Saint Louis spoils Senior Night

The No. 20 Billikens beat the Owls, 3-1, on Saturday’s Senior Night.

McGonigle Hall was set to celebrate Saturday night with the “Dig Pink” campaign to support the fight against Breast Cancer and Senior Night for the volleyball team’s Jackie Morrison and Yun Yi Zhang.

Unfortunately, the No. 20 Saint Louis Billikens (22-6 overall, 14-1 Atlantic Ten Conference) had the biggest celebration, as they clinched at least a share of the A-10 regular-season title. St. Louis defeated the Owls, 3 games to 1 game, by scores of 23-25, 32-30, 25-22 and 25-17.

The Billikens saw a different style of play from Temple (13-11 overall, 9-6 A-10) in the A-10 finale, as the Owls’ starting lineup was shaken up with the absence of junior middle back Jessica Antosz. Still, the Owls shocked the Billikens in the opening set, 25-23. Temple blew two game points in a row due to a lack of communication, but junior outside hitter Jovana Radojevic slammed one home down the middle to end it.

Temple got out to a quick start in Game 2 but traded points for most of the game. St. Louis finally pulled ahead, 24-19, but the Owls answered. Junior middleback Cayleigh Ashman and outside hitter Zhang put together points to eventually even the score at 24. Each team went back and forth for the next five points, including a two-minute rally. But the Billikens capitalized with a spike from junior outside hitter Megan Boken after a service error by freshman defensive specialist Danielle Carrozza.

Communication errors resurfaced in Games 3 and 4 for the Owls. Coach Bob Bertucci’s squad did manage to keep the errors to a minimum in the matchup but still committed one error in Game 3 and six in Game 4.

“We had them on the ropes a couple times,” Bertucci said. “It’s real tough to win when you’re down a key part in your offense [Antosz]. We need to do better communicating and just finish.”

Both seniors posted double-doubles in their send off. Zhang finished with 23 kills and 12 digs, while Morrison recorded 45 assists and 23 digs. Junior defensive specialist Ariel Pierre also chimed in with 23 digs. Ashman had nine kills. The well-rounded St. Louis squad had four girls in double-digits for kills, led by Boken with 20.

The Owls now get set to travel to Dayton for the A-10 tournament. Temple will be the fourth seed in the six-team tournament and will play George Washington Friday. Temple and GW split their meetings this year, with each team sweeping the other, 3-0.

“We’ve got to get healthy,” Bertucci said. “We’ll most likely end up seeing St. Louis again, and now that we’ve seen them and they’ve seen us, they know we’re no pushover.”

Bertucci has made the tournament every year since he’s been at Temple except for his rookie year. Winning the A-10 tournament will most likely be the only way for the Owls to punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

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

Volleyball slams home two victories

The Owls opened their Atlantic Ten Conference schedule with a 3-1 win over Charlotte and a sweep of George Washington.

The brooms were out in North Philadelphia this weekend, as the volleyball team started out the Atlantic Ten Conference season undefeated with a 3-1 win against the Charlotte 49ers and a 3-0 sweep of George Washington.

Friday night’s victory against Charlotte opened up the A-10 portion of the schedule for the Owls. The 49ers couldn’t communicate as well as the tight Temple squad and fell 25-17, 26-24, 19-25 and 25-22. Junior offensive powerhouse Yun Yi Zhang picked up another 23 kills and kept her lead in the NCAA on kills-per-set. Her effort wasn’t un-assisted though, as senior captain Jackie Morrison recorded a double-double with a resounding 42 assists and 12 digs. Junior outside hitter Cayleigh Ashman also had a season-high 10 kills.

“That helped my confidence build a lot,” Ashman said. “Playing Penn State helped me see how we match up against better teams and gives me better idea of how to play.”

Charlotte looked flat the whole game until pushed to the brink. The third set proved the 49ers wouldn’t go down without a fight. Coach Bob Bertucci credited strong blocking and minimal errors to Charlotte’s lone set.

Even though Charlotte took a set from the Owls, the sweep of George Washington proved the tougher matchup, as Temple won by scores of 25-23, 26-24 and 25-23. All three games were closely contested, as both GW and Temple traded points in every game. The biggest lead by any team at any time was just four points.

“I think both matches were very close, and it could have gone either way,” Bertucci said. “We have a great attitude. We have the drive to win, and the ball is just falling for us right now.”

Junior outside hitter Jovana Radojevic had four kills, and junior Jessica Antosz had four of her own. Those two, along with Morrison, showed strong defense up front all game, making key blocks during tight points throughout the match. Morrison was noted for her big defense, as she saved two long rallies with diving digs.

“I think the team chemistry is there,” Bertucci said. “We still have to clean up our game, but as the rest of the team starts to contribute offensively [to help out Morrison], we won’t get stuck in rotation, and that’s our Achilles’ heel.”

Bertucci said the problems seemed to come from errors. The Owls committed 16 errors throughout the three games. Luckily for Temple, GW made 23 errors, which ultimately led to their 3-0 demise.

“I tried to limit my errors,” Zhang said. “We tried rushing things a little, and we were very up-and-down, but overall, we played as a team, and that’s what wins games.”

“We were ready to go and ready to win. I was impressed,” Morrison added. “We blocked a lot stronger, and we moved like we knew where the ball was going.”

To keep the flow going in the A-10, the next step for the Owls will be road tests against Dayton and Xavier before returning to Philadelphia to play La Salle.

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

Fifth-set slam defeats rival

After splitting their first two games against La Salle and Penn in the Big 5 Tournament, Jackie Morrison, Yun Yi Zhang and Chelsea Tupuola led the Owls back from a 5-1 deficit to beat Villanova.

After a heartbreaking loss to Penn in five sets Friday night to open the Big 5 Volleyball Tournament, the Owls (2-3) stormed back Saturday afternoon with a convincing sweep of La Salle and a thrilling five-set victory over Villanova to finish in second place.

In Game 1, a three-set triumph over the Explorers, it was all Owls, 25-10, 25-15 and 25-20. Senior captain Jackie Morrison continued to lead her team, racking up 26 assists, seven digs and four kills, a statistic that usually belongs to junior outside hitter Yun Yi Zhang.

Zhang, who was named the Atlantic Ten Offensive Player of the Week, played only two of the three sets but still led the game with eight kills. Junior Ariel Pierre continued to show why she is the reigning A-10 Defensive Player of the Week with a game-high 13 digs.

Game 2 proved to be the toughest and in the end, most rewarding win to date for the Owls. A drama-filled, five-set match tested Temple. The Owls fell, 25-9, in set 1, as the Wildcats went on an eight-point run at one point. In set 2, Temple and Villanova traded points until the Owls pulled out an eventual 25-23 victory. Junior Jessica Antosz made big stops in the middle against Villanova’s two big outside threats, sophomore Morgan Petkovich and freshman Krista Andersen. After set 3’s 25-20 loss, Temple bounced back with true freshman Chelsea Tupuola. She saved shot after shot against Villanova on the way to a 25-18 win in set 4.

Enter drama.

Villanova got off to a 5-1 start in the shortened set 5. After a timeout, Zhang, Tupuola and Morrison led the Owls back to a 12-12 tie highlighted by a Morrison slam. From there, Tupuola made a game-changing dig that Zhang followed up with her 33rd kill for a 15-13 win.

“This showed we’re coming to together,” sophomore outside hitter Elizabeth Prang said. “We’re learning how each person can play with each other on the court. We definitely came out there and proved we can win.”

Morrison had a big second game with her 43 assists but still thinks the communication can be better.
“Communication is a big step. If we don’t talk, we crumble,” she said. “We finally realized that after the first set. When we communicate, we come together, and we win, simple as that.”

Coach Bob Bertucci shared the same views as his team’s leader.

“Your setter is your most important player,” he said. “It’s like your quarterback in football. She can’t do anything without great support, and Jackie is running this team with great support.”

One person on the support group has to be Zhang, who is the main component in the offense. Along with Morrison, she was named to the All-Tournament Team, but would rather have something else than personal accolades.

“That’s all just extra,” she said. “All I care about is the team winning. I’d trade individual awards in for three wins any time. This team can go so far, all we have to do is play together.

“It doesn’t really matter what an individual does,” she added. “It has to be the whole team.”

Villanova coach Josh Steinback had high remarks for Temple’s offensive weapon as well.

“So frustrating playing her,” he said. “She is fun to watch, but I’d rather sit in the stands than be on the opposing bench.”

Temple faces two-time defending National Champion Penn State next on Sept. 18 at McGonigle Hall.

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

Playoff push begins for fall squads

Expectations were high to start the season. Now, halfway through the fall schedule, reality has set in.
So, does that mean it’s time for an imminent playoff push or an extended winter break for your favorite teams? Let’s take a look:

Cross Country
The cross-country program continues to get its footing in the A-10. Urban cross country programs have historically had a difficult time finding success, but the Owls look to change that. The men’s team has made strides, finishing a program-best 11th in the A-10 Championship last year. The women’s team finished 13th, but looks to build on that foundation in 2008.
Prediction: Everyone gets to run in the A-10 Championship, but the Owls will remain toward the back for quite some time.

Field Hockey
It’s been a turbulent season for coach Amanda Janney. Early on, it was all too perfect, as the Owls went 3-0 and knocked off No. 14 Boston University. Since then, it has been a series of beatings from some of the country’s best. Ohio State and No. 11 Penn State posted back-to-back shutouts, and rivals Drexel and Delaware stole two games at Geasey Field. On Sunday, No. 8 Michigan State thumped Temple 9-0. It appears that the Owls’ non-conference schedule was overly ambitious. The good news is that A-10 play begins this week. Last year, the team went 6-1 in conference. Do the Owls have the firepower to get past No. 17 Massachusetts? Four years of playoff debauchery may continue.
Prediction: Another playoff bust: A-10 semifinals loss.

Men’s Soccer
It’s like The Little Engine That Could. The men’s soccer team continues to scrap and claw its way into the win column. Finally, there is some progress after two painful seasons at the Ambler Sports Complex. In 2006 and 2007, the team amounted to an overall record of 7-25-3 and plenty of frustration. The Cherry and White are currently 4-3-2 and about to embark on their A-10 schedule. Fortunately, heavyweights Saint Louis and Charlotte are off that schedule. The Owls have five straight home games to close the season, so the postseason isn’t out of consideration. In 2004, the team made it to the A-10 finals, but ultimately lost to George Washington.
Prediction: Only six teams get to dance, and 14 are jockeying for position. Another year of growth and this squad gets in.

Women’s Soccer
Much like its male counterparts, the women’s soccer team is kicking it up a notch. The Owls (2-6-3) look to improve upon their 5-10-4 season of a year ago, and it starts with their young guns. Freshman goalkeeper Courtney Douglas has assumed duties from sophomore Kara Williams. In her two starts, the Owls earned two ties, including a 0-0 shutout against Massachusetts. Freshman Niki Conn has been able to spark a notoriously anemic offense with four goals through 11 games. Playoffs might be too much for this squad right now. A step in the right direction would be a handful of conference wins on the road. Last season, the Owls went 0-5-1 in that department.
Prediction: No go on the postseason, but improved record from 2007.

Women’s Volleyball
Coach Bob Bertucci has done a remarkable job with this squad. The team is comprised mostly of underclassmen, but you wouldn’t know it. With an 11-7 record, they are a legitimate threat in the postseason. So far, they have dominated the Atlantic Ten Conference, posting a 4-1 record. Finding a replacement for outside hitter Yue Liu hasn’t been a problem, as junior Yun Yi Zhang has more than adequately fit the role. Zhang leads the conference in kills with 261 and total points with 291.5. If the Owls want the respect they deserve, they’ll need to cut down the conference’s traditional powerhouses. The West Division has a stranglehold on the crown, with Saint Louis winning in 2006 and Dayton from 2003-2005 and in 2007.
Prediction: The beasts of the east, but runners-up to the rest. Owls fall in a late-round game in the A-10 Championship.

Summary
Some Owls will get to taste the postseason, while others are far from it. Hey, there’s always next year.

Anthony Stipa can be reached at anthonystipa@temple.edu.