Nov. 6, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format

A Look Back and a Look Ahead at Blue Jay Volleyball:

A Look Back at the Previous Week:
Hopkins dropped a tough 3-2 decision to McDaniel in the Centennial Conference semifinals on Saturday. The Blue Jays trailed 2-0 in the match at one point but rallied to force a fifth game. Four Blue Jays posted a double-double in the contest led by senior Natalia Fijalkowski's 20 kills and 19 digs and junior Amanda Lewis who posted 62 assists and 11 digs.

Scouting the Week Ahead:
Hopkins is able to extend its 2007 season as it earned the number one seed for the upcoming ECAC South Volleyball Tournament. It is the first time the Blue Jays have ever earned the number one seed for the tournament. Hopkins will host FDU-Florham in a first round match on Wednesday night. The Blue Jays hold a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series between the two squads.

I'm Honored:
Three Blue Jays earned First Team All-Centennial Conference honors last week as the league office announced its teams. Senior Natalia Fijalkowski along with juniors Amanda Lewis and Kim Jackanich all were selected for the honor. It is the first time in Fijalkowski's career that she has earned all-conference honors. Lewis earned first team honors after being an honorable mention selection as a freshman and sophomore. Jackanich is a first team selection after being honorable mention as a freshman.

In the ECAC Tournament:
Hopkins will be making its third appearance in the tournament under fifth year head coach Scott Pennewill. It will also be the eighth appearance in the tournament for the program overall. Hopkins sports a 3-7 record in ECAC Tournament games. The Blue Jays have advanced past the first round three times, the most recent coming during the 2005 season.

Streaking at Home:
Hopkins enters Wednesday night's match with an impressive win streak within the confines of Goldfarb Gymnasium. The Blue Jays have won all nine of their matches at home this year and dating back to last season have an impressive 11-game win streak at home.

Climbing the Record Book:
The Blue Jays' three captains this year have certainly made a place for themselves admist the JHU career records. Senior Natalia Fijalkowski recently cracked the top ten for career kills at Hopkins with 854 (ninth on the list). Fijalkowski also ranks tied for ninth in career hitting percentage at .213. Junior Amanda Lewis holds the JHU career assists record which currently stands at 3,745 and is climbing the career aces record with 146 (sixth on the list). Junior Kim Jackanich ranks 10th on the career digs list with 876 and is tied for fourth on the hitting percentage list at .260.

Against the ECAC Field:
Hopkins brings a record of 14-17 overall against participants in this week's ECAC South Volleyball Tournament. The Blue Jays best record is versus its first round opponent FDU-Florham at 4-0. Hopkins is 2-0 against number two seed New Jersey City including a 3-2 victory earlier this season at the Salisbury Invitational.

Stacking Up in the Centennial Stats:
Hopkins continues to rank high in several of the Centennial Conference statistics categories. The Blue Jays lead the conference in assists (13.42 per game), service aces (2.73 per game) and opponent's hitting percentage (.130). Hopkins is second in hitting percentage (.238) and kills (14.25 per game). Several Blue Jays also rank high in the individual categories. Sophomore Allison Cappelaere and junior Fiorella Castillo are first and second respectively in service aces per game at 0.66. Junior Amanda Lewis is second in assists with 11.82 per game. Junior Adrienne Young is fourth in hitting percentage (.284) and ninth in blocks (0.74). Sophomore Alex Zenoff is seventh in hitting percentage (.270) while junior Kim Jackanich is ninth at .264.