Battle at the Nation's Capital Live Stats
Battle at the Nation's Capital Live Video
WILMINGTON, Del. - After barely missing out on a winning season last year, the Lightning volleyball team will open its 2012 regular season schedule this weekend by participating in the "Battle at the Nation's Capital" Tournament at the University of the District of Columbia.
The Lightning, who will play 9 of their first 13 matches on the road, will open their season against Elizabeth City State University on Friday, Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. before facing Bowie State University and Virginia State University on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
Live stats for all three matches will be available along with live video by clicking the links above.
The Lightning, who posted a 14-16 record last year, including a 7-12 mark in the CACC, are led by senior setter
Monica Dempsey. A three-year starter for the Lightning, Dempsey played in 110 sets last year. She ranked sixth in the CACC with 757 assists while her 381 digs ranked ninth in the CACC. A four-time honorable mention selection on the CACC weekly awards list, Dempsey tallied 19 “double double” efforts last year, including a “double double” in five of her final six matches.
Dempsey tallied at least 40 assists three times, including a season-high 46 assists in a five-set match against Concordia on Oct. 1. She also had 44 assists in a five-set match against Holy Family on Sept. 22 and contributed 42 assists against Chestnut Hill on Oct. 13.
Meanwhile, sophomore outside hitter
Kadi McCoy will be looking to improve on a solid freshman campaign which saw her earn All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference honorable mention notice. McCoy led the Lightning with 283 kills, which ranks seventh on the Lightning's all-time single-season list. She also ranked third on the team with 269 digs and also contributed 23 blocks and 29 service aces.
McCoy, who played in all 30 matches last year, posted nine “double double” efforts last year, including an 18-kill, 14-dig performance in a five-set victory at Nyack on Sept. 17. She also had a season-high 24 digs with 10 kills in a five-set match against Holy Family on Sept. 22 and contributed 12 kills with 18 digs in a five-set victory over the University of the Sciences on Oct. 27.
Both Dempsey and McCoy will serve as the team's captains this year for Coach
Rich Bowers, who begins his ninth season as the Lightning's leader.
Elizabeth City State is looking to continue its success after an 18-12 season last year, which included a berth in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament. A trio of Vikings - senior outside hitter
Morghan Stallings, junior outside hitter
Whitney Green sophomore right side hitter
Kyla Shute - were named to the preseason All-CIAA team. Green led the Vikings in kills last year and earned first team All-CIAA notice while Stallings and Shute were second team all-conference selections.
Meanwhile, Bowie State had a 9-23 record last year, including a 3-13 mark in the CIAA. Sophomore setter
Paige McIntosh had a team-high 23 blocks last year for the Bulldogs, who will also face the Lightning on Sept. 8 at Goldey-Beacom and on Sept. 13 at Bowie State.
Virginia State posted a 10-20 record last year, including a 8-8 mark in the CIAA. The Lady Trojans are led by senior outside hitter
Nikkisha Walker, who tallied a team-high 204 kills last year while contributing 233 digs and 23 blocks. Meanwhile, junior setter
Jasmine Henderson had 650 assists and a team-high 63 service aces. The Lady Trojans will play their first 11 matches on the road before opening the home schedule against Bowie State on Sept. 20.
After the season-opening tournament this weekend, the Lightning will open their home schedule against UMass-Lowell and Bowie State on Saturday, Sept. 8.
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