Sept. 13, 2004

The Florida Atlantic University volleyball team will play its first matches on Saturday since September 4th. The squad will face Lehigh and Stetson in DeLand, FL at 10 am and 1 pm, respectively.

The weekend of September 10th, Hurricane Frances disrupted the FAU Volleyball Classic and the team was not able to hold the event. After a two week layoff the team will face Lehigh for the first time in program history. The Mountain Hawks enter the weekend with a 1-7 record. The team has lost its last two contests after defeating Columbia 3-2 in the opening match of the Mountain Hawk Classic.

Michelle Schwendenmann leads the team with 95 kills and is averaging 3.17 kills per game, while freshman Kathleen Lafferty runs the team from the setter's spot and averages 7.83 assists per game and has a team-high 11 service aces.

The Hattters will be looking to avenge two losses last season to FAU and to narrow a 21-4 series record. Under first-year coach Cheryl Carlson, the squad has started the season at 1-2. A win over South Alabama to open the season was followed by two losses at the FSU Invitational. Scheduled to play in the FIU Invitational last weekend, the team cancelled its trip due to Hurricane Ivan.

Upperclassmen are leading the way offensively for Stetson. Senior Kira Smedley has collected 32 kills, while junior DeeAnn Dempsey has 26 kills and leads the team with seven service aces and 20 digs. Another freshman running the team, Rachel Miller has 53 assists in three matches.

With its best start since 1992 at 2-1, FAU picked up two consecutive wins over Davidson and Virginia Commonwealth after opening the season with a loss to Depaul at the Mizuno Wildcat Classic. Lauren McHugh and Krista Klawitter were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Middle hitters Iana Andonova and Cayse Kaveny lead the team with 43 and 42 kills, respectively. A First-Team All-Conference selection last season, Andonova leads the A-Sun with 0.82 service aces per game. Krista Klawitter has been impressive in her first season taking over the setting position. She is second in the conference with 11.91 assists per game.

As a team, the Owls lead the A-Sun with 15.27 assists per game and 21.27 digs per game.