Bulldog Volleyball Plays #7 Purdue on Friday

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team heads to Kennesaw State this weekend for its second tournament of the year.

The Bulldogs (0-3) will play three matches in the Kennesaw State Invitational as they'll face #7 Purdue on Friday at 5 p.m., followed by a match with Kennesaw on Saturday at Noon and Elon at 5 p.m.

Asheville's match with the Boilermakers marks the first time it has played a team ranked so high since playing top-ranked Penn State in 2001. Purdue is 3-0 on the season after advancing to the Elite Eight last year. KSU has a 3-1 worksheet, while Elon is 1-2 but owns a win over San Jose State.

Frederico Santos' young team had some good moments last week at Clemson but couldn't sustain enough of them to win a match. Asheville has seven new players on its roster in 2014 with all of them being freshmen.

“We played well at times down at Clemson as we came very close to winning against USC Upstate,” explained Santos. “However, we're a young team that's still trying to learn to play together. It will take time, but our effort is excellent.”

Santos knows the Bulldogs have a pretty big challenge on its hands with Purdue on Friday.

“We're playing a team that could win the national championship on Friday with Purdue,” stated Santos. “They have an outstanding program but playing them will only make us better.

“And Saturday's matches will be challenging, as well,” added Santos. “Kennesaw State has a good team this year, and Elon is always tough.”

Junior outside hitter Christine Lakatos enjoyed a solid tournament at Clemson and was named to the All-Tournament team. She had 26 kills and 26 digs in the tourney, including a double-double against USC Upstate. Sophomore outside hitter Shelby Erickson played well last weekend with 26 kills and 22 digs. She posted her first double-double vs. Upstate.

BULLDOG NOTES

Purdue will be just the second Big 10 team the Bulldogs have played. Asheville has faced Penn State twice.

Christine Lakatos has 12 double-doubles in her career.

This will be the Bulldogs first ever meeting with Kennesaw State. Asheville last played Elon in 2011 at the South Carolina Invitational and won in three sets.

This weekend's tournament will be a homecoming for freshman middle blocker Diana Enriquez who hails from nearby Fayetteville, Ga. and went to Starrs Mill HS.

Asheville head coach Frederico Santos needs 10 wins to reach 100 for his career.