Pirates Host Seton Hall Classic This Weekend

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016
** SETON HALL CLASSIC **
GEORGE WASHINGTON (1-2) at
SETON HALL (0-3)
Walsh Gymnasium – South Orange, N.J.
7:00 p.m. ET
FREE LIVE VIDEO | Radio | Live Stats | Twitter

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2016
** SETON HALL CLASSIC **
CANISIUS (2-1) at SETON HALL (0-3)
Walsh Gymnasium – South Orange, N.J.
10:00 a.m. ET
FREE LIVE VIDEO | Radio | Live Stats | Twitter

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2016
** SETON HALL CLASSIC **
SETON HALL (0-3) vs. TOWSON (4-0)
Walsh Gymnasium – South Orange, N.J.
7:30 p.m. ET
FREE LIVE VIDEO | Radio | Live Stats | Twitter

PREVIEW
Seton Hall will make its 2016 home debut this weekend when it hosts three teams as part of the Seton Hall Classic in Walsh Gym on Friday and Saturday. The Pirates will welcome George Washington, Canisius and Towson to South Orange. On Friday, The Hall will face George Washington at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, it will face Canisius at 10:00 a.m. and Towson at 7:30 p.m. All three contests will be available to watch free of charge via the Pirate Sports Network at www.SHUpirates.com.

The Pirates are coming off a rough start to the season at the Golden Dome Invitational last weekend. Seton Hall lost in straight sets to all three of its opponents, Notre Dame, Western Michigan and Cleveland State. Despite the team struggles, senior Danielle Schroeder was named to the All-Tournament Team. The Pirates were without two-time BIG EAST Libero of the Year last weekend, but she will return for Friday's home opener.

Seton Hall will begin the weekend vs. George Washington at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. It will be the first meeting in history between the two programs. The Colonials enter the weekend with a 1-2 record having dropped two of three matches at the Cavalier Classic. They were swept by Northwestern and host Virginia, before getting in the win column with a five-set victory over Buffalo. The Pirates' home opener will also be Volleyball Bingo night. Fans can pick up a bingo card prior to the match for a chance to win gift cards to local restaurants.

The Pirates will host Canisius for a breakfast matchup at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Seton Hall has won all three prior meetings with the Golden Griffins, including a sweep in their most-recent meeting on Sept. 7, 2012 at the University of Rhode Island Tournament. Canisius won two of three matches last weekend and enters the tournament with a 2-1 record. They dropped their season opener in straight sets to East Carolina, but bounced back to register a five-set victory over Bucknell and a sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson.

Finally, The Hall will face Towson at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Tigers won the only two prior meetings between the teams, including a five-set victory over Seton Hall in their most recent meeting on Sept. 16, 2006. This year, Towson enters the weekend as one of the hottest teams in the country. The Tigers are a perfect 4-0 and have yet to lose a set so far in 2016, going 12-for-12 in sets. They've registered straight set victories over Jackson State, Texas Southern, Alabama State and Alabama A&M.

SETON HALL NOTES
SCHROEDER NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Senior Dani Schroeder was named to the Golden Dome Invitational All-Tournament Team. The outside hitter led the Pirates with 3.22 kills per set over the tournament's three matches. She also had seven blocks and eight digs.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR CVELBAR
Freshman Maggie Cvelbar recorded the Pirates' first double-double of the season vs. Cleveland State on August 27. The setter recorded team-highs of 16 assists and 10 digs. The Pirates' employment of a 6-2 formation allowed for both setters, Cvelbar and Sophia Coffey, to pick up their share of statistics.

THELEN MAKES THE SWITCH
Sophomore Abby Thelen made a successful debut in a new position last weekend. After starting all 30 matches at middle blocker in 2015, she started all three matches at the Golden Dome Invitational at outside hitter. Thelen had 2.89 kills per set and a team-best 4.22 digs per set.

FOURNIER NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST
Senior Tessa Fournier was unanimously named to the 2016 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. A three-time AVCA All-Region honoree, Fournier was named BIG EAST Libero of the Year for a second consecutive season in 2015, and led the BIG EAST in both digs (583) and digs per set (5.16).

FREE PIRATES SPORTS NETWORK
For the first time ever, all live events on the Pirates Sports Network (PSN) will be carried free of charge on SHUpirates.com. You can now see all 12 home volleyball contests live from Walsh Gym in 2016 for free.

CLIMBING THE LIST
Sophomore Sophia Coffey became only the 10th player in Seton Hall history with 1,000 career assists last season. She needs just 60 more to pass Nicole Harguindeguy for ninth on the all-time list.

PRESEASON POLL
Seton Hall was picked seventh in this year's BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll. Creighton was the unanimous conference favorite, followed by Marquette and Xavier. The Pirates have outplayed their expectations in each of the last two seasons under head coach Allison Yaeger. In 2014, The Hall was picked to finish sixth, but placed second. In 2015, they were picked sixth, but finished fifth.

VOLLEYBALL ON BEDN
Seton Hall will have two regular season matches broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network, a Nov. 12 date at Marquette followed by a Nov. 19 home game vs. St. John's. Should the Pirates qualify for the BIG EAST Championship, the semifinal round will also be carried on BEDN.

FOURNIER APPROACHING SECOND
Senior Tessa Fournier needs 341 digs to pass current assistant coach Allie Matters for second on Seton Hall's career digs list. Former teammate Alyssa Warren is the Pirates' all-time leader with 2,381.

FOLLOW @SHUVOLLEY ON TWITTER
For inside info, pictures, and in-match updates, follow the SHU volleyball program on Twitter @SHUVolley.

AVCA TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD
Seton Hall was one of six BIG EAST volleyball programs that received a 2016 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. The award honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average.

PIRATES ADD FIVE
In 2016, Seton Hall is welcoming five newcomers to the roster. Eligible to begin play this fall are freshmen Maggie Cvelbar, Haylee Gasser and Madison Salkowski. Junior walk-on Brooke Flores also joins the team, as does junior transfer Dominique Mason.

SEEKING HISTORY
This season, Tessa Fournier is looking to become only the second player in BIG EAST history to be named BIG EAST Libero of the Year three times. St. John's Lena Yee won the award from 2006-08. Fournier has won it each of the last two seasons.