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Jaylynn McCarthy swings for ball
KEVIN COLTON

Herons host Union, Nazareth in Tri-match Saturday

11/1/2024 1:52:00 PM

By: Zack Koons

The William Smith volleyball team will be back in action this weekend as it hosts its final two home matches of the season. The Herons will host Union in its final Liberty League matchup before taking on Nazareth in a nonconference match on Saturday, Nov. 2, in Bristol Gymnasium.

Fans who can't make it to Bristol Gymnasium this weekend can follow all the action with HWS All-Access Video and Live Stats.

THE SCHEDULE:

  • William Smith vs Union, 11:30 a.m.
  • Union vs Nazareth, 2 p.m.
  • William Smith vs Nazareth, 4 p.m.

ABOUT THE HERONS:

  • William Smith enters the weekend with a program-best 18-3 record after going 3-0 last week against RIT, Wheaton (MA) and Hamilton. The Herons hold a 6-1 record in conference play and have locked up the No. 2 seed in the Liberty League Tournament.
  • The Herons are receiving votes in the AVCA coaches' poll for the seventh straight week. William Smith ranks No. 21 in the latest NPI rankings. NPI is the NCAA's new system for selecting at-large bids to the NCAA tournament.
  • Junior Hope Von Dohlen was named the Liberty League Performer of the Week after three strong performances last week. First-year Delainy Williams landed on the weekly honor roll as well.
  • Junior Malya Sayre leads the Liberty League and ranks 31st in the nation in kills per set (3.94). She also ranks first in the conference and 27th nationally in points per set (4.66). Sayre is followed by classmates Marin Montagne (2.77 k/s) and Von Dohlen (2.66 k/s) who both rank top-10 in the Liberty League in both kills per set and points per set.
  • Junior Jaylynn McCarthy has been lethal out of the middle for William Smith and ranks second in the Liberty League in hitting percentage with a .301 clip.
  • Williams runs the Heron offense from the setter position and ranks first in the conference and eighth in the nation in assists per set (10.60).
  • First-year libero Kali Vanderhoof leads the team in digs with 326. Vanderhoof currently sits third in the conference in digs per set (4.23) and is followed by Sayre in eighth (3.57).
  • First-year Arielle Newsome has a team-leading 70 blocks in her rookie season. She ranks second in the conference in blocks per set (0.92).
  • As a team, the Herons rank among the nation's best in several categories. William Smith ranks 28th nationally in assists per set (12.23) and 31st in kills per set (13.18).

ABOUT THE GARNET CHARGERS:

  • Union enters the weekend with a 17-7 overall record, including a 4-3 mark in the Liberty League, after defeating Manhattanville 3-1 on Wednesday.
  • Shannon McGrath leads the Garnet Chargers offensively and ranks fifth in the conference in kills per set (3.11). She also ranks third in the Liberty League in points per set (3.78).
  • Allie Kronenberg averages a team-leading 7.93 assists per set and ranks fourth in the conference.
  • Defensively, Georgia Pool leads the Garnet Chargers with 4.43 digs per set which ranks second in the Liberty League. Maddie McCarron has recorded 72 blocks this season and ranks first in the conference (1.03).

ABOUT THE GOLDEN FLYERS:

  • Nazareth enters the weekend with a 15-8 overall record after defeating Houghton 3-2 on Tuesday. The Golden Flyers are currently riding a 12-match win streak.
  • Tessa Grover leads Nazareth offensively, averaging 3.31 kills per set.
  • Ella Kules averages a team-leading 5.76 assists per set.
  • Jenna Mattison leads the Golden Flyers defensively, averaging a team-leading 2.93 digs per set. Alana Lucey has tallied 67 blocks for Nazareth this season and leads the team with 0.86 blocks per set.

SERIES HISTORY:

  • Saturday will be the fourth meeting between the Herons and the Garnet Chargers. William Smith holds a 2-1 edge in the series, with the series being split 1-1 in Geneva.
  • Last time they met, William Smith defeated Union 3-2 in Schenectady, New York. Sayre led the Herons with 23 kills, while sophomore Maren Hunt broke the program record for blocks in a match with 12 total blocks.
  • Saturday will be the second meeting between the Herons and the Golden Flyers. William Smith won the previous meeting in Geneva.
  • Last time they met, the Herons defeated the Golden Flyers 3-0 for their first program win in Bristol Gymnasium. McCarthy led William Smith with 10 kills.
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