STORRS, Conn. – The UConn women's volleyball team begins their 2024 campaign with a weekend tournament against three non-conference opponents: Long Island, Youngstown State, and Sacred Heart.
Long Island (8/30, 7pm)
Long Island comes into Storrs receiving 4 first place votes in the Northeast Conference Poll. Last season, the Sharks went 13-19, and 9-5 in the NEC. LIU returns key players, including libero Alasha Colon, outside hitter Camelia Melendez, and setter Selina Koç, who is captain of Long Island this season. Melendez is a two-time All-NEC first teamer. Koç averaged 7.05 assists per set last season and ranked third in the NEC in total assists. Colon anchors the Shark defense as the reigning conference Defensive Player of the Year, as well as securing All-NEC first team and NEC All-Tournament Team Honors. Colon was ranked 10th in Division I in digs per set (5.43).
The Sharks are led by head coach Amable Martinez, who is in his second season at the helm. Long Island and UConn have not matched up since the athletic programs of LIU Post and LIU Brooklyn merged in 2019-2020. The Huskies played and defeated each program once, LIU Brooklyn in 2007 and LIU Post in 2009.
Youngstown State (8/31, 5pm)
Youngstown State is looking to bounce back from a 2023 season that saw the Penguins go 9-20 overall and 4-14 in the Horizon League. Youngstown State returns outside hitter Abbie Householder, who led the team in kills (291) last season, as well as setter Isabel Schaefbauer, who recorded 515 assists. The Penguins are led on defense by middle blocker Julia Sell, who notched 112 blocks which was the most by any Youngstown State player since 2017. Sell was second in the conference in blocks per set (1.05).
This will be the first time Youngstown State and UConn will match up. Youngstown State is led by first-year head coach Riley Jarrett, who is an Ohio native.
Sacred Heart (9/1, 2pm)
The Huskies will wrap up their opening weekend tournament against in-state opponent Sacred Heart. The Pioneers finished 12-15 last year and 11-3 in the MAAC. Sacred Heart is led by co-captains outside hitter Camryn Luginbuhl and middle blocker Cristina Montanez. Luginbuhl led the team with 254 kills last season and was named to the all-NEC Second Team. Montanez had a career high in multiple statistical categories, including kills (114), and a team-leading 90 blocks. Abby Zovko will be a key contributor for the Pioneers after winning NEC Setter of the Year and NEC Rookie of the Year. Zovko led the team with 662 assists.
Sacred Heart's head coach is Rob Machan, who has been leading the Pioneers since 2007. UConn is 4-1 in all-time meetings with Sacred Heart, winning their matchup last season in 3 sets in Storrs.
How to Watch
All three matches will be streamed on UConn+. A link to live statistics will be on the UConn Athletics official website.