, who moved from middle blocker to outside hitter in her final season, was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 17.

Maggie Cvelbar has recorded a team-high 327 assists and ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in assists per set (7.58).

Newcomer Raygan Murray has registered 207 digs and ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in digs per set (4.31).

SCOUTING THE RED STORM: St. John's finished its opening BIG EAST weekend 1-1 after defeating DePaul and falling to Marquette. Both matches were decided in four sets. St. John's holds an overall record of 9-6, including 1-3 versus ranked opponents. The Red Storm's sole win over a ranked opponent came against No. 14 Oregon in four sets. St. John's defeated Providence twice last season (3-1 and 3-1).

Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Erica DiMaulo leads the Red Storm with 483 assists. DiMaulo ranks second in the BIG EAST in service aces per set (0.47) and third in assists per set (9.83).

Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Efrosini Alexakou has a team-best 189 kills and ranks second in digs (94). The reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year ranks second in kills per set (3.98) and points per set (4.38) in the BIG EAST. Alexakou has been named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll this season.

The reigning BIG EAST Libero of the Year Amanda Sanabia has recorded 183 digs and is eighth in digs per set (3.75) in the conference.

WHAT'S NEXT: Providence will travel to Milwaukee, Wis. and Chicago, Ill. to face No. 10 Marquette and DePaul. The Friars will take on the Golden Eagles on Oct. 11 at 7:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. ET) and the Blue Demons on Oct. 12 at 6:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. ET).

Follow @FriarVolleyball on Twitter for live updates.

-GO FRIARS-

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Players Mentioned

Jenae Alderson

Allison Barber

Jennifer Leitman