Bobcats Close Non-Conference Slate at Henson Hawk Invitational

Game #7: Quinnipiac (2-4) vs. Gardner-Webb (2-3)
Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 | 10:00 AM
Princess Anne, MD | Hytche Athletic Center
Watch: Easternshorehawks.com | Live Stats: Click Here

Game #8: Quinnipiac vs. Hampton
Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 | 2:00 PM
Princess Anne, MD | Hytche Athletic Center
Watch: Easternshorehawks.com | Live Stats: Click Here

Game #9: Quinnipiac at UMES
Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 | 2:00 PM
Princess Anne, MD | Hytche Athletic Center
Watch: Easternshorehawks.com | Live Stats: Click Here

PRINCESS ANNE, MD. – Quinnipiac women's volleyball wraps its 2023 non-conference slate this weekend, as the Bobcats head to Princess Anne for the Henson Hawk Invitational held inside of the Hytche Athletic Center.

The Bobcats will open the weekend on Friday against Gardner-Webb at 10 a.m., before taking on Hampton later that day at 2 p.m. Quinnipiac will close the weekend against hosts UMES on Saturday at 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

QU went 1-2 over the weekend at the Columbia Invitational, falling in four sets against Virginia and Fordham before taking down Columbia in straight sets
Yagmur Gunes tallied 12 kills, 12 digs and five service aces in the win over Columbia
Leilani-kai Giusta led the match with 16 kills and added five digs and three assists
Gunes and Giusta were the top performers Bobcats over the weekend
Gunes tallied three consecutive double-doubles over the weekend at the Columbia Invitational and totaled 52.0 points, 43 kills, 41 digs, and nine service aces
In a three-game weekend for Giusta at the Columbia Invitational, Giusta totaled 49.0 points, 46 kills, and 22 digs

WEEKLY AWARD RECAP

Sophomore outside hitter Yagmur Gunes was named the MAAC Player of the Week, while first-year outside hitter Leilani-kai Giusta garnered MAAC Rookie of the Week honors as announced by the conference on Tuesday, Sept. 5 for their play at the Columbia Invitational
This is the first weekly award honor for the Bobcats this season, as well as the first career weekly award for both Gunes and Giusta in their respective collegiate careers
Gunes tallied three consecutive double-doubles over the weekend at the Columbia Invitational
Gunes totaled 52.0 points, 43 kills, 41 digs, and nine service aces over the weekend
She averaged 4.73 points, 3.91 kills, 3.73 digs, and 0.82 service aces per set
In a three-game weekend for Giusta at the Columbia Invitational, Giusta totaled 49.0 points, 46 kills, and 22 digs
Giusta averaged 4.85 points, 4.18 kills, and 2.00 digs per set for QU over the weekend
Giusta tallied 15 kills in back-to-back matches, adding a combined 15 digs between those matches
Giusta closed the weekend with 16 kills and five digs in a victory over Columbia

HOKIE INVITATIONAL RECAP

The Bobcats opened their season at the Hokie Invitational, going 1-2 over the weekend, dropping a thrilling five-set contest against Furman in the opener
Aryanah Diaz opened the 2023 season with 21 kills and 11 digs against Furman for her first double-double of the season
The Bobcats picked up their first win of the season in a 3-0 sweep over Morgan State in the weekend finale
Ginevera Giovagnoni led Quinnipiac with 11 kills and 12 digs for her second double-double of the early campaign
Graduate student Aryanah Diaz was named to the Hokie Invitational All-Tournament Team for her play over the weekend
Diaz totaled 41.5 points, 35 kills, 27 digs, eight assists and six service aces
For the three games, Diaz averaged 3.77 points, 3.18 kills and 2.45 digs per set

DEFENDING MAAC CHAMPS

The Bobcats finished the season with 14 wins, including a seven-game win streak through the end of the regular season and concluding with its first-ever MAAC title
QU defeated No. 3 Iona, 3-1, in the MAAC Quarterfinals, followed by a sweep over No. 7 Rider in the semifinals, then bested No. 1 Fairfield, 3-1, in the championship round to complete the historic run

PRESEASON FAVORITES

Quinnipiac women's volleyball has been selected as the preseason MAAC favorite, as announced on Friday, Aug. 18 by the league office.
The Bobcats earned the No. 1 spot in the 2023 Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll alongside Marist, with both programs receiving three of 11 first-place votes and 85 total points each.
Quinnipiac saw two student-athletes named to the preseason All-MAAC team, as graduate student Aryanah Diaz and sophomore Ginevra Giovagnoni garnered the honor.

HEAD COACH KYLE ROBINSON

Head Coach Kyle Robinson enters his fifth season with the Bobcats in 2023.
Robinson is 186-137 over his career as a collegiate head coach (7 seasons at LIU prior to QU)
Robinson has firmly cemented himself as one of the premiere college coaches in the NCAA's highest division. He effectively etched his signature on Quinnipiac volleyball by becoming the first head coach in program history to lead the program to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2022

REMEMBER NOVEMBER

The Bobcats earned their first-ever berth into the NCAA Tournament as an automatic qualifier after winning the 2022 MAAC Championship as a sixth seed last November, going 7-0 during the month beginning with a four-game win streak prior to the MAAC Tournament
During the run leading into the MAAC Tournament, the Bobcats had won each of its last four matches, dropping just one set between the contests

STRONG RETURNING GROUP

The Bobcats return 10 members who saw court time from last season's championship team
Among those returners are all three members of the MAAC Tournament All-Championship Team, Aryanah Diaz (outside hitter/opposite), Damla Gunes (libero), and Ginevra Giovagnoni (outside hitter)

THE '23 SCHEDULE

Head Coach Kyle Robinson and the squad return to Hamden, as the reigning MAAC champs host Niagara in the home opener on Burt Kahn Court on Sept. 16
Following a home match vs. Canisius (Sept. 17), Quinnipiac is on the road for its next five contests. The Bobcats open its five-game road trip with Marist (Sept. 23) and Siena (Sept. 24), before taking on Iona (Sept. 30) and Manhattan (Oct. 1). Quinnipiac ends its five-game road stand with a rematch of the 2023 MAAC Championship at Fairfield on October 6.
The Bobcats return to Hamden with a Wednesday MAAC matchup with Manhattan (Oct. 11), followed by home matches with Saint Peter's (Oct. 14) and Rider (Oct. 15).
Quinnipiac heads to Buffalo for its weekend matches against Niagara (Oct. 21) and Canisius (Oct. 22), before returning to Hamden for a four-game homestand. The Bobcats will welcome Iona to Hamden (Oct. 25), followed by its second match with Fairfield (Oct. 29).
Quinnipiac opens the month of November at home against Marist on the fourth before the 2023 home finale against Siena (Nov. 5) for Senior Day.
The Bobcats wrap their regular season on the road with bouts at Rider (Nov. 11) and Saint Peter's (Nov. 12).
For more information on Quinnipiac Volleyball, visit gobobcats.com/volleyball and follow the team on Twitter and Instagram, @QU_WVB.

Schedule

Bobcats Close Non-Conference Slate at Henson Hawk Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Aryanah Diaz

Ginevra Giovagnoni

Leilani-kai Giusta

Damla Gunes

Yagmur Gunes

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Quinnipiac University Athletics

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Sacred Heart on Sep. 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Fairfield on Sep. 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Merrimack on Sep. 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus Canisius on Oct. 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Bobcats Close Non-Conference Slate at Henson Hawk Invitational

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Aryanah Diaz

Ginevra Giovagnoni

Leilani-kai Giusta

Damla Gunes

Yagmur Gunes

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