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Skip Townsend

Women's Volleyball David Gibson

Golden Grizzlies Set for Beale Street Challenge

ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland University Volleyball will face three challengers at the Beale Street Challenge hosted by Memphis, in Memphis, September 9-10. 

The Golden Grizzlies posted an event-best 2-1 record at the Kent State Invitational last weekend with victories over Southern Indiana and Cornell as Jessica Riedl was named the challenge's most valuable player with 21 kills and seven block assists. 

Patti Cesarini continues to dominate as the team's kill leader with 81 through 23 sets played with a hitting percentage of .202. Just behind Cesarini sits Libby Gentile and Clarke Adams in the kill column with 52 and 43, respectively. At third overall in kills in the Horizon League, Cesarini not only leads in the aforementioned category but also in service aces (second) and points (third).

As mentioned, Riedl is the team's leader in blocks with 15 so far this season along with Gentile who carries 11. Also on the defensive side of possession is Emily Wichmann who is third overall in the Horizon League in digs with a total of 119 through 23 sets for an average of 5.17 per set.

Oakland's Beale Street Challenge Schedule:
Friday, September 9 - Illinois State, 9 AM
Friday, September 9 - Memphis, 7 PM
Saturday, September 10 - Queens, 9 AM

SCOUTING REPORT

ILLINOIS STATE
The Redbirds are 4-2 on the year following a perfect 3-0 sweep during the Redbird Classic versus Oral Roberts, Southeast Missouri State, and Horizon League foe Green Bay. Illinois State also took a five set victory over Cincinnati in the opener. The Missouri Valley Conference named Prondzinski Player of the Week and Haith Defender of the Week recently.

MEMPHIS
At 4-3 overall, host Memphis is coming off a 1-2 showing at the TCU Tournament while being swept by Texas A&M and Coastal Carolina. Miaya Smith has taken 64 kills so far this season in 26 sets played while also leading the Tigers in block assists with 13. 

QUEENS
This is the second NCAA Division I transitional team that Oakland has faced all year as the Royals play as Atlantic Sun Conference members this season. Queens has two tournaments under their belts so far with a 2-5 mark as Alleigh Johnson is approaching 100 kills with 92 so far. 

 


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

Clarke Adams

#17 Clarke Adams

OH
5' 9"
Sophomore
Patti Cesarini

#21 Patti Cesarini

OH
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Libby Smith

#12 Libby Smith

MB
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jessica Riedl

#14 Jessica Riedl

MB
6' 0"
Graduate Student
Emily Wichmann

#6 Emily Wichmann

DS/L
5' 3"
Sophomore
Lyse Bates

#2 Lyse Bates

DS/L
Freshman
Anika Prisby

#16 Anika Prisby

MB
Freshman
Rachel Rossman

#9 Rachel Rossman

S
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Clarke Adams

#17 Clarke Adams

5' 9"
Sophomore
OH
Patti Cesarini

#21 Patti Cesarini

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
OH
Libby Smith

#12 Libby Smith

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
MB
Jessica Riedl

#14 Jessica Riedl

6' 0"
Graduate Student
MB
Emily Wichmann

#6 Emily Wichmann

5' 3"
Sophomore
DS/L
Lyse Bates

#2 Lyse Bates

Freshman
DS/L
Anika Prisby

#16 Anika Prisby

Freshman
MB
Rachel Rossman

#9 Rachel Rossman

Freshman
S