University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
Fourth-Seeded Bulldogs Open Big South Tournament Friday Against Fifth-Seeded Liberty
11.16.2017 | Women's Volleyball
RADFORD, Va. – Fourth-seeded UNC Asheville (13-14, 9-7 Big South Conference) will face off against fifth-seeded Liberty (11-18, 8-8 Big South Conference) in the opening match of the 2017 Big South Volleyball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting that will be contested at the Dedmon Center on the campus of Radford.
First serve is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.
UNC Asheville and Liberty split their two regular season league meetings.
The UNC Asheville volleyball team closed out its 2017 regular season with a 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-20) home win at the Justice Center on Thursday, Nov. 9, over the same Liberty team that they will face in the tournament quarterfinals.
First-team All-Big South selection Cara Guthrie once again put together an incredibly impressive stat line in the finale match of the regular season with a double-double with 21 digs and 18 kills.
Two Bulldogs had double-doubles in total with Ansley Rooks hitting .323 in the match en route to 12 kills and 14 digs. She also had two service aces.
UNC Asheville had 71 digs in total in the match with Madisen Zyburt leading the way with 19.
Both Kailey Hackett and Carter Kennedy led the Bulldogs in the match with 25 assists each.
KK Haley finished the Bulldog win with three service aces.
Casey Goodwin led Liberty in its loss to UNC Asheville with 23 kills.
UNC Asheville and Liberty battled through five sets in their first meeting of the season, but it would be Liberty that would take a narrow 3-2 (25-23, 19-25, 15-25, 15-10) win over the Bulldogs at the Vines Center on Saturday, Sept. 30.
UNC Asheville was led in the match by Guthrie's 21 kills and 14 digs. Guthrie also had four total blocks.
Two Bulldogs ended their efforts with double-digit kills overall with Rooks just missing on a double-double of her own with 11 kills and nine digs. Cecilia Stack led the Bulldogs with six blocks to go along with six kills. Sheridan Salisbury had 22 digs to lead the Bulldogs in the category, while Hackett (24) and Kennedy (23) as always led the Bulldogs in assists.
Anna Gragg led Liberty in its win with 18 kills.
The quarterfinals and semifinals of the Big South Tournament will be broadcast live for FREE on the Big South Network and on Roku, while Sunday's title match will be broadcast live on ESPN3 at 4 p.m. The Big South's Tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Championship. The Championship schedule is as follows:
Friday, Nov. 17 – Quarterfinals (Big South Network/Roku)
Match 1: No. 4 UNC Asheville vs. No. 5 Liberty, 4:30pm ET
Match 2: No. 3 Campbell vs. No. 6 Winthrop, 7:00pm ET
Saturday, Nov. 18 – Semifinals (Big South Network/Roku)
Match 3: No. 1 High Point vs. 4/5 winner, 4:30pm ET
Match 4: No. 2 Radford vs. 3/6 winner, 7:00pm ET
Sunday, Nov. 19 – Championship (ESPN3)
BULLDOG BITES
Serving it Up
UNC Asheville is still in the top-15 in the country in service aces per set at 1.66. The Bulldogs have been ranked among the best in the country in the department for pretty much all of the 2017 season.
In the Big South Statistics Overall
Cara Guthrie closed out the regular season third in the Big South overall in both kills (3.82) and points (4.34) per set. Three Bulldogs are currently in the top-10 in the league in service aces per set in KK Haley (third – 0.45), Sheridan Salisbury (seventh – 0.34) and Guthrie (eighth – 0.33). Ava Venema is ninth in the league in hitting percentage at .276.
In League Matches Statistics
Cara Guthrie closed out league play second in the league in points per set (4.59) and third in kills per set (4.02). KK Haley led the way for three Bulldogs in the top-10 in league matches in service aces per set at 0.49, which was good for second. Sheridan Salisbury closed out the league regular season fifth in aces per set at 0.39, while Guthrie was sixth at 0.34. Kailey Hackett was 10th in league matches with 5.13 assists per set.
Quotable
"I think it's going to be a competitive matchup once again. I think Liberty wants to redeem themselves, but I also think it's the conference tournament. There is a lot at stake for both teams and I think we are at a good moment now coming off of two great wins in conference and hopefully it can translate to the conference tournament, which is what we want." – Head Coach Frederico Santos
Three Earn Big South Honors
Three members of the UNC Asheville volleyball team received honors from the Big South Conference on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017.
UNC Asheville junior outside hitter Cara Guthrie was chosen first-team All-Big South, while freshman middle blocker Ava Venema was tabbed to the All-Freshman Team. Sophomore setter Carter Kennedy was chosen to the Big South Volleyball All-Academic Team.
"I think these honors are the product of the hard work that they've put in this year, and I think it's an important recognition for them and our school in that our athletes are excelling," UNC Asheville volleyball head coach Frederico Santos said. "Congratulations to them and congratulations to us as a team because they could not have done it without all of us."
Guthrie closed out the regular season third in the Big South Conference in both kills (3.82) and points (4.34) per set. She is also eighth in the league in service aces per set at 0.33. Guthrie was twice named Big South Player of the Week this year, garnering weekly honors from the league on Oct. 9 and Oct. 30.
Guthrie enters the Big South Tournament with 897 kills and 789 digs in her Bulldog career.
The reigning Big South Conference Freshman of the Week, Venema ended the regular season ninth in the league in hitting percentage at .276.
On the year, Venema has 200 kills and 53 blocks.
Kennedy has put together a strong 2017 season with 421 assists, 124 digs and 38 kills. Kennedy has 937 assists in her career entering the Big South Tournament.
In the classroom, Kennedy boasts a 4.0 grade-point average as a New Media major.
Venema Tabbed Big South Freshman of the Week
UNC Asheville freshman middle blocker Ava Venema was selected the Big South Conference Volleyball Freshman of the Week this past week. The league office made the official announcement on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. Venema closed out UNC Asheville's perfect 2-0 week last week with 15 kills, six blocks and five digs. She averaged 2.14 kills and 0.86 blocks per set and hit.238 on the week. Venema was impressive in UNC Asheville's home win over Presbyterian College on Tuesday, Nov. 7, with 11 kills, five digs and five blocks. In UNC Asheville's home win over Liberty on Thursday, Nov. 9, Venema had four kills and one solo block.
Strong in the Big South
UNC Asheville's nine wins in league play this regular season marked its most wins in conference play since the 2010 season.
Home Sweet Home
UNC Asheville was really strong at the Justice Center this regular season. The Bulldogs were 7-2 on the season at the Justice Center with wins over Montreat, Gardner-Webb, Campbell, Winthrop, Charleston Southern, Presbyterian College and Liberty.
No Place Like Home
UNC Asheville has now won at least seven home matches in a single season for the last three seasons. In fact, the Bulldogs are 26-8 over the last three seasons at home.
Playing Well
UNC Asheville played very strong down the stretch of the 2017 regular season with the Bulldogs having now won four of their last five matches entering the Big South Tournament.
First serve is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.
UNC Asheville and Liberty split their two regular season league meetings.
The UNC Asheville volleyball team closed out its 2017 regular season with a 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-20) home win at the Justice Center on Thursday, Nov. 9, over the same Liberty team that they will face in the tournament quarterfinals.
First-team All-Big South selection Cara Guthrie once again put together an incredibly impressive stat line in the finale match of the regular season with a double-double with 21 digs and 18 kills.
Two Bulldogs had double-doubles in total with Ansley Rooks hitting .323 in the match en route to 12 kills and 14 digs. She also had two service aces.
UNC Asheville had 71 digs in total in the match with Madisen Zyburt leading the way with 19.
Both Kailey Hackett and Carter Kennedy led the Bulldogs in the match with 25 assists each.
KK Haley finished the Bulldog win with three service aces.
Casey Goodwin led Liberty in its loss to UNC Asheville with 23 kills.
UNC Asheville and Liberty battled through five sets in their first meeting of the season, but it would be Liberty that would take a narrow 3-2 (25-23, 19-25, 15-25, 15-10) win over the Bulldogs at the Vines Center on Saturday, Sept. 30.
UNC Asheville was led in the match by Guthrie's 21 kills and 14 digs. Guthrie also had four total blocks.
Two Bulldogs ended their efforts with double-digit kills overall with Rooks just missing on a double-double of her own with 11 kills and nine digs. Cecilia Stack led the Bulldogs with six blocks to go along with six kills. Sheridan Salisbury had 22 digs to lead the Bulldogs in the category, while Hackett (24) and Kennedy (23) as always led the Bulldogs in assists.
Anna Gragg led Liberty in its win with 18 kills.
The quarterfinals and semifinals of the Big South Tournament will be broadcast live for FREE on the Big South Network and on Roku, while Sunday's title match will be broadcast live on ESPN3 at 4 p.m. The Big South's Tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Championship. The Championship schedule is as follows:
Friday, Nov. 17 – Quarterfinals (Big South Network/Roku)
Match 1: No. 4 UNC Asheville vs. No. 5 Liberty, 4:30pm ET
Match 2: No. 3 Campbell vs. No. 6 Winthrop, 7:00pm ET
Saturday, Nov. 18 – Semifinals (Big South Network/Roku)
Match 3: No. 1 High Point vs. 4/5 winner, 4:30pm ET
Match 4: No. 2 Radford vs. 3/6 winner, 7:00pm ET
Sunday, Nov. 19 – Championship (ESPN3)
BULLDOG BITES
Serving it Up
UNC Asheville is still in the top-15 in the country in service aces per set at 1.66. The Bulldogs have been ranked among the best in the country in the department for pretty much all of the 2017 season.
In the Big South Statistics Overall
Cara Guthrie closed out the regular season third in the Big South overall in both kills (3.82) and points (4.34) per set. Three Bulldogs are currently in the top-10 in the league in service aces per set in KK Haley (third – 0.45), Sheridan Salisbury (seventh – 0.34) and Guthrie (eighth – 0.33). Ava Venema is ninth in the league in hitting percentage at .276.
In League Matches Statistics
Cara Guthrie closed out league play second in the league in points per set (4.59) and third in kills per set (4.02). KK Haley led the way for three Bulldogs in the top-10 in league matches in service aces per set at 0.49, which was good for second. Sheridan Salisbury closed out the league regular season fifth in aces per set at 0.39, while Guthrie was sixth at 0.34. Kailey Hackett was 10th in league matches with 5.13 assists per set.
Quotable
"I think it's going to be a competitive matchup once again. I think Liberty wants to redeem themselves, but I also think it's the conference tournament. There is a lot at stake for both teams and I think we are at a good moment now coming off of two great wins in conference and hopefully it can translate to the conference tournament, which is what we want." – Head Coach Frederico Santos
Three Earn Big South Honors
Three members of the UNC Asheville volleyball team received honors from the Big South Conference on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017.
UNC Asheville junior outside hitter Cara Guthrie was chosen first-team All-Big South, while freshman middle blocker Ava Venema was tabbed to the All-Freshman Team. Sophomore setter Carter Kennedy was chosen to the Big South Volleyball All-Academic Team.
"I think these honors are the product of the hard work that they've put in this year, and I think it's an important recognition for them and our school in that our athletes are excelling," UNC Asheville volleyball head coach Frederico Santos said. "Congratulations to them and congratulations to us as a team because they could not have done it without all of us."
Guthrie closed out the regular season third in the Big South Conference in both kills (3.82) and points (4.34) per set. She is also eighth in the league in service aces per set at 0.33. Guthrie was twice named Big South Player of the Week this year, garnering weekly honors from the league on Oct. 9 and Oct. 30.
Guthrie enters the Big South Tournament with 897 kills and 789 digs in her Bulldog career.
The reigning Big South Conference Freshman of the Week, Venema ended the regular season ninth in the league in hitting percentage at .276.
On the year, Venema has 200 kills and 53 blocks.
Kennedy has put together a strong 2017 season with 421 assists, 124 digs and 38 kills. Kennedy has 937 assists in her career entering the Big South Tournament.
In the classroom, Kennedy boasts a 4.0 grade-point average as a New Media major.
Venema Tabbed Big South Freshman of the Week
UNC Asheville freshman middle blocker Ava Venema was selected the Big South Conference Volleyball Freshman of the Week this past week. The league office made the official announcement on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. Venema closed out UNC Asheville's perfect 2-0 week last week with 15 kills, six blocks and five digs. She averaged 2.14 kills and 0.86 blocks per set and hit.238 on the week. Venema was impressive in UNC Asheville's home win over Presbyterian College on Tuesday, Nov. 7, with 11 kills, five digs and five blocks. In UNC Asheville's home win over Liberty on Thursday, Nov. 9, Venema had four kills and one solo block.
Strong in the Big South
UNC Asheville's nine wins in league play this regular season marked its most wins in conference play since the 2010 season.
Home Sweet Home
UNC Asheville was really strong at the Justice Center this regular season. The Bulldogs were 7-2 on the season at the Justice Center with wins over Montreat, Gardner-Webb, Campbell, Winthrop, Charleston Southern, Presbyterian College and Liberty.
No Place Like Home
UNC Asheville has now won at least seven home matches in a single season for the last three seasons. In fact, the Bulldogs are 26-8 over the last three seasons at home.
Playing Well
UNC Asheville played very strong down the stretch of the 2017 regular season with the Bulldogs having now won four of their last five matches entering the Big South Tournament.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's VolleyballMonday, November 06
Monday, November 06
Monday, October 30
Monday, October 30