UConn starts their last stretch of Big East play this weekend with a Friday night game against West Virginia at 7 p.m.. On Sunday, they will conclude their 2009 season home schedule with a match against Pittsburgh at 2 p.m.
"This will be a tough weekend for us, but it is important that we go hard because we need to insure that we make it to the [Big East Tournament]," said senior Chauntay Mickens.
West Virginia is 13-11 overall and 3-6 in Big East play. In their last meeting with the Mountaineers, the Huskies won the match 3-1, increasing UConn's lead in the all-time series to 14-2.
Pittsburgh is coming off their ninth shut out of the year. They improved to 15-8 overall and 7-2 in the conference with a victory over West Virginia last week. As a whole, Pitt continues to out-block their opponents, 226-159.
"There will be a big rivalry between us and Pittsburgh," said senior Rebecca Murray. "We beat them at their house last year on Senior Night and now the situation is reversed."
Connecticut stands at an even 12-12 overall record and is 5-3 in the Big East. Pitt leads the all-time series between the two opponents, 13-8, despite a 3-1 loss to the Huskies last year.
For the second time this season, Murray was announced to the Big East honor roll on Monday. She recorded her sixth-consecutive double-digit kill total at St. John's on Oct. 25, leading the team with a 2.40 kill-per-set average. She recorded her second double-double of the year with 14 kills and 11 digs against the Fairfield Stags. She averages a team-best 2.55 kills and leads the team in blocks with 81, and service aces with 29.
Sunday's match against Pittsburgh is UConn's Senior Day.
"As long as we come together, stay focused and play hard I am confident about the weekend ahead of us," Mickens said as she prepares for her final games at Gampel Pavilion.
Be the first to comment on this article!