#BIGEASTvb Minute: Crucial Matchups Highlight Weekend Action
VB Notes -- 11.7.19
NEW YORK – Three weeks remain in the BIG EAST volleyball regular season as tournament implications descend upon the field. No. 9 Creighton (19-3, 12-0 BIG EAST) sits atop the standings with a 12-0 BIG EAST record as the Bluejays hit the road for an East Coast swing with matches at third-place Villanova (18-6, 9-3) and Georgetown (12-14, 2-10). 10th ranked Marquette (21-3, 11-1) looks to extend its six-match win streak with a home-and-home series with DePaul (11-13, 3-9) this weekend.
Travel partners Butler (10-14, 7-5) and Xavier (9-13, 6-6) make the trip to St. John’s (15-10, 7-5) and Seton Hall (7-19, 2-10). The Bulldogs meet the Pirates on Friday at 7 p.m. before a fourth-place clash with St. John’s on Sunday afternoon. Butler won the first meeting 3-1 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Fifth-place Xavier is on the outside looking in, one game back from the championship field, as the Musketeers take on the Johnnies Friday, before visiting Walsh Gym and the Pirates on Saturday.
This Weekend on BEDN
Two #BIGEASTvb matches are set to be streamed live on the BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi on Friday night. Providence visits Georgetown for a 5 p.m. ET match followed by Butler traveling to Seton Hall with first serve set for 7 p.m.
Providence at Georgetown (Friday, November 8 a 5 p.m.)
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Providence (6-19, 1-11) travels to Washington, D.C. for a tilt with Georgetown as each team vies for crucial wins down the stretch in conference play. Providence is coming off of a 1-1 weekend at home where the Friars earned their first league win of the season in a sweep of Seton Hall. The Friars are led by junior setter Allison Barber with 19 double-doubles on the season and the only BIG EAST player with a triple-double in 2019. Offensively, Addison Root leads the way with 2.83 kills per set in conference play while Jennifer Leitman chips in 2.64. Sophomore Mackenzie Taylor provides a spark on defense with 2.85 digs per set. For Georgetown, senior outside hitter Iva Vujosevic ranks third in BIG EAST action in kills per set with 3.54. Peyton Wilhite contributes 2.17 kills per set while Elissa Barbosa tallies 2.08. Libero Jessica Cusi leads the Hoya defense with 3.80 digs per set. Georgetown won the first meeting of 2019 3-2 in Providence, R.I.
Butler at Seton Hall (Friday, November 8 at 7 p.m.)
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Third-place Butler visits Walsh Gym for a Friday night showdown with Seton Hall after the Bulldogs won the first meeting at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Oct. 12. Anna Logan and Brooke Gregory lead the way for Butler with 2.48 and 2.43 kills per set, respectively. Melody Davidson provides a presence at the net for the Bulldogs as the sophomore ranks second in conference action with 1.15 blocks per set. Libero Elizabeth LaBue has averaged 4.80 digs per set in BIG EAST play to rank second in the BIG EAST. Seton Hall will look to senior leadership in setter Maggie Cvelbar to lead the Pirates offense. Haylee Gasser proves to be a weapon for Cvelbar as the senior paces the Pirates with 2.98 kills per set in conference play. Amanda Rachwal bolsters the attack with 2.59 kills per set while Raygan Murray leads the defense with an average of 3.85 digs per set.
RPI Report
In the NCAA’s RPI report released on Monday, the BIG EAST boasts two teams in the top-20. Marquette moved up one spot to No. 12 with a 21-3 record on the season, while Creighton also jumped one spot to No. 19 with a 19-3 record. Villanova moved up 2 spots to 58, while St. John’s jumped 12 places to land at 78 to round out BIG EAST programs in the top-100.
In the Polls
In the latest AVCA rankings released on Monday, the BIG EAST once again boasted two programs ranked in the top-10. Creighton remained at No.9, while Marquette stayed put at No. 10.
National Stats Leaders
No. 10 Marquette appears in the top-15 national statistical rankings in four different categories. The Golden Eagles lead the nation in assists per set at 14.37 with a 13th-best 1,250 assists on the season. MU also ranks first nationally in kills per set at 15.00, while hitting at a 11th-best mark .281. DePaul ranks 15th in total kills at 1,311. Individually, Marquette’s Allie Barber ranks 12th in the country with 4.69 kills per set and 12th in total kills at 408. Georgetown’s Iva Vujosevic ranks 15th in service aces with 43 on the season. Providence’s Allison Barber is one of only 12 players in Division I to record a triple double this season.
Upcoming #BIGEASTvb Schedule
Friday, November 8
PROVIDENCE at GEORGETOWN at 5 p.m. ^ (
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YouTube)
BUTLER at SETON HALL at 7 p.m. ^ (
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YouTube)
No. 9 CREIGHTON at Villanova at 7 p.m.
XAVIER at ST. JOHN’S at 7 p.m.
DEPAUL at No. 10 MARQUETTE at 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 9
PROVIDENCE at VILLANOVA at 4 p.m.
No. 9 CREIGHTON at GEORGETOWN at 5 p.m.
No. 10 MARQUETTE at DEPAUL at 7 p.m.
XAVIER at SETON HALL at 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 10
BUTLER at ST. JOHN’S at Noon
All Times Eastern
^BEDN