ROCHESTER, Mich. – On Tuesday, Oakland University Volleyball opens #HLVB play on the road at the UMPC Events Center in Moon Township, Pennsylvania to do battle with the Colonials of Robert Morris.

The Golden Grizzlies came out of the non-conference slate with a 4-8 mark, including wins over Akron, Southern Indiana, Cornell, and Evansville. 

Patti Cesarini has 167 kills to her credit with the second-most kills per set in the Horizon League at 3.63 as two others eclipsed the 100-barrier in Clarke Adams and Libby Gentile at 107 and 102, respectively. 

AnnaBelle Tomei is at a flat 200 assists on the year with freshman Rachel Rossman in toe with 139 following a All-Tournament Team appearance in the Green and White Classic as the Crown Point, Indiana native recorded 32 in a game. Gentile and Jessica Riedl continue as a force at the front line with 19 and 17 blocks on the year. 

Oakland has the seventh-best non-conference record in the Horizon League while Robert Morris has the third. In seven meetings, the Golden Grizzlies are 7-0 against RMU.

SCOUTING REPORT

ROBERT MORRIS
The Colonials go into the #HLVB opener with a 7-5 mark with two of the team's most recent losses coming in the Fairfield Inn and Suites Dunn Campbell Invitational to The Citadel and host Campbell in Buies Creek. 

RMU has two individuals over the 100-plus kill mark with Abby Ryan and Annie Monaco with 113 and 110, respectively. Ashleigh Wallin is the team's leader in assists with 252 on the year so far, good enough for sixth in the conference. Emma Brown hopes to build upon her 37 blocks this year on the defensive front. 

 

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START YOUR MVP CHANTS
Riedl was named the Kent State Invitational MVP following 21 kills and seven block assists as Oakland went a team-best 2-1 in the event.

OAKLAND SIXTH IN PRESEASON POLL
The Golden Grizzlies earned 51 points in the 2022 #HLVB Preseason Coaches Poll for sixth place. Northern Kentucky is predicted to be the champion with 96 points and six first-place votes.

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.