DAYTON - The University of Dayton volleyball team is set to open Atlantic 10 Conference play at George Mason on Friday. First serve between the Flyers and Patriots is set for 7 p.m. at George Mason's Recreation Athletic Complex in Fairfax, Virginia. The match will be available via live stream by
clicking here.
About Dayton
Dayton (9-4) is coming off a 3-0 weekend to claim the Flyer Invitational Title and are currently enjoying a four-match winning streak. Senior
Lauren Bruns was named the tournament MVP for her work over the weekend and then named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week on Monday for the third time this season. As a team, the Flyers lead the A-10 in kills/set (13.69) and hitting percentage (.276, 19th NCAA) while ranking second in assists/set (12.54) and blocks/set (2.34). Bruns leads the team with 4.37 kills/set (1st A-10/27th NCAA).
Scouting George Mason
George Mason (2-8) had its home tournament canceled this past weekend due to Hurricane Florence but was able to get a single match against Lehigh in, falling to the Mountain Hawks, 3-1. Mason's last win came against Norfolk State, 3-0, on Sept. 1 and the Patriots are currently suffering a five-match losing streak. George Mason is led by Siron Hardy with 2.45 kills/set (14th A-10) and Peyton Ehmke with a .262 hitting percentage (12th A-10).
Series Stuff
Dayton has never lost to George Mason in the nine-match series that dates back to 2001. The pair squared off twice last season with the Flyers picking up 3-0 wins over the Patriots at home Oct. 20 and in Fairfax on Nov. 11.
RPI Rankings
In the final NCAA Rating Percentage Index (RPI) of 2017, Dayton came in at 55 according to NCAA.com. George Mason was ranked 276th at the end of last season. 2018's first RPI ranking will be released by the NCAA on Oct. 1.
Last Time Out
Dayton downed Ohio State in a hard-fought 3-2 win Saturday night in the Flyer Invitational finalé to close out a 3-0 weekend. Senior
Lauren Bruns led all attackers with 22 kills on her way to being named the tournament MVP while sophomore
Brooke Westbeld tallied 30 assists and 15 digs for the double-double. Freshman
Alli Papesh added in a career-high 15 kills for the Dayton attack as well.
Flyer Facts
•
Tim Horsmon is in his 10th season overall, and fifth since 2007, as head coach of the Flyers in 2018. His record at Dayton is 247-69 and his career win-loss mark sits at 423-233 in 20 seasons as a head coach. Horsmon is the program's second-winningest coach behind only R. Elaine Dreidame who amassed 310 wins 1970-79.
• Over the last nine seasons (2009-2017), the Flyers have recorded a 119-10 (.922) mark in regular season Atlantic 10 Conference play, including a perfect 14-0 mark in 2016, 2015 and 2012 and a 15-0 record in 2010. UD suffered only one conference loss in 2017, 2014, 2011 and 2009.
• Dayton made its 18th-consecutive and 21st overall appearance in the Atlantic 10 Championship in 2017. The Flyers have reached conference post-season play every year they have been a member of the A-10 except 1995 and 1999. UD holds a 25-10 record in league tournaments.
• Dayton has won the Atlantic 10 Regular Season title 13 times (2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2001, 1998). The Flyers have won the A-10 Championship title a league-record 11 times (2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003) and made their 12th NCAA appearance in program history in 2016.
• With two wins at the 2014 Bowling Green Hampton Inn Invitational, Dayton surpassed the 1,000-win mark as a program to become just the 13th NCAA DI team to attain that level of success. The Flyers currently rank 12th all-time in the Division I record book with an overall program tally of 1,117-586 (.656) over 48 seasons (1970).
• The Flyers finished the 2017 season with a 23-8 overall record and a 13-1 Atlantic 10 mark, finishing in second place in regular-season league play. 2017 was the program's 39th winning season and its 30th 20-win season.
