TTN Video: SEPTA strike hits the brakes on Philadelphia

Video by Joshua Fleury, Matthew Petrillo and Sartaj Phanda

Edited by Joshua Fleury and Sartaj Phanda

Reporting by Matthew Petrillo

Students swing like the pros

Just in time for Phillies fever, 6ABC brought a pro pitching simulator for a demonstration.

Baseball fans swung for the fences Thursday, Oct. 29 on Main Campus – the virtual ones, that is.

They may not have been able to launch a ball down Liacouras Walk or onto Broad Street, but batters had the chance to swing at high-speed pitches from a virtual player in a state-of-the-art pitching simulator.

The ProBatter Professional PX2 simulator was set up outside of Maxi’s and 7-Eleven on Liacouras Walk for three hours.

The self-contained unit measures a massive 80 feet by 20 feet and was brought to campus in the spirit of the Phillies’ World Series appearance through sponsorship by local television station 6ABC.
Many students, however, had no idea the simulator was coming to campus.

“At first I thought it was a moon bounce, but I was excited to see a batting cage,” senior natural sciences major Garry Cole said.

ProBatter Representative Adam Battersby said the company’s public relations firm pitches potential demos to media outlets during the times around Opening Day and the MLB postseason. This postseason alone, the simulator has been to 10 locations – Thursday’s appearance at Temple was its fourth in the Delaware Valley.

“It’s a fun, basic entertainment machine,” Battersby said.

But ProBatter simulators can be anything but basic. The systems, used by MLB teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, can throw faster than 100 mph and can be adjusted to throw different types of pitches.

“This simulator can pitch at speeds up to 90 mph, but we’ll keep it around 65 [mph] today,” Battersby said.

Matt O’Donnell from Action News was the first to step up to the plate.

O’Donnell swung and missed the first three, finally making a connection on the fourth pitch. On the seventh pitch, he made a hit that would have likely hit Annenberg Hall had safety nets not been set up along Liacouras Walk.

The segment was taped for a portion of Friday’s morning newscast.

O’Donnell joked with the crowd of students, “Who’s going to be the first to hit one into Mr. Dickinson’s science lab?” after a ball escaped through a hole in the netting.

Temple senior Cole was the first student to step into the batter’s box.

“It’s different than a batting cage because of the video screen,” Cole said of his experience. The 8-by-10-foot projection screen displays a high quality image of a pitcher winding up, as a ball is thrown from a hole matching up to the pitchers’ release point.

“I didn’t know what to expect. It threw all strikes and was very realistic,” senior Hebrew major Ari Charlestein said.

Charlestein, who was decked in Phillies gear head-to-toe, said he hasn’t played organized baseball in a while.

“The best part is,” he said, “it’s fun and free.”

Matthew Wargo can be reached at matthew.wargo@temple.edu.

Politicians look ahead to opening of Fresh Grocer

Community members say the long-awaited market will improve quality of life as well as create more than 100 jobs.

Any Temple student living immediately off campus can attest to the inconvenience and costliness of the neighborhoods’ lack of grocery stores. But for local residents, many of whom are senior citizens or rely exclusively on public transportation, the closing of the area’s last grocer several years ago has been even more burdensome.

State legislators, the Mayor’s Office and urban development firm Progress Investment Association anticipate that this will soon change with the opening of a Fresh Grocer store in December at the Progress Plaza Shopping Center on North Broad Street between Jefferson and Oxford streets.

Wendell Whitlock, chairman of for-profit PIA, which manages the Plaza, welcomed an audience comprised both of community members and state and local politicians to a ceremony Oct. 27 marking the building’s near-completion. Among the speakers were Fresh Grocer President Pat Burns, Donald Brown of The Reinvestment Fund, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans, D-203rd, Rep. W. Curtis Thomas, D-181st and City Councilman Darrell Clarke, D-5th.

Mayor Nutter sent a staff member on his behalf, and while Sen. Shirley Kitchen, D-3rd, was also absent, Whitlock acknowledged her as an instrumental player in acquiring funding for the project. Most often credited was the late Rev. Leon Sullivan, a community organizer and civil rights activist who oversaw the construction of the Progress Plaza in 1968.

Though some have criticized the project’s many delays, organizers announced the Fresh Grocer will be opening Dec. 11.

Not only will the store offer fresh foods accessible to the community, it will also create 225 new jobs in the neighborhood.

“It’s so important for this neighborhood to have a grocery store, especially for all the seniors,” said Pauline Hill, a nearby resident who plans to shop at the store. “It’ll be a lot more convenient.”

Her husband, Sam Hill, noted that the jobs created by the store are also sorely needed.

“I know this is going to help the neighborhood,” Beverly Dowdy, another area resident, said. “People need a grocery store like this nearby … especially for all the fresh foods.”

She added that its location will help to serve the low-income population of the surrounding area, making it easier for people without cars to buy in bulk.

“I think about seniors who have to spread their shopping over two or three days because they need to take a city bus and don’t have kids around to help them shop,” Dowdy said. “This will help to make sure their needs are met.”

Donald Hoegg can be reached at donald.hoegg@temple.edu.

TSG crime victims speak at address

Three TSG senators who recently suffered crimes made safety an issue at the second State of the Campus Address of the year.

At the second State of Campus Address, Temple Student Government senators Eva Alkasov, Natalie Ramos-Castillo and Kyle Goldstein spoke about campus safety by telling the audience of their recent experiences as victims of crime.

Goldstein, a junior civil engineering major, said he was standing at the SEPTA train platform at Fern Rock station around 11:30 p.m. Oct. 8 when an unidentified man held him at gunpoint and stole his belongings — his backpack, which included his laptop and textbooks, and his cell phone — before hitting him in the face with the barrel of his gun.

Ramos-Castillo and Alkasov are roommates who leave in a nearby off-campus apartment. The two said they arrived home the night of Oct. 23 to find their apartment had been broken into, and their television set and three laptops stolen.

Now, the three TSG senators say they want the rest of the student body to learn from their mistakes and take every measure to stay safe.

“I know it sounds cliché, but be aware of your surroundings, realize that anyone can be a victim,” Goldstein said.

Sol Frias, a sophomore accounting major, was especially concerned with Goldstein’s situation. Frias takes the Regional Rail to campus for class.

“Fern Rock is very deserted, even throughout the day,” she said. “I wouldn’t trust waiting on [Fern Rock’s] platform.”

Angie Ruizo will be starting at Temple as a junior BTMM major, and taking the train to campus every day.
“Hearing something like [Goldstein’s story] is scary,” she said.

“I take the subway at night, 9:30 at the latest,” Ruizo added. “I tell my friends that if we’re not done what we’re doing by then, I’m sleeping at someone’s house.”

Both Ruizo and Frias agreed that walking around anywhere alone, on or off campus, is not safe but said the lighting on campus at least makes the walk somewhat safe.

Alkasov, a junior political science major, and early education major Ramos-Castillo echoed this sentiment. The two also emphasized the importance of selecting housing carefully, since their landlord advised them against putting bars on their windows, citing fire safety. Police told the two roommates the intruder got into their apartment through Ramos-Castillo’s window.

“Don’t let your landlord, just because you’re students, convince you not to do something that you think is important,” Alkasov said.

“Cheapest [for the landlord] isn’t cheap for us,” Ramos-Castillo added.

Both Ramos-Castillo and Alkasov said there are removable bars available for purchase and encouraged students to invest in them. They also said that if students are robbed, they should call 911 and Temple Police.

The idea of bars on windows, however, didn’t sit as well with Ruizo and Frias. Ruizo said when a fire starts, inhabitants might not think of finding the key to unlock or remove the bars.

Danny Gutierrez, a sophomore psychology major, said bars on windows don’t bother him.

“I’m accustomed to bars on windows because I’ve lived in apartments all my life,” he said. “There are plenty of ways to get out of a fire, so if [bars] prevent theft, then I’m a big fan of them.”

Overall, the TSG senators say they want to make sure students are acting safely and maintaining cautiousness throughout their stays at Temple.

“[Students] lose the fear of danger happening the longer they’re here,” Ramos-Castillo said. “Keep this in mind.”

Joshua Fernandez can be reached at josh@temple.edu.

Experts join dog-fighting panel

In light of dog fighting’s growth as a legal issue nationwide, the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund held a discussion at Beasley School of Law.

Though dogs are “man’s best friend,” some owners take advantage of the relationship by exploiting them for sport.

Dog fighting received national media attention after NFL quarterback Michael Vick was found guilty for organizing a dog-ring operation two years ago.

In light of his recent move to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Temple Student Animal Legal Defense Fund held a panel discussion last Thursday to promote education about dog fighting and the laws that protect animal rights.

The panel included a journalist, an author, a humane officer, a dog trainer and an owner of a dog behavior center, each of whom spoke about their own personal experiences with dog fighting.

“A big issue with animal laws is that people are unaware of the laws. We want to make it more available and more known,” said second-year law student Jesse Paine, who also serves as co-president of the SALDF.

Federal law states that when tried in court, the “animal client” will always remain innocent. Since 2008, it has become a felony to participate as a dog owner or spectator during a dogfight.

But dog fighting has become a prevalent concern in Philadelphia and other major cities, explained Jim Gorant, a senior editor at Sports Illustrated.

“For the first time ever in courts, dogs became viewed as the victims of the crime, not the instigator, because these rings, most of the time, involve drugs, gambling and other things the police are concerned about,” he said.

Marisa Scully, a certified professional dog trainer, explained that pit bulls are “like warriors” and the most common breed in the ring, although breeds vary. She described pit bulls as mentally capable and athletic with a high pain tolerance, which are vital qualities to sustain them in the ring.

“They don’t discriminate when it comes to fighting another dog. It’s all they know,” she said, adding that pit bulls are usually submissive to people.

“Pit bulls can just destroy other animals if they want. But they also have great personalities and can be a positive influence to families. They can be great pets,” she said.

But not all “warrior” dogs can be rehabilitated to become family pets, said Leigh Siegfried, owner of Opportunity Barks Behavior and Training.

“It takes a lot of stress relief and positive exercise. We give them behavior evaluations to screen for potential aggressions and tolerance training, but unfortunately there is no fool-proof way to get them to become house-trained,” she said. Considering a dog adoptable, she added, remains a controversial issue due to a lack of formal guidelines.

Ken Foster, author of The Dogs Who Found Me, said he believes part of the reason pit bulls are difficult to find family-oriented owners for are the slew of negative stereotypes that can come with owning a pit bull.

“When I first saw a pit bull, I just thought it was any other dog. I didn’t think it was scary looking or anything. Shelters will deny them sometimes, though, and people will give me looks sometimes when I’m with my dogs,” he said.

A question-and-answer session followed the panel discussion, which Paine said indicated that people are not only connecting with animals, but are mobilizing to help with animal rights.

“Everyone learned something they didn’t know, and some learned a ton that they didn’t know,” she said. “Most importantly, it connected people to change laws, to have those laws enforced and for the misconceptions and prejudices of pit bulls to be corrected. The more people we have carrying those messages or contacting their elected representatives, the better.”

Matthew Petrillo can be reached at mattp@temple.edu.

Nurses picket at TUH opening

In the midst of a contract battle with Temple Hospital, PASNAP members protested at a ribbon-cutting Friday.

The union representing the Temple University Hospital nurses has filed charges with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, alleging “widespread violations and illegal contract proposals aimed at silencing nurses and potential whistleblowers.”

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of Temple’s new medical school building Friday, members of the Pennsylvania Association for Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals met in protest. Picketing, chanting and marching for about an hour, PASNAP members protested what they called Temple’s bad faith and illegal bargaining practices.

“We’ve specifically filed charges against them for illegal surveillance, retaliation for union activities, of telling people to take off their union stickers or threatening them with discipline for wearing union buttons, illegal bargaining, by virtue of putting non-mandatory subject matter in their final offer [and] making illegal unilateral charges in people’s terms and conditions of employment,” staff representative to Temple nurses Jerry Silberman said.

Silberman said at the protest TUH was photographing nurses, professional staff and union members who attended.

“They have engaged in very detailed surveillance activities. They had three people out there today making sure they got face shots of everybody that was at the events. That’s surveillance. It’s illegal,” Silberman said.

“It’s clearly intended to discourage people from publically advocating for their position, because they’re thinking, ‘Oh, if they take my picture, maybe they’re going to discipline me or something,’” he added.
Among its complaints, the union accused Temple of bad faith and illegal bargaining tactics.

“Bargaining is a fairly complicated thing. There are certain topics in bargaining, which the parties can talk about if they want, but they don’t have to.

“What that means is that if the union were to go on strike on the basis of something that is a non-mandatory subject of bargaining, that strike would be illegal. If management locked out the union over a non-mandatory subject matter, that lockout would be illegal. If management presents a final offer and says, ‘This is our final position. We have no place to move,’ and that includes non-mandatory subjects of bargaining, then that final offer is really illegal,” Silberman said.

PASNAP continues to express concerns over the language of TUHS’s current offer. The nurses’ local union president, registered nurse Maureen May, said in a press release that the proposal was an attempt by Temple to intimidate nurses and professional staff from fulfilling their duties as advocates to their patients.

“Nurses and healthcare professionals have a duty to advocate on behalf of their patients. Sometimes this advocacy involves publicly criticizing hospital policies that deserve to be criticized to improve conditions,” May said. “While Temple may want to sweep bad practices and bad outcomes under the rug, the dedicated Temple nurses will never agree to be silent when our patients’ health could be at risk.”
Bill Cruice, the union’s attorney and executive director called one of their proposals a “gag clause,” which would subject nurses or staff members to potential discipline if they “publically criticize … or make any statement which disparages Temple,” according to the press release distributed Friday.

Rebecca Harmon, public relations director for TUHS, said the claims are misguided and misdirected rhetoric.

Harmon said TUH not only encourages nurses and employees to address their concerns, but requires them to.

“Under both federal and state regulation, it is the licensed and accredited hospital institution that is responsible for ensuring that patient care meets all applicable standards,” Harmon said.

“Temple University Hospital has in place policies, procedures and mechanisms to assure the reporting of and response to patient-care concerns that are raised by employees. Individual employees are not only encouraged, but required, to bring any concerns to the attention of the institution so they may be addressed.”

With the union still pushing the heart of their concern being patient advocacy, Harmon added that “the union’s role is to advocate for its members with regard to wages, benefits and working conditions.

“Neither the labor union nor anyone acting on behalf of the labor union,” she said, “has any role in advocating for our patients within the scope of the collective bargaining agreement or otherwise.”

Valerie Rubinsky can be reached at valerie.rubinsky@temple.edu.

Aid by design

Student artists and designers use their talents to help communities in need around the world through the International Design Clinic.

Three billion people in the world currently live on less than $2.50 a day, and 1.2 billion people earn less than $1 a day.

A Temple professor, along with groups of students, is working to help destitute communities around the world.

The International Design Clinic is a not-for-profit organization that provides students, artists and designers the opportunity to use their talents to construct projects for communities around the world. The IDC was founded in 2006 by Temple professor and architect Scott Shall.

“I was inspired by the drive of Temple University students to start the IDC,” Shall said.

The IDC developed more than a dozen projects across three continents and is preparing to work in Bolivia this summer.

The six-week study-abroad experience focuses on collaboratively working with others and creating innovative projects that help the community. During the first two weeks, the program’s 16 students evaluate and assess the needs of a community and evaluate their own personal talents to create a project.

Shall said students independently create their own projects and begin working closely with other students, professors, professionals and locals to accomplish their goals.

The IDC has worked in India, Romania and the United States, including projects in Philadelphia and Louisiana. Some projects created include a water filter, an urban tent for the homeless and a playground for abandoned children.

“The stuff we build is very small but well-crafted,” Shall said, adding that the work is supposed to be “regenerative” – and could potentially be a catalyst for long-term change.

A group of students, professors and professionals will spend six weeks in Bolivia this summer working to help meet the needs of the local community of La Paz. The study-abroad experience combines a wide range of people and talents.

“When I first started the IDC, it was for architects,” Shall said. But other students began contacting him in 2006 to express their interest in the study-abroad program.

The diverse range of interest gave Shall the idea to expand the project into a wider collaborative effort. He said diversity helps each group think outside the box and utilize the resources available.

The organization is built on the idea of collaboratively working among different people to accomplish a common goal, he said. Students involved in the program have backgrounds in arts education, industrial design, film, business strategies, urban geography and Latin American studies.

Shall said it’s the job of the students to go into a foreign place humbly and with an open mind. Second, it is the group’s goal to figure out their limits and potential. The first two weeks of the six-week missions are spent familiarizing themselves with the culture.

“We are left to become part of the culture,” fifth-year architecture student Sarah Salem said. “India was an opportunity to see what the native people are going through.”

When they first arrive in their location, students are challenged to participate in scavenger hunts and creative development exercises like creating artwork from trash found on the streets. Shall said it is imperative for students to immerse themselves in the culture and to rethink new design strategies.

“Our work is not based on isolating oneself, and it’s not about comfortably hiding yourself in a hotel room. It’s immersive,” he said.

“Many people think that the biggest challenge is overcoming the language barrier,” Shall said. “[But] the work becomes an object of knowledge, and you communicate through the work.”

Shall is looking for people who are not afraid to creatively reapply what they have learned. The IDC needs to continually develop partnerships with existing aid and humanitarian organizations, according to the program’s Web site.

Shall is teaching a class in the Spring 2010 semester called “guerilla altruism.” The IDC is participating in the Spring Small Architecture, Big Landscapes at the Sheldon Swope Museum in Indiana.

Salem said the program helped her adapt to different types of design, and to the needs of their clients. She commented that the IDC helps students use their talents to help humanity.

Andy Whitlatch can be reached at andywhitlatch@temple.edu.

Championships boost confidence

The men’s cross-country team finished fifth at the Atlantic Ten Championships. Junior Mike May placed eighth overall individually.

The men’s and women’s cross-country teams competed in the Atlantic Ten Championships at Saint Louis Oct. 31, and both came away with treats on Halloween.

On the men’s side, junior Mike May finished eighth overall and became the first male cross-country athlete at Temple to achieve that honor.

“It’s a big honor, but I’m just glad the whole team finished well,” May said.

May said he has been improving with every tournament this season, which could be thanks to a new strategy.

“I’ve realized how important it is to stay up front, and it has helped me become more aggressive,” May said.

After his Top 10 finish, May said he is looking forward to the Mid-Atlantic Regional.

“This performance gave us a lot of confidence that should really help us heading into the Mid-Atlantic Regional,” May said.

The team itself finished fifth overall, the best finish the Owls have ever had in these Championships. Temple finished ninth last year, and second-year coach Eric Mobley said the goal entering this season was to finish better than that.

“This is huge for our program,” Mobley said. “Hopefully, this will help us as a better recruiting tool.”
Three other runners on the men’s squad recorded Top 25 finishes. Junior Eddie Penetar finished 21st, sophomore Travis Mahoney 23rd and senior Adin Mickle 24th.

The men next compete at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships in Princess Ann, Md., Nov. 14.
“This tournament gives us a huge boost of confidence going in there,” Mobley said. “We now know that we have a shot, and we also have an outside shot at the NCAA Championships.”

If the men’s squad does qualify for the NCAA Championships, they will be held Nov. 23 at Indiana State University.

The women’s team finished 13th overall at the A-10 Championships, the same as last year.

“We did a great job,” second-year assistant coach Matt Jelley said. “We had a few girls banged up, but overall, our individual performances were much better than last year. The whole team improved from last year.”

Junior Rebecca Mims was once again the team’s best finisher, as she ended up in 42nd place after finishing 75th in the Championships last year.

“We did really well,” Mims said. “We had lots of improvement from last year. We just need to keep getting better and get people healthy for the Mid-Atlantic Regional.”

Freshman Dierdre MacFarlane finished right behind Mims to give the Owls two women in the Top 50 overall.

“It was really big for us to have two women in the Top 50,” Jelley said. “That will really help us down the road.”

Coach Mobley said he was pleased with the women’s performance as well.

“We are closing the gap to becoming very competitive in the A-10,” Mobley said. “I just want the women’s team to keep improving, keep working hard and just keep doing what they are doing.”

Ryan Rosengrant can be reached at ryan.rosengrant@temple.edu.

Morrison’s the maestro at the net

Coach Bob Bertucci called senior Jackie Morrison the volleyball team’s “quarterback.” She excels both on the court and in the classroom.

Back in 2006, setter Jackie Morrison was the lone freshman on a senior-laden squad.

Now, she leads the Owls toward one goal – an Atlantic Ten Championship.

The 6-foot-1-inch senior from Stony Brook, N.Y., is quite visible on the court with her bright red hair. But the two-year captain of the Owls said she wants her teammates to take note and approach her off the court for help as well.

“My role is important because I want the girls to know that I’m there for them on and off the court for anything they need,” Morrison said. “I make myself available for them because I want them to succeed in anything and everything.”

In seventh grade, Morrison left her soccer cleats behind and started playing volleyball. Three state championship appearances and two state titles show she made the right choice. Morrison led Ward Melville to the New York State Championship in 2003 and 2005 and to a silver medal at the 2005 NY State Empire Games. She still holds her high school’s record for blocks and assists in a single season.

The communication science major said she once found herself in a position similar to that of redshirt freshman middleback Jasmine Waters – a newer player to the game looking for help. Morrison turned to Temple alumna Maira Mogollon.

“I was extremely lucky to have Maira,” Morrison said. “She got me mentally tougher to be a setter. Setting is one of the hardest jobs on the team because you touch every second ball and basically control your offensive game. Watching her and backing her up had a huge influence on where I am today.”

“Jackie is so encouraging,” Waters added. “She’s always saying to me to get certain kills, and during the Rhode Island game, she was yelling at me to get the game-ending kill. She’s just a great, great teammate.”

And in addition to leading the Owls on the court with 1,147 assists last year, Morrison also starred in the classroom. The Philadelphia Inquirer named her to the Academic All-Area volleyball team.

Coach Bob Bertucci can’t seem to have a press conference without somehow mentioning her name.

“Bob stands behind me completely,” Morrison said. “I’ve always felt supported by him. Whenever I wasn’t playing well, he was the first one to tell me what to do and how to get there. He has never had a problem motivating people, and with me, that shows. He’s been a major key to my success at Temple.”

“She’s our quarterback,” Bertucci said. “But remember, the quarterback can’t do anything without receivers. Jackie’s always done a great job running this team. She knows it, and so do her teammates.”

One of those teammates is junior middleback Jessica Antosz.

“Jackie is a great setter,” Antosz said. “I came in the spring, and she helped me adjust to the Temple style. We worked together a lot on setting to hitting, and she’s real easy to click with.”

After she graduates in May, Morrison plans to attend graduate school, and though she remains undecided where that will be, volleyball will still play a part in her future.

“I don’t think I want to play pro or overseas but maybe a club team or something,” she said. “I have to go to grad school and finish out, but I’ll always play the game. It’s just a part of me.”

When Morrison leaves Temple’s program next year, someone will have to fill her shoes. She already has a firm idea who that will be.

“[Sophomore outside hitter] Elizabeth Prang has the qualities to be a future captain,” Morrison said. “[Junior] Ariel Pierre and Antosz will definitely help the future of Temple volleyball as well.”

Christian Audesirk can be reached at christian.audesirk@temple.edu.

Dayton’s dominant performance downs volleyball

The Flyers, who have just one conference loss, defeated the Owls, 3-1, Sunday.

On a day when Philadelphia was the center of the sports’ world’s attention, coach Bob Bertucci and the volleyball team (10-10 overall, 6-5 Atlantic Ten Conference) tried to add to the frenzy. Unfortunately, the Owls dropped their second game in a row, including an upset bid to knock off A-10 powerhouse Dayton (21-3, 10-1) Sunday. The Flyers beat the Owls, 3 games to 1, by scores of 25-13, 25-20, 29-31 and 25-23.

The Owls played their home game at La Salle’s Tom Gola Arena, but the struggles of the day didn’t end there. Temple had to try and solve Flyers redshirt junior outside hitter Lindsay Fletemier.

Fletemier tallied 23 kills and seemed to find a small portion of Owl court every time she touched the ball, as she recorded an attack percentage of .606. Fletemier wasn’t alone, as the most well-rounded team in the conference featured three other players – redshirt freshman outside hitter Rachel Krabacher, junior middleback Becky Novacek and junior outside hitter Amanda Cowdrey – with double-digit kills.

It wasn’t all bad for Temple though, as freshman Danielle Carrozza notched a career game with 19 digs and two service aces. Senior setter and captain Jackie Morrison had herself another double-double with 49 assists and 12 digs. She complemented those statistics with three kills. Junior outside hitter Yun Yi Zhang led both teams with 26 kills.

Although Temple trailed 2 games to 0, the Owls fought back to avoid the sweep. The 31-29 set featured 17 ties and four lead changes, advancing well beyond the 25-point mark.

“Coming back the way we did showed a lot of character,” Bertucci said. “It’s just inconsistency that’s holding us back. We showed that we have the ability to compete with a team like Dayton, but we have to be able to sustain that level of play.”

In the fourth and final set, the Owls eliminated the early errors that plagued them but could only serve as a thorn in Dayton’s side for so long, as the Flyers’ well-rounded attack prevailed.

“We started double-teaming [Fletemier] in the third set, and that limited the number of times she got the ball,” Bertucci said. “We made a good adjustment.”

Bertucci said outside blocking and communication will be keys going into the final stretch of the season.
“We played much better than we did on Friday night, and that was encouraging,” he said. “We started the same [as Friday], but we got ourselves out of it. Hopefully, the girls take away the importance of really competing from the outset.”

The Owls sit sixth in the A-10 standings with games against La Salle and Fordham this week. The Explorers have no conference wins this season, while the Rams are only one loss away from playoff elimination.

Christian Audesirk can be reached at christian.audesirk@temple.edu.

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