Purdue Fort Wayne
Iowa State
Women's Volleyball To Face Iowa State in NCAA Tournament
11/27/2012 11:27:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Match Notes I Tournament Central I NCAA Tournament Bracket
FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- The IPFW women's volleyball team will travel to Ames, Iowa to face the Iowa State Cyclones in the opening round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament. The match between the Mastodons and the Cyclones will be played on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 8:30 p.m. EST.
SCOUTING THE CYCLONES
The Cyclones are on a 10-match winning streak as they head to their seventh-straight NCAA Tournament under head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch and broke a record during the regular season with six wins over top-25 opponents, including defeating No. 3 Texas, 3-2, on senior day. The win over Texas helped vault the Cyclones' RPI into the top-20, landing at 18th, and helping the squad earn a home court advantage for the third time in four years.
Iowa State has a high-powered offense that is nationally ranked in multiple categories. The Cyclones are ranked 17th in both assists per set (13.49) and kills per set (14.43). Their hitting percentage comes in at 51st overall at .243 and they are also strong defensively, ranking 68th in digs per set (16.54).
Individuals to keep an eye on for Iowa State include Alison Landwehr who leads the team and is nationally ranked 17th overall in assists per set with an average of 11.59. Kristen Hahn is also an impact player that averages 5.43 digs per set ranking her 24th in the NCAA.
ALL-TIME SERIES
IPFW and Iowa State have never played before as Thursday night will mark the first ever meeting between the two programs.
TICKET INFORMATION
All-session tickets for the first and second round matches go on sale to the general public at noon on Monday, Nov. 26 and will be available until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29. All-session tickets are lower level reserved seating (sections 109-113, 131-135) and adult tickets can be purchased for $14. Tickets are $10 for youth (high school and younger).
Single-session tickets for Thursday's first round matches will go on sale on Thursday beginning at 4 p.m. with tickets for Friday's second round match available at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. All single-session tickets are general admission in the lower corners, lower level west end and in the balcony. Prices for single-session tickets are as follows: First Round (Thursday): $10 adult, $7 youth (high school and younger)... Second Round (Friday): $8 adult, $6 youth
Tickets can be purchased at cyclones.com, by phone (1-888-478-2925) or at the Iowa State Athletics Ticket Office.
MCGILL SETS IPFW HISTORY
Tessa McGill has put together a fantastic senior season, breaking multiple school dig records. McGill is now IPFW's career dig leader as her total of 2,304 passed Peachy Jankowski's old record of 2,253. McGill's career digs per set average of 4.78 is also the highest in IPFW history heading into the NCAA Tournament. The defensive specialist is now second all-time at IPFW for most digs in a single-season with 735, a total that is only seven behind the all-time record. Her 2012 digs per set average of 6.18 is also a school record.
STEENHUYSEN SETS IT UP
Megan Steenhuysen has led the team in assists in each of her four seasons at IPFW. This year, the 2012 Summit League Setter of the Year, has recorded 1,447 assists which ranks third all-time at IPFW for most assists in a single-season. She is also second all-time in career assists with 4,686.
LAST TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE
IPFW reached the NCAA Tournament in 2009 after posting an overall record of 20-12, including an 11-7 mark in the Summit League. The 'Dons defeated IUPUI 3-0 in the opening round of the Summit League Tournament and went on to defeat North Dakota State 3-2 in the championship to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. IPFW faced Illinois in the opening round and was ultimately defeated 3-0 on Dec. 3.
SPENCER ON THE ATTACK
Emily Spencer has 507 kills on the year placing her 10th all-time at IPFW for most kills in a single-season. The sophomore has been busy as she leads the team with 1,466 attempts, a total that places her fourth all-time in a single-season.
Spencer had 18 double-double performances during the 2012 season, including a 20 kill, 19 dig match at North Dakota State on Oct. 26. Spencer helped IPFW defeat the Bison 3-2 as she also chipped in with two service aces and two blocks. The very next night Spencer recorded 29 kills and 21 digs against South Dakota State. She tallied 91 attempts which is the second most in IPFW history.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Tessa McGill was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Week three times this season and now ranks second all-time in league history with eight career defensive awards.
Offensively, Megan Steenhuysen was named Player of the Week two times, and Emily Spencer also earned the honor twice.
ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE
Hailie Ripley and Megan Steenhuysen were named to the 2012 Women's Volleyball Academic All-League Team for their athletic and academic performances this year. Ripley was named to the Summit League All-Freshman Team and holds a GPA of 4.0 in psychology.
Steenhuysen was named All-League, Tournament MVP, and Setter of the Year in the Summit League this season. She is also a psychology major with a GPA of 3.63
QUICK HITTERS
• Emily Spencer was named Summit League Player of the Year
• Tessa McGill was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year
• Megan Steenhuysen was named Summit League Setter of the Year
• The latest RPI Rankings (Nov. 25) listed Iowa State at 18 and IPFW at 57
• Sophomore Emily Spencer has 18 double-doubles this season and 39 in her young career
• Tessa McGill is fourth in the nation in digs per set with an average of 6.18
• Megan Steenhuysen is fifth in the nation in assists per set with an average of 12.16
• Emily Spencer is ranked 23rd nationally in points per set (4.97) and 33rd in the NCAA in kills per set (4.3)
• IPFW defeated Oakland 3-2 and IUPUI 3-0 in Fargo N.D. to claim the Summit League Championship
• The Mastodons ended the regular season with a 12-4 Summit League record which earned them the No. 2 seed
• Emily Spencer, Tessa McGill, and Megan Steenhuysen (MVP) were all selected to the Summit League All-Tournament Team
• The last trip to the NCAA Tournament for IPFW was in 2009 when the Mastodons lost to Illinois 3-0
• IPFW and Iowa State have never played before as Thursday night will mark the first ever meeting between the two programs
~ Feel the Rumble ~
