ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies women's volleyball team opens up the 2024 regular season this weekend in Buffalo, N.Y., as its set for the Buffalo Invite.
 
Oakland looks to continue to improve under third-year head coach Krista Rice as the team finished 17-13 overall last season, with an 11-7 conference record, as its 17 overall wins and 11 league wins were the most in a season since 2017. The Golden Grizzlies welcome six new additions to the team and return 12, two of which were recognized by the Horizon League following the regular season last year.
 
Senior Emily Wichmann returns as she was named Horizon League First Team and Defensive Player of the Year. She became the third player in school history to earn the honors and the first since Taylor Humm was recognized in 2014. The now senior set the school record for most digs in the season with 659 while playing in all 31 matches last season and finished fifth in the nation in total digs and ninth across the NCAA in digs per set (5.45). She set a career-high against Green Bay with 37 digs, good for t-4th in Oakland history for most digs in a match. With a career total of 1,405 digs, Wichmann is sixth all-time in the Oakland women's volleyball record book for career digs.
 
Gentry Brown, who was named to the Horizon League's All-Freshman Team, returns after she hit at a .151 mark and finished third on the team and first among freshmen in kills (210) and second-best on the team in kills per set (2.41). The outside hitter became the 16th freshman in school history to earn the award and first since 2020.
 
After Oakland wrapped up its two-game preseason schedule, the Horizon League announced its preseason poll as the Golden Grizzlies placed sixth, the same spot as its 2023 preseason placement. Oakland looks to start the regular season on the right foot after its trio of games in the span of three days in Buffalo.
 
FRIDAY, AUG. 30
OPPONENT: University of Buffalo
TIME: 6:00 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM: YouTube
 
SCOUTING THE BULLS
Oakland faces the University of Buffalo for the third time in school history as the Golden Grizzlies are undefeated against the Bulls. The two teams first met in 2012 as Oakland came away with a three-set sweep, followed by another sweep in 2016. Friday's season opener marks the first time the two teams will meet not on a neutral court as Buffalo plays host to the Labor Day tournament.
 
The Bulls were tabbed fourth in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll as three players received preseason All-Mac honors. Buffalo comes off a five-set win over Syracuse for its only preseason exhibition match after the Bulls earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament last season. The team fell in the MAC Tournament in three-straight sets but earned an at-large bid after it finished 23-8. The team drew South Florida in the tournament but got swept to end its season.
 
SATURDAY, AUG. 31
OPPONENT: Army
TIME: 2:00 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM: YouTube
 
SCOUTING THE BLACK KNIGHTS
Saturday's match marks the second time the Golden Grizzlies will face the Black Knights as its only match, from 2014, was a thrilling five-set showing as Oakland reverse swept Army in West Point. A home match for Army, the Black Knights held the edge after two sets but the Golden Grizzlies rallied and took the final three to defeat the Black Knights.
 
Army is coming off a 14-12 season as it fell in the semifinals of the Patriot League Tournament to American University, 3-0. The Black Knights wrapped up the regular season with a 11-5 conference record for second best in the Patriot League as it enters the 2024 season ranked fourth in the preseason poll.
 
SUNDAY, SEPT. 1
OPPONENT: Hampton University
TIME: 11:00 a.m. ET
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM: YouTube
 
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
The Golden Grizzlies will take on the Pirates for the first time in school history as Hampton, based out of Hampton, Va., hasn't won a game since Sept. 7, 2022. The Pirates finished the 2023 season 0-21 and came away with just two set wins as the Pirates were swept on 19 occasions. The Pirates welcome a new head coach and coaching staff as it returns six players from last year's roster and brought in eight freshmen and one transfer student.