Oct. 23, 2009

Match Notes

Marquette Radio (WMUR)

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette University women's volleyball team resumes BIG EAST Conference play Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., at the Al McGuire Center, when the Golden Eagles (14-9, 3-5 BIG EAST) welcome league travel partner Syracuse (18-5, 7-1 BIG EAST). Live stats will be available via GameTracker, while Marquette Radio (WMUR) will provide a live audio feed.

Marquette returns to the court three days after defeating Green Bay, 3-1, in a non-conference tune-up Wednesday night. Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Beyer led the Golden Eagles with 21 kills against the Phoenix, marking her tenth match in the last 11 that she has recorded double-digit kills. Beyer has recorded a team-high 290 kills (3.26/set) this season and ranks third in the conference with 123 kills (3.97/set) in BIG EAST matches.

Junior middle hitter Rabbecka Gonyo also performed well in the win over Green Bay, reaching a career high with 20 kills, while posting a .500 (20-3-34) attack percentage. Gonyo currently ranks third in the BIG EAST in hitting percentage at .344 (195-53-413).

The Orange currently sit second in the BIG EAST behind undefeated Notre Dame (13-4, 7-0 BIG EAST). Syracuse is led by senior Sarah Morton, the program's career leader in blocks. Morton also leads the Orange with 272 kills (3.09/set) in 2009 and leads the BIG EAST with 141 blocks (1.60/set). 

Also suiting up for Syracuse is junior middle blocker Hayley Todd. The native of Whitby, Ontario, is third on the squad with 178 kills and registered a career-high 21 against USF on Oct. 16. Todd is the sister of former Marquette AVCA All-America Kim Todd (2004-08). 

MU trails the all-time series with Syracuse 4-2 and dropped a 3-2 decision to SU on Oct. 18, 2008. Marquette's last victory over the Orange was a 3-1 win in 2006, Kim Todd's junior All-America campaign.

A win would improve Marquette's chances of reaching the league tournament on Nov. 20-22 in Louisville, Ky. Only the top-eight teams in the BIG EAST make the championship tournament and the Golden Eagles currently sit in a tie for ninth with West Virginia.