ROCHESTER, Mich. - After a quick home stint, the Golden Grizzlies volleyball team prepares for its third weekend on the road in the past four weeks as it will face Youngstown State for a pair of crucial Horizon League matches.

In a series of intense home matches, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies volleyball went 1-2, beginning with a 3-0 loss to IU Indy, followed by a 3-0 sweep on Senior Day, and concluding with a hard-fought 3-1 defeat against Cleveland State.

In the initial match against IU Indy, Oakland pushed through tightly contested sets but ultimately fell short, losing 25-21, 25-23 and 25-14. Gentry Brown led the offense with nine kills, while Delaney Stern and Rachel Rossman each added 14 assists. Libero Emily Wichmann delivered a season-high four service aces, showcasing her impact on Oakland's serve game. Despite valiant efforts and multiple set-point rallies, IU Indy's consistent runs edged out the Golden Grizzlies in each frame.

The Golden Grizzlies rebounded powerfully on Senior Day, sweeping IU Indy, 3-0, with set scores of 25-19, 25-16 and 25-22. This match showcased offensive dominance from Tyler Linkhart and Libby Smith, each recording 12 kills, hitting above .350 and contributing key blocks. Down 21-16 in the final set, Oakland mounted a comeback with an 8-0 run to seal the match, thrilling the home crowd and capping off a celebratory senior day.

However, Oakland couldn't keep the momentum against Cleveland State, falling, 3-1, in a competitive four-set battle. After dropping the first set, Oakland claimed the second, 25-23, led by powerful kills from Smith and Linkhart. Cleveland State, however, proved resilient, capturing the third and fourth sets. Elin Schott led with 13 kills, and Wichmann tallied an impressive 32 digs, but Cleveland's late rallies were too strong to overcome.
 
FRIDAY/SATURDAY, NOV. 1/2
OPPONENT: Youngstown State
TIME: 6:00 p.m. ET (Friday), 2:00 p.m. ET (Saturday)
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM: ESPN+ (Friday) (Saturday)
 
The Golden Grizzlies enter the weekend match against the Penguins 21-8 overall, and have only lost a pair of matches since 2013. Since joining the Horizon League, the Golden Grizzlies are 21-2 against Youngstown State and haven't dropped a match in Youngstown, Ohio, since 2000. Since then, Oakland has dropped just eight sets and have taken 36. The team has swept the Penguins in five of its last six matches in Youngstown, as the team swept Youngstown State last season on the road.
 
The Penguins are 7-17 overall and have won one Horizon League match this season, as it beat IU Indy, 3-1, at home earlier this season. Youngstown State enters Friday's match on a four-match losing streak, and haven't won a set since Oct. 19. Abbie Householder holds the team lead with 349 kills, as Isabel Schaefbauer has dished out the most assists with 741. At the net, Kelsey Cooper leads the team in blocks with 61.0, as Dayan Malave is right behind with 53.0.