ROCHESTER, Mich. -- The Oakland volleyball team continues its three game homestand Friday and Saturday as the Golden Grizzlies welcome Northern Kentucky and Wright State to the OU Credit Union O'rena Oct. 27-28, with both matches airing on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively.
Oakland (14-10, 8-4 HL) will take on the Norse on Friday after coming off a 3-2 win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday. Saturday's match against the Raiders will serve as Volleyween where fans are encouraged to participate in a costume contest. Those dressed in a costume will receive free admission into Saturday's game.
Oakland is 7-3 in its last 10 matches, and sits in fifth place in a competitive Horizon League, while the Golden Grizzlies' weekend opponents rank second (Northern Kentucky) and third (Wright State).
Junior
Emily Wichmann continues to be one of the nation's best defensive specialists and has paced Oakland and the Horizon League all season long. The Crescent Springs, Ky. native ranks second in the country in digs this season with 507, while averaging 5.39 per set, placing her eighth in the NCAA and first among the Horizon League. As a team, Oakland sits second in the country in digs recording an impressive 1,625 this season, placing the Golden Grizzlies fifth in the country in digs per set with 17.29.
Ainsley Guse remains one of the league's best in hitting percentage as the junior ranks eighth (.290) while teammate
Anika Prisby sits in 14th (.248).
Patti Cesarini and
Gentry Brown rank in the top-25 in the Horizon League in kills as Cesarini has registered 275 (3.09/set) on the year, while Brown has tallied 162 (2.45/set). The duo rank seventh and 20th respectively among Horizon League foes.
The Golden Grizzlies sit fourth in the conference in assists (11.84/set) as
Sarah Turner continues to pace Oakland's offense recording 5.51/set, placing her eighth in the Horizon League.
Rachel Rossman has also played a significant role averaging 4.66 assists per set.
SCOUTING THE NORSE
Northern Kentucky (14-9, 9-3 HL) enters Friday match on a five-game win streak and has posted an 8-2 record in its last 10 matches. The Norse are coming off five-straight home matches. The last time out, NKU swept Oakland in straight sets, holding the Golden Grizzlies to a .106 hitting percentage on the day.
NKU has the slight edge in the all-time series, 9-6 and was come out victorious in the last six meetings against Oakland. The last win for the Golden Grizzlies at the O'rena came on Sept. 30, 2017.
Abby Kanakry sits third in the Horizon League in kills (289) and kills per set (3.25), as the Grosse Pointe, Mich. native has been named Horizon League Player of the Week once this season.
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
In the last meeting Oakland snapped its 10-game skid against the Raiders, defeating Wright State, 3-1 on the road, its first win in Dayton since 2017. The last time the Golden Grizzlies completed the series sweep against the Raiders was the 2017 season.
Wright State (13-10, 9-3 HL) is coming off a 3-1 win over RMU and has won four of its last five matches.
As a team, Wright State leads the league in points (17.10/set), assists (1,2.45/set), and kills (13.37/set).
FOLLOW OAKLAND
Student-athletes, parents, and fans can follow Oakland Volleyball on social media using @OaklandWVB on Twitter and Instagram. The Gold Standard Name, Image, and Likeness Marketplace is available to bridge NIL opportunities for student-athletes and can be found
here via Opendorse.
Additionally, the Oakland University Athletics app is available for download in the Apple and Google Play Stores.
