Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Drake
GAME NOTES: Wildcats Return to NIVC
11/29/2022 1:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Sunday, December 4 | 12:00 PM MT
Wichita, KS | Koch Arena
TV Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/2QW1GcQ
For the fourth time in as many season, Weber State volleyball advances to national postseason play and has accepted a bid to play in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The Wildcats will be playing the Drake Bulldogs in Wichita, Kansas on Sunday, December 4 at 12:00 PM MT.
This is the third appearance in the NIVC in the previous four years for Weber State. In the team's two previous appearances (2019, 2021), the team advanced to the quarterfinals.
THE MATCHES
• Weber State volleyball is once again playing December volleyball and has accepted a bid to the 2022 National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
• The Wildcats will be playing the Drake Bulldogs of the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake went 26-7 (16-2) on the season and had wins over Montana and Iowa.
• Drake advanced to the MVC title match against Northern Iowa and fell in five sets.
• Weber State is 3-0 all-time against Drake, the last matchup between the two teams coming in 2016 when Weber State won 3-1.
QUICK HITS
• Weber State won the 2020 and 2021 Big Sky Conference championships, including the 2020-21 conference tournament. Over the past two championship seasons, the Wildcats went 41-12 overall and 28-4 in conference play. In 2021, the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIVC, and in 2020-21 the Wildcats won the first NCAA tournament match in program history.
• Dani Richins was named the 2021 Big Sky Conference MVP, and was named an All-American for the second time in her career. Richins was named to the 2022 Big Sky All-Conference First Team for the fourth time in her career.
• Emma Mangum and Makayla Sorensen each received nods to the 2022 Big Sky All-Conference Second Team. This was the first time that either of them have been selected to the all-conference team.
• Brielle Rueckert led the Wildcats and the Big Sky Conference in hitting percentage by hitting a staggering .376.
• The Wildcat defense is leading the way in the Big Sky Conference and is number one in opponent hitting percentage (.164) and digging (16.22/set), and is second in blocking (2.64/set) and opponent service aces (1.27/set)
DOMINANT DEFENSE
• At 2.64 blocks per set, the Wildcat front line is second in the Big Sky Conference and ranked 20th in the nation.
• The Wildcats are holding opponents to a .164 hitting percentage this season. That number leads the Big Sky Conference and is 17th in the NCAA.
• Weber State's back line has been impressive this season and is averaging 16.22 digs per set - the most in the Big Sky Conference and 34th in the country.
FANTASTIC FRESHMEN
• The Wildcats most recent recruiting class is one of the most highly-touted in school history, and several fantastic freshman are already making big impacts.
• Saane Katoa was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week in the opening week of the season. She tallied 19.0 blocks in the Wildcat Invitational - a tournament that Weber State went 3-0 in.
• When the Wildcats have needed a clutch kill, they've turned to true freshman Ashley Gneiting. Gneiting - who has scored crucial set and match-clinching kills several times this season - has led the team in kills in five matches this season.
• Rueckert led the Big Sky Conference with a .376 hitting percentage this season. Now that she qualifies with over 100 career kills, Rueckert has the highest career hitting percentage in Wildcat history.
