Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook volleyball team plays its first home match of 2016 when the Seawolves welcome Iona to Pritchard Gymnasium Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
Welcome Home
Wednesday is the first match at Pritchard Gymnasium since Nov. 15, 2015, when the Seawolves defeated Hartford in four sets. Stony Brook is 24-9 at Pritchard Gymnasium under Coach Pawlikowski.
Last Time Out: Active Ankle Challenge
The Seawolves went 0-3 at the Active Ankle Challenge in Louisville, falling to Auburn, then-No. 21 Louisville and Santa Clara. The Broncos, who went 3-0 on the weekend, are No. 19 in this week's AVCA poll.
Scouting the Gaels
Iona enters Wednesday looking for its first victory of 2016. The Gaels were downed by Rutgers, Yale and Albany over the weekend in New Haven, Connecticut.
Claire Archibald leads the Gaels with 3.20 kills/set, while Jessica Paolucci has posted a team-high 3.56 digs/set. The Gaels have been limited to a .104 team hitting percentage in 2016.
The Last Time We Met: Iona
Alicia Nelson had a match-high 19 kills and Evann Slaughter added 16 as the Seawolves downed the Gaels in four sets for their first win of the 2011 campaign on Sept. 3, 2011.
History vs. the MAAC
Stony Brook is 39-18 against current members of the MAAC in its Division I history. The Seawolves were 0-1 against the conference last year with a four-set loss at Manhattan.
New York State of Mind
The Seawolves have defeated eight New York State opponents since Coach Pawlikowski took over in 2013 (Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Columbia, Fordham, Manhattan, St. Francis Brooklyn, Syracuse.
Building Blocks
Sophomore McKyla Brooks had eight blocks in the Aug. 30 match against Hofstra, which were the most in a three-set match by an America East player since Binghamton's Bianca Anderson had 10 against Siena on Sept. 8, 2014. Brooks then went on to earn all-tournament honors at the Active Ankle Challenge.
The Freshmen
All five Seawolves freshmen started in at least one match last weekend in Louisville. Maria Poole and Liz Pulver have started in all seven matches to begin the year.
High School Reunion
A Seawolves junior and Gaels sophomore will be reunited Wednesday night, as Stony Brook's Cydney Bowman and Iona's Jessica Paolucci were teammates at Florida's Lake Mary High School.
Up Next: Art Carmichael Invitational
Stony Brook hits the road again this weekend, as the Seawolves will play three matches in Kingston, Rhode Island, for the Art Carmichael Invitational. Stony Brook faces Rhode Island and Notre Dame Friday and San Diego State Saturday.
