Following Tuesday's Win, Volleyball Turns Attention to CSU

ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland University Volleyball continues its road stretch at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 1 in Cleveland, Ohio as the Golden Grizzlies eye Cleveland State as its next opponent.

Oakland was forced to rebound after a 25-10 set one loss on Tuesday night at Youngstown State as the team rattled off three-straight set victories to take the win and move to 2-2 in Horizon League play on the season, 6-10 overall.

The Golden Grizzlies' kill leader, Patti Cesarini, sits atop the team's leaderboard with 222 ahead of Clarke Adams and Libby Gentile with 136 and 128, respectively. Jessica Riedl eclipsed the 100-kill mark with 108 along with holding the top spot in blocks with 30 (four solo, 26 assisted) just ahead of Gentile with 25.

On the defensive front, Emily Wichmann has posted 304 digs above Cesarini with 151. AnnaBelle Tomei has lofted 248 assists throughout the season above Rachel Rossman with 187.

Cesarini is second in all of the Horizon League in kills with an average of 3.64 per set alongside Wichmann who is second in digs.

SCOUTING REPORT

CLEVELAND STATE
Both Oakland and CSU share similar conference marks at 2-2 as the Vikings defeated Robert Morris 3-1 on the road Tuesday along with a five set win over in-state rival Youngstown State. Just like OU, CSU dropped the weekend stint to Northern Kentucky and Wright State as well to go 5-10 on the year entering the game.

Laken Voss leads the squad with 183 kills on the season as the freshman leads four others who hover in the 70-kill mark through 15 games. Another freshman in Karly Klaer is on the top for assists with 358, the fourth most in the conference. Lastly, Lydia Latimer is second in the Horizon League in blocks at 57.

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.

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Players Mentioned

#17 Clarke Adams: OH; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#21 Patti Cesarini: OH; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#12 Libby Smith: MB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#14 Jessica Riedl: MB; 6' 0"; Graduate Student

#23 AnnaBelle Tomei: S; 5' 6"; Senior

#6 Emily Wichmann: DS/L; 5' 3"; Sophomore

#2 Lyse Bates: DS/L; Freshman

#16 Anika Prisby: MB; Freshman

#9 Rachel Rossman: S; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#17 Clarke Adams
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: OH

#21 Patti Cesarini
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: OH

#12 Libby Smith
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: MB

#14 Jessica Riedl
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student
: MB

#23 AnnaBelle Tomei
: 5' 6"; Senior
: S

#6 Emily Wichmann
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: DS/L

#2 Lyse Bates
: Freshman
: DS/L

#16 Anika Prisby
: Freshman
: MB

#9 Rachel Rossman
: Freshman
: S