STORRS, Conn.- UConn volleyball returns home to host the Dog Pound Challenge presented by Bozzutos/ Hometown Foundation this weekend at the UConn Volleyball Center after continuing their hot start to the 2024 season. The Huskies came away with wins in all three matches at the Ellis Rowland Memorial Tournament last weekend, moving to 6-0 overall. The Huskies will host Delaware State, University of Albany, and Dartmouth College.

On the offensive end, the Huskies got a strong performance from Junior Emma Werkmeister (Victor, N.Y.), who won tournament MVP for the second consecutive weekend. Werkmeister notched 58 kills on the weekend, punctuated by a career-high 29 in a reverse sweep victory over Colgate. Werkmeister was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the second consecutive week as well. Grad student Taylor Pannell (Middletown, N.Y.) came back into the lineup with 38 kills and 15 block assists on the weekend, also being named to the all-tournament team.

Defensively, R-Sophomore Audrey Rome (Sandwich, Ill.) anchored UConn with a breakout weekend, with 18 total blocks and 30 kills that led to Rome winning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week.

Delaware State (9/13, 7pm)

UConn's first match of the weekend is against Delaware State from the MEAC. After a 17-13 record last year (9-5 MEAC), the Hornets are 1-5 in 2024, securing the first victory last Friday against UNC Charlotte in the Charlotte Invitational. Delaware State is led by Junior Outside Hitter Gerren Tomlin, who leads the team with 50 kills on the year and 12 service aces. Defensively, senior Martyna Kmuk and sophomore Hannah Sanders have each poured in 13 blocks in the first two weekends for the Hornets.

The Hornets are coached by David Brooks, who is entering his second season of coaching at Delaware State. Brooks brings in championship experience after winning the CIAA championship while coaching at DII Elizabeth City in North Carolina.

This is the first time Delaware State and UConn have matched up.

UAlbany (9/14, 4pm)

UAlbany comes into Storrs at 3-3 on the season, after compiling a 7-18 record last year. Last weekend, the Great Danes hosted the Albany Invitational and went 2-1 on the weekend, taking down Iona and FDU in consecutive days. Offensively, redshirt junior outside hitter Shynelle Woroniuk leads UAlbany with 78 kills, with a season-high 19 in the win over FDU. Freshman setter Maria Olga Siapani has stepped up the absence of 2023 setter of the year Zosia Szczotikiewicz, pacing the Danes with 189 set assists. Middle Blocker Gabriella Karman has 19 blocks on the year to lead UAlbany on the defensive end. 

Head Coach Josh Pickard leads UAlbany, who has been with the program since 2015 and took over head coaching duties in 2019, the same year in which the Danes won America East Coaching Staff of the Year. 

This is the sixth match between UConn and UAlbany all-time, with the Huskies leading the all-time series 3-2, winning the last matchup in August of 2021.

Dartmouth (9/15, 1pm)

The standalone match on Sunday sees UConn taking on Dartmouth, who comes in 2-1 on the year. The Big Green won their final two matches of the weekend, taking down Lindenwood and host Northeastern. Last season, Dartmouth went 9-14 overall, going 6-8 in Ivy League play. 

Outside Hitter Kauany Gutz has led the charge on the offensive end for Dartmouth, with 57 kills so far, including a big performance in the win over Northeastern with 30 kills. Setter Karen Murphy anchors the Big Green, with already 73 set assists through the first three games.  On the defensive end, middle blocker Raeli Smith is at the forefront, with 14 blocks.

Dartmouth's head coach is Kevin Maureen Campbell, who enters her second season at the helm for the Big Green. Last season, Campbell coached All-Ivy Honorable Mention Amelia Gibbs in her senior season, as she closed her Dartmouth career with the best career hitting percentage in program history.

This will be the 6^th time Dartmouth and UConn match up historically, with the Big Green taking the last matchup in 2021 despite the Huskies leading the series all-time 3-2.

How to Watch: All three matches will be streamed on UConn+. A link to live statistics will be on the UConn Athletics official website.