ROCHESTER, Mich. - Playing their first regular season home matches of 2023, Oakland University Volleyball will host the Golden Grizzlies Invitational on Friday and Saturday, September 8-9 at the OU Credit Union O'rena.

Featuring a field of four schools, as Oakland will be joined by the Chicago State Cougars, Eastern Michigan Eagles and Missouri-Kansas City Roos, the Golden Grizzlies Invitational will showcase six matches over the two-day event, with each school playing the other three.

The complete 2023 Golden Grizzlies Invitational schedule is as follows:
 

• Friday, September 8, 10 a.m. - Chicago State vs. Kansas City
• Friday, September 8, 12 p.m. - Oakland vs. Eastern Michigan
• Friday, September 8, 5 p.m. - Eastern Michigan vs. Chicago State
• Friday, September 8, 7 p.m. - Oakland vs. Kansas City
• Saturday, September 9, 12 p.m. - Eastern Michigan vs. Kansas City
• Saturday, September 9, 3 p.m. - Oakland vs. Chicago State

OAKLAND RUNDOWN
Defeating Eastern Michigan and the Western Illinois Leathernecks, the Golden Grizzlies went 2-1 in the Popcorn Classic in Valparaiso, Indiana on September 1-2 and will bring a 3-3 record into play on Friday.

Seniors Patti Cesarini and Kennedy Dolmage earned Popcorn Classic All-Tournament Team recognition for their strong performances and junior libero Emily Wichmann made history against the Eagles on September 1 by moving into the top-10 in program history in digs.

Below is a quick overview of each of the three opponents Oakland will see this weekend.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 12 P.M. VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN

2023 Record: 1-5

A member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Eagles picked up their first victory of 2023 in their final Popcorn Classic match, a 3-2 triumph over Western Illinois.

Graduate student Callie Minshew, a Mississippi State Bulldogs transfer, leads Eastern Michigan with 88 kills and Grand Rapids senior Bella Hommes has been the Eagles' top defensive player, tallying 104 digs.

Eastern Michigan is led by first-year head coach Kevin Foeman, who came to Ypsilanti after successful Division II stints with the Lake Erie Storm and Ashland Eagles, both of which are located in Ohio.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 7 P.M. VS. KANSAS CITY

2023 Record: 6-0

Belonging to the Summit League, the Roos are off to a blazing 6-0 start and have made quick work of the opposition, as just one of these matches has gone the five-set maximum.

Waimanalo, Hawaii senior Kaia Dunford has registered 78 kills for Kansas City and hometown product Odyssey Warren, a fellow senior, is not far behind at 66.

Fate, Texas junior Leah Green has stood out defensively, racking up 115 digs.

The all-time winningest coach in program history, Christi Posey is in her 13th season at the helm of the Roos and has posted winning records in nine of her first 12 years.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 3 P.M. VS. CHICAGO STATE

2023 Record: 4-1

An NCAA Division I Independent, the Cougars went 2-1 in the Windy City Classic on September 1-2, picking up victories over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks and Southeast Missouri State Redhawks.

Freshman Patrycja Lagida, a native of Poland, paces Chicago State with 85 kills and senior Yanlis Feliz, who hails from the Dominican Republic, is right on her heels with 81.

Junior Andrea Calderon has recorded 61 digs and Feliz is also second on the club in this category, having collected 57.

In his fourth season, the Cougars' head coach is Tony Trifonov, who was most recently at Seward County Community College in Kansas before joining Chicago State and was the head coach of the Florida A&M Rattlers for 21 years from 1997-2018.