Oct. 2, 2003

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Yale volleyball team opens its 2003 home and Ivy League schedules when they host Brown at the John J. Lee Amphitheater on Friday at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs enter the match with a 7-2 record, which marks their best start since the 1992 season, while the Bears enter action at 1-7.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-1 weekend at the Wagner Invitational in Staten Island, N.Y. Junior Jana Freeman and sophomore Renee Lopes were selected to the all-tournament team following victories over Wagner and Morgan State last Sunday.

Brown is led by reigning Ivy League Player of the Week Karalyn Kuchenbecker. A 5-10 outside hitter, Kuchenbecker had three double-doubles in four matches last week for the Bears.

Last season, Yale and Brown split a pair of five-game matches, with each school winning on its home court. On the last day of the 2002 season, the Bulldogs defeated Brown, 3-2, as five Yale players recorded at least 10 kills.

In 2002, the Bulldogs were 7-5 at home and 7-7 in conference play.