University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
SEMO
@MemphisVolley Opens Season at Marcia E Hamilton Classic
Aug 28, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
MEMPHIS NOTES
• Memphis Head Coach April Jauregui (87-103), who begins her seventh-year at the helm of the volleyball program, needs 13 victories to eclipse the 100-win plateau.
• Aleksandra Petronijevic enters her senior season with 1,618 career digs. Petronijevic is currently ranked No. 3 on the all-time list and needs 195 digs to break Christen Clayton's program record.
• Sophomore Catlin Lilly had more kills than any Memphis true freshman in the past decade and most kills by a freshman since Altrese Hawkins' breakout campaign in 2009.
• Senior Lauren Wright, the Tigers lone member on the preseason All-Conference team, returns after leading the squad a year ago in kills with 408.5. Wright opens the season with 786 career digs.
• Junior Veronica Zimmerman holds the record for assists by a setter in an American Conference game with 65. Zimmerman currently has 1,828 career assists.
• Junior Alexis Wesley ranked second on the team in the 2013 season with 321.5 points and posted 12 matches with at least 10 kills.
NEWCOMERS
• The Blue and Gray will also have seven newcomers for the coming campaign. Freshmen Kate Gibson, Kendall Seering, Faith Myers, Oluchi Agomuo, Regan Comperry and Charlotte Wellens all join the team after impressive prep careers. Another fresh face for the Tigers is junior Torika Baleilekutu who comes to Memphis by way of Missouri State-West Plains.
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
• Memphis is 9-9 in the opening three games of the season under head coach April Jauregui
• The Blue and Gray open the season with tournaments the first four weekends of the season before hitting the road for the conference opener against Tulane
• The Tigers will face off against foes from the SEC, Ohio Valley, Southland, Sun Belt, A10, Southern and Big Sky Conferences in the first month of the season
• Memphis will host 13 matches at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, including the Memphis Intercollegiate Tournament on Sept. 5-6
TIGERS EYEING RECORD BOOKS
• Seniors Aleksandra Petronijevic and Lauren Wright are each nearing career milestones. Petronijevic needs 195 digs to set the program career record while Wright needs 214 kills to eclipse 1,000 for her career.
• Junior Veronica Zimmerman currently sits at ninth-place in her career for assists with 1,828. Zimmerman needs 124 to move into sole possession of eighth place.
SEASON PREVIEW
• Senior Lauren Wright was named to the All-Conference team after leading the squad with 408.5 points in her junior campaign
• The Tigers were picked to finish eighth in the American, despite returning four starters and eight letterwinners
• SMU was pegged as the preseason favorite by American Athletic after receiving 9-of-11 first-place votes
AAC Preseason Poll
Place Team Points
1. SMU (9) 99
2. UCF (1) 87
3. Tulane (1) 79
4. Tulsa 73
5. USF 69
6. UConn 45
7. Houston 44
8. Memphis 40
9. Temple 34
10. Cincinnati 23
11. ECU 12
SCOUTING
• Scouting Southeast Missouri State - The Redhawks return nine letterwinners and three starters from last season's 17-16 squad. Senior Andrea Baylin is the top returner from a year ago with 328.5 points, 10 digs and 262 kills.
• Scouting Saint Louis - The Billikens return 11 letterwinners and four starters from last year's 13-17 team. Danielle Rygelski returns after claiming the A-10 Rookie of the Year award last season.
• Scouting Alabama - The Crimson Tide return six starters and nine letterwinners from last season's 24-10 team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Krystal Rivers garnered All-SEC honors, as well as being named to the SEC All-Freshman team after a breakout campaign in which she scored 520.5 points.
NEW FACES: NOBLE JOINS COACHING STAFF
• Kallie Noble joined the Memphis volleyball coaching staff in April 2014 after serving as the head coach at the University of St. Thomas.
• A 2003 graduate from Western Michigan, Noble has also served as the assistant coach at Tulane and Lincoln Memorial University.
