Oct. 2, 2007

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SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah volleyball team puts a four-match winning streak on the line against No. 22 New Mexico State on Wednesday, Oct. 3. The Utes return to Mountain West Conference action on Friday, Oct. 5, against New Mexico and take on TCU on Saturday, Oct. 6.

The Week In Review
Utah began the week with a 3-0 win over in-state rival Weber State. Kathryn Haynie, Kate Robison and Whitney Webb each had 14 kills for the Utes. Robison had 14 digs on the night while Webb tallied four blocks. Haynie had a career-best four service aces. Stephanie Shardlow tallied her second-straight double-double with 28 assists and 11 digs. As a team, the Utes hit a season-best .272 in the contest.

The Utes continued the week with wins on the road against Air Force (3-0) and Wyoming (3-1). Utah hit .217 against a tough Cowgirl team, led by Haynie's 15 kills. Lori Baird also had a solid match with a .455 hitting percentage, four aces and four blocks. Connie Dangerfield recorded 13 digs to break Utah's career record for digs.

Scouting New Mexico State
New Mexico State (11-3, 3-1 WAC) is currently ranked 22nd in the latest AVCA poll. The Aggies downed Boise State (3-0) and Idaho (3-1) in their last two games. Their only losses of the season have come against No. 1 Nebraska, No. 6 Texas and No. 13 Hawai'i.

Lindsey Yon leads NMSU with 4.39 kills per game. Alyssa Gintant serves as the setter with 9.28 assists per game. Krystal Torres has 5.44 dpg and 0.25 aces per game. Kim Oguh leads the Aggies in the middle with 1.20 blocks per game.

Mike Jordan, in his 10th season as head coach of NMSU, is 195-91 in his career.

The Aggies lead the all-time series against Utah, 15-16. However, the two teams have not faced off since 1993, a 3-0 Utah win.

Scouting New Mexico
New Mexico is 12-4 overall and 3-1 in the MWC. The Lobos won their first seven games of the season before falling to New Mexico State, 3-1, on Sept. 4. New Mexico's only conference loss came to Colorado State on Sept. 15.

Jeanne Fairchild leads the Lobos with 4.68 kills per game. Lisa Meeter is one of New Mexico's most consistent players, with 3.10 kpg and 3.14 dpg. She also has 26 aces. Jade Michaelsen (6.83 assists per game) and Sarah Kwasigroch (5.38 assists per game) share the setting duties while Gayle Tripp serves as libero, recording 4.46 dpg. Anna Lehne has tallied 1.04 blocks per game.

Head coach Jeff Nelson is in his first year at New Mexico and his 13th season as a head coach. He has a 254-151 overall record.

Utah leads the series with the Lobos, 38-27. The last Ute loss was in 2005.

Scouting TCU
TCU is 15-4 on the season (2-2 MWC). The Horned Frogs have lost their last two games, both 3-0, to Texas State and New Mexico.

Three players are averaging more than three kills per game, led by Kourtney Edwards (3.51). She also leads the squad with 1.26 blocks per game. Nirelle Hampton serves as the setter, and is averaging 11.21 assists per game, as well as leading the Horned Frogs in service aces. Calli Corley has 4.83 digs per game, with Loren Barry coming in with 3.63 digs per game.

Prentice Lewis serves as the head coach of TCU.

Utah is 7-0 against TCU in the history of the series.

Against the Best
New Mexico State is the fifth team in the top 25 of the AVCA poll that Utah has faced this year. Utah defeated No. 17 Purdue (3-2) and played competitive matches against No. 4 USC, No. 5 UCLA and No. 6 Florida, losing several games in each match by just a few points. In addition, the Utes fell to Dayton, 3-2, which moved into the rankings after playing Utah. Colorado State has been ranked in the low top 25 while UNLV has received votes in the poll.

Dangerous Dangerfield
Senior Connie Dangerfield broke the Utah career record for digs against Wyoming on Sept. 29. She currently has 1,318 career digs, which breaks the Utah previous record of 1,313, set in 1997 by Brenda Barton-Whicker. Dangerfield is currently averaging 4.44 digs per game.

Dangerfield was named to the all-tournament team of the AVCA Showcase. She averaged 5.38 digs per game at the showcase, more than any other player.

Hot Haynie
Junior Kathryn Haynie leads the Utes with 3.71 kills per game. She has led the team in kills (or tied for the team lead) in nine matches this season, including seven of the last eight. Her career-high of 22 kills came against San Diego State on Sept. 13.

In addition, Haynie leads the team with 18 service aces. She had a career-best four against Weber State.

Fantastic Freshmen
Freshmen Keisha Fisher, Karolina Bartkowiak and Stephanie Shardlow have each made significant contributions in their first year with Utah. Fisher made her first start for the Utes against UCLA. She has had seven double-doubles this season. Fisher currently leads the Utes with 9.82 assists per game.

Bartkowiak is also a regular on the floor. She is second on the team with 1.08 blocks per game.

Shardlow has started four matches this year, playing in 10. She had the first double-double of her career against Colorado State (39 assists, 11 digs) and currently has four total.

Leilani Ili has also played as a freshman.