ROCHESTER, Mich. – On Friday, Oakland University Volleyball will open the 2022 regular season with three games stretched over two days at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana for the Top Dawg Challenge hosted by Butler.

Oakland will look to outside hitters Clarke Adams and Patti Cesarini who return 310 of the 1268 total kills from a year ago while fortifying the front row of Libby Gentile and Jessica Riedl who aided in the 14 total blocks recorded from OU's 3-1 exhibition win over Davenport.

Defensive specialists, liberos, and setters Kennedy Dolmage, Annabelle Tomei, and Madison Ross will solidify an already athletic defense as the regular season begins. 

The Golden Grizzlies finished the 2021 campaign 172nd of 340 in the NCAA RPI with a 15-15 record.

Oakland's Top Dawg Challenge Schedule:
Friday, August 26 - vs Butler @ 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 27 - vs Eastern Illinois @ Noon
Saturday, August 27 - vs Akron @ 3:00 p.m.

SCOUTING REPORT

BUTLER
The Bulldogs are coming off a 3-2 loss in their exhibition match to Bradley following a 16-16 season in 2021 that saw the blue and white invited to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship Tournament, falling 3-0 to Valparaiso. Butler brought in four recruits to the 2022 roster and have posted a single individual, Jaymeson Kinley, to the Preseason All-Big East Team.

EASTERN ILLINOIS
In a 2021 campaign that saw the Panthers go 11-18, EIU was predicted to finish sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll after losing All-OVC First Team member Danielle Allen. The Panthers bring in six freshmen to the roster and have an exhibition win under their belt against University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL).

AKRON
This will be Akron's first test of the year after having no exhibition contest under the team's belt following a 10-20 campaign in 2021, falling to 4-14 in the MAC. The Zips lose Second Team All-MAC outside hitter Alexis Adleta and have two freshmen listed on the official 2022 roster.

 

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RICE NAMED HEAD COACH
In March of 2022, Oakland welcomed Krista Rice as Head Coach of the Golden Grizzlies after a stint as Associate Head Coach at Central Michigan. Rice then filled out her staff with Kyle Stahl of Western Michigan and Rick Wootten-Smith already at Oakland.

THREE NEW FACES
Oakland adds three freshmen to the fold in a new era of Golden Grizzlies volleyball in Lyse Bates, Rachel Rossman, and Anika Prisby.