Volleyball Returns to the Heights

Friday, October 2

Chestnut Hill, MA

7:30 PM

Boston College

Louisville

Clare Naughton jumps for an attack in Power Gym

Photo by: Zach Webster

October 01, 2020 | Volleyball

Watch: Friday (ACCNX)Watch: Saturday (ACCNX)Live Stats Game Notes Record Book

Eagles open 2020 season with a pair of matches vs. Louisville on ACCNX.

By: Athletic Communications

All home 2020 BC athletics events will be closed to the public due to Covid-19 protocols.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The 2020 fall ACC slate arrives at the Heights when Boston College hosts Louisville at Power Gym this weekend. Both matches will be streamed on ACCNX. Boston College takes the floor following the most successful season in program history. The Eagles went 20-12 under second-year head coach Jason Kennedy a year ago. BC finished seventh in the ACC with an 11-7 record, both high marks during the program's time in the league, and earned a spot in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The Eagles only return two starters this season in senior middle blocker Amaka Chukwujekwu and outside hitter Clare Naughton. Chukwujekwu led BC with a .377 attack rate and 1.01 blocks per set and was second on the team with 2.72 kills. Naughton finished third at 2.70 kills, while adding 1.22 digs and 0.35 blocks per set.

All-Time vs. Louisville...
The BC-Louisville series began in 2014 when the Eagles joined the ACC. Boston College welcomed the Cardinals to the league by taking a 3-2 win at the KFC Yum! Center. Louisville then rattled off seven straight wins in the series until 2019. The Cardinals lead the all-time series, 8-2.

Last Time They Met...
Boston College (17-7, 8-3 ACC) scored a five-set win over Louisville (15-6, 8-3) at Power Gym on Nov. 1, 2019. The Cardinals claimed set one, 25-18, but the Eagles fought off three set-points in the second, eventually winning 28-26 to even the match at a set apiece. The two sides traded sets in the third and fourth before BC dominated the fifth, 15-8, hitting .391 in the frame. Amaka Chukwujekwu tallied 14 kills to lead the Eagles with Cat Balido and Jewel Strawberry each contributing 12 kills.

Preseason ACC Honors/Rankings...
Amaka Chukwujekwu was selected to the Preseason All-ACC Team as voted on by the league's coaches. Last season, Chukwujekwu became BC's first All-ACC honoree since 2015 as a Second Team pick. Boston College was predicted to finish eighth by the coaches in the 15-team conference.

BC Class of '24...
The Eagles welcomed 10 players to the squad this season. BC will immediately look for its freshman class to impact the team, particularly at the setter position. Sophia Lambros and Grace Penn will each get an opportunity to guide the Eagle offense. Lambros was a three-time all-conference selection at Rosary Academy (Calif.) and a three-time Junior Nationals qualifier with A4 Volley. Penn totaled more than 2,500 career assists at Notre Dame (Calif.) HS and earned three all-conference selections.

Season Openers...
In the previous 30 years of BC volleyball, the Eagles compiled a 15-15 record on opening day. BC has won six of its last eight season openers following a sweep to Oregon State a year ago. Boston College is 20-10 all-time in its home opener; having won six of its last home openers. Last season, the Eagles downed Duke in four sets. In 2018, BC won head coach Jason Kennedy's debut with a sweep of Hartford in Power Gym on opening day.

ACC Openers...
Since joining the league, BC is 5-10 all-time in ACC-opening matches. The Eagles have won each of their last two conference openers; a 3-1 win at Clemson (2019) and a home sweep of Clemson (2018). BC is 6-9 all-time in ACC home openers, including last year's win over Duke. The Eagles have won three consecutive ACC home openers beginning with a 3-1 win over Georgia Tech in 2017.