STORRS, Conn. - Fresh off an undefeated weekend hosting the Dog Pound Challenge, the UConn volleyball team returns to Gampel Pavilion for another weekend of matches as it opens up Big East play against Seton Hall and St. John's.
UConn (8-4) will kick off its conference slate vs. the Pirates on Friday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. and follow with a 5 p.m. start vs. the Red Storm on Saturday.
Junior Allie Garland put forth a MVP performance at the Dog Pound Challenge, averaging 2.5 kills and 1.3 blocks per set, and was additionally named to the Big East honor roll on Monday. Senior Caylee Parker made history last Saturday vs. NJIT, becoming the 14th Husky in program history to record 1,000 career kills.
In their return to the Big East during the 2020-21 campaign, the Huskies went 4-4 in a shortened conference season, and made their first postseason appearance since 2012 in the Big East quarterfinals, where they fell to Creighton in three sets.
SCOUTING SETON HALL
Seton Hall is off to an 8-6 start, mirroring 4-3 clips on the road and at home. Perri Lucas leads the team with 2.92 kills per set and is the only Pirate to surpass the century mark in kills with 140. Amanda Rachwal paces the team in blocks per set (1.39) and ranks third in the Big East in hitting percentage (.352).
The Huskies have taken each of the last three match ups against Seton Hall and own a 20-12 grip in the all-time series.
SCOUTING ST. JOHN'S
St. John's has won eight of its last nine matches to bump its record to 9-5 this season. Rachele Rastelli leads the Big East in kills per set (4.22) and has recorded double-digit kills in all but three games this season. Tiziana Baumrukova is also putting up an impressive offensive season as she leads the conference in assists per set (11.13) and has provided over 40 helpers eight times over the last 10 contests.
UConn is all-time vs. 15-11 St. John's and split a pair of 3-1 results with the Red Storm last spring.
UP NEXT
The Huskies will open up a four-game road swing, starting with trip to the Midwest to face Marquette and DePaul next weekend.
