Golden Grizzlies embark on three-match road trip with Tuesday visit to IUPUI

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Beginning a three-match road swing through Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies will battle the IUPUI Jaguars on Tuesday, September 26 at The Jungle at 6 p.m.

Capping a pair of weekend matches with a September 23 sweep of the Robert Morris Colonials, Oakland will enter Tuesday at 8-7 and 2-1 in the Horizon League, while the Jaguars are 6-8 and 0-3 in conference action.

Becoming the fifth player in program history to post a single-match hitting percentage greater than .700 in the victory over Robert Morris, Golden Grizzlies junior middle blocker Ainsley Guse ranks in the top-seven in the Horizon League in three different statistical categories this season, checking in third in hitting percentage, sixth in blocks-per-set and seventh in blocks.

Recognized before the match with the Youngstown State Penguins on September 22 for reaching 1,000 career digs, junior libero Emily Wichmann paces the conference with 283 thus far in 2023 and is the only student-athlete in the Horizon League currently averaging better than five digs-per-set.

In addition to the success of Guse and Wichmann, senior outside hitter Patti Cesarini has continued to be one of the conference's top players for the Golden Grizzlies and a couple of young players in freshman Gentry Brown and sophomore Anika Prisby have emerged to capture large roles, as well.

IUPUI RUNDOWN
In their first season under head coach Andrew Kroger, the Jaguars were picked to finish tied for ninth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll with the Colonials.

Winning two of three matches in both the Bradley Invitational on August 25-26 and Hampton Inn Invitational from August 31-September 2, IUPUI has opened conference play with the Cleveland State Vikings, Milwaukee Panthers and Green Bay Phoenix, three of the top-five projected teams in the Horizon League.

Erlanger, Kentucky freshman Maia Long has tallied a team-high 144 kills for the Jaguars and Noblesville, Indiana's Ava Harris, a fellow freshman, is also over 100 at 111.

Garrett, Indiana sophomore Morgan Ostrowski and Burlington, Wisconsin senior Emily Alan have been strong in the middle for IUPUI, registering 26 and 29 blocks, respectively, and Lewis Center, Ohio junior Addie Evans and New Albany, Indiana freshman Grace Purichia have combined to record 255 digs.

Although the Jaguars own a 25-16 edge in the all-time series, Oakland has won four-straight meetings between these two programs, dating to November 15, 2019.

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.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Patti Cesarini: OH; 5' 11"; Senior

#11 Ainsley Guse: MB; 6' 3"; Junior

#16 Anika Prisby: MB; Sophomore

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

#17 Gentry Brown: OH; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#21 Patti Cesarini
: 5' 11"; Senior
: OH

#11 Ainsley Guse
: 6' 3"; Junior
: MB

#16 Anika Prisby
: Sophomore
: MB

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

#17 Gentry Brown
: Freshman
: OH