ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies volleyball team looks to build off its weekend sweep against Robert Morris as it heads to Fort Wayne, Ind., for a weekend series against the Mastodons Friday (Oct. 11) and Saturday (Oct. 12).
 
The volleyball team grabbed its first league wins after its sweep against the Colonials as it swept match one Friday (Oct. 4), and won an intense five-set match Saturday (Oct. 5). In the first match, the Golden Grizzlies grabbed its first league win as each set was tightly contested, with Oakland pulling through thanks to standout performances from Tyler Linkhart, who led with 12 kills, and Emily Wichmann with 31 digs. In the second match, Oakland edged out Robert Morris, 3-2, after a hard-fought battle that saw both teams trading sets. Key performances came from Linkhart with 13 kills and Rossman, who tallied 49 assists. Oakland narrowly won the decisive fifth set, 16-14, to claim its second victory.
 
The Golden Grizzlies are led by #HLVB Player of the Week Emily Wichmann who was named player of the week after she recorded 79 digs on the week, as she has amassed 342 to lead the league and rank third in the nation. On the offensive side, the Golden Grizzlies total 802 kills as Linkhart leads the way with 179, with Gentry Brown right behind with 146. Ainsley Guse leads the team at the net with 71.0 blocks as the team has totaled 119.0.
 
FRIDAY/SATURDAY, OCT. 11/12
OPPONENT: Purdue Fort Wayne
TIME: 7:00 p.m. ET (Friday), 2:00 p.m. ET (Saturday)
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM: ESPN+ (Friday) (Saturday)
 
The Mastodons enter Friday's match 9-9 overall and match the Golden Grizzlies conference record at 2-3. Purdue Fort Wayne dropped its last two league matches on the road against Green Bay and only came away with one set win following its midweek sweep against IU Indy. The Mastodons are a perfect 4-0 at home, as its only played one league match at the Gates Sports Center, as the team knocked off Saint Francis in four sets and swept both Indiana State and Eastern Michigan.
 
The Golden Grizzlies hold a 10-11 record against the Mastodons, while Oakland holds a two-match win streak against Purdue Fort Wayne. Oakland is 6-4 in its last 10 meetings and sit at 4-4 overall when it plays Purdue Fort Wayne on the road. Two of the Golden Grizzlies wins have come from a sweep, while Oakland is 4-1 in its last five games in Fort Wayne.
 
As a team, the Mastodons narrowly outpace its opponents in kills, at 882 compared to 870, as Panna Ratkai leads the team with 251 and a .207 hitting percentage. Taya Haffner has dished out the most assists with 507, while LonDynn Betts leads the team defensively in digs with 297. At the net, the Mastodons had tallied 116.0 blocks, as Jena Medearis leads with 58.0.