TIFFIN, Ohio - Tiffin volleyball will finally return to the Gillmor Center for their 2019 home opener this weekend, as they join with Findlay in hosting the Tiffin/Findlay Tournament from Friday to Sunday.
Six teams in all will be competing over the three days - Tiffin, Findlay, Hillsdale, Illinois-Springfield, Indianapolis, and Seton Hill - with Friday's match in Tiffin, Saturday's contests at Findlay, and Sunday's matches back in Tiffin. The Dragons will only face three of those opponents, however, taking on UIndy on Friday, UIS on Saturday, and Seton Hill on Sunday.
Game Information:
Friday, Sept. 20 - Gillmor Center - Tiffin, Ohio
6:00 p.m. - Tiffin (4-4) vs. (RV) Indianapolis (6-1) - Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 21 - Croy Gymnasium - Findlay, Ohio
11:30 a.m. - Findlay (1-7) vs. Indianapolis - Live Stats
2:00 p.m. - #14 Hillsdale (7-1) vs. Illinois-Springfield (5-3) - Live Stats (coming soon)
4:30 p.m. - Findlay vs. Seton Hill (3-2) - Live Stats
7:00 p.m. - Tiffin vs. Illinois-Springfield - Live Stats (coming soon)
Sunday, Sept. 22 - Gillmor Center - Tiffin, Ohio
9:00 a.m. - Hillsdale vs. Seton Hill - Live Stats
11:30 a.m. - Findlay vs. Illinois-Springfield - Live Stats
2:00 p.m. - Hillsdale vs. Indianapolis - Live Stats
4:30 p.m. - Tiffin vs. Seton Hill - Live Stats
Video at Tiffin: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/tiffin/
Video at Findlay: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/findlay/
*all times EST
Dragon Details:
Tiffin followed the same trend last weekend at the Bellarmine Invitational as they did the first weekend in Florida, splitting four matches in each to enter this weekend's competition at 4-4 on the year.
The Dragon attack is led by senior hitter Jenna Huffman, who leads the team with 4.86 kills per set and 20 blocks. She is joined on the front line by Kyndall Hellyer with 3.22 kills per set, seven blocks, and ten aces.
Loryn Huffman is the primary distributer for TU, dishing out 9.20 assists per set while recording 3.33 digs per set. Sam Fallis anchors the back line, registering 4.59 digs per set and 11 aces on the year thus far. Below is a quick overview of Tiffin's three opponents over the weekend.
Scouting the Greyhounds:
UIndy is off to a great start in 2019, receiving votes in the AVCA DII poll with a 6-1 record over the first two weeks. Their lone loss came in five sets to PSAC member Gannon on Sept. 13 during their home invitational.
Katie Furlong heads up the attack with 4.31 kills per set and a .332 hitting percentage. Jacquay Taylor (3.23, .279) and Julia Kruzan (2.89, .404) also figure to contribute at the net.
The Greyhounds are very balanced along the back line, with three players averaging between 2.25 and 2.75 digs per set. Elizabeth Eads leads the team with 15 blocks, while Alyssa Spears is tops with 11.00 assists per set.
Scouting the Prairie Stars:
Illinois-Springfield also competed at the UIndy Invitational last weekend, going 3-1 with sweeps of Gannon, Davenport, and Minnesota State Moorhead while falling in straight sets to Saginaw Valley.
As balanced as UIndy is along the back, UIS may be even more balanced in the front line as Alli Splitt, Hannah Nicolaisen, and Megan Krasowski each have between 2.85 and 2.96 kills per set. Becca Blakely is the setter, posting 10.42 assists per set along with nine aces.
Jailyn Borum leads the team with 4.42 digs per set, while Splitt (20 blocks) and Brianna Bush (23) head up the defense at the net.
Scouting the Griffins:
Seton Hill only has five games under their belts so far in 2019 after having a Florida tournament cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian. They are 3-2 over those four contests, though, with their losses coming to No. 12 Ferris State and a familiar foe to TU in GMAC rival Lake Erie.
Viktoria Farian is the primary attacker with 4.31 kills per set, while Taylor Sabol (6.15 assists per set) and Cameron Baril (3.69) have split setter duties thus far.
The Griffins have athletes with over four digs per set in Veronica Johns (5.27), Farian (4.46), and Jillian Livorse (4.17). Jessica Hanson leads the team with 12 blocks.