ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland volleyball is back inside the OU Credit Union O'rena this weekend to take on Purdue Fort Wayne, Friday and Saturday on the Blacktop. First serve for Friday's match will take place at 6 p.m. ET with Neal Ruhl on the ESPN+ call, while Saturday will start at 2 p.m. with Jonathan Turner on play-by-play. Friday is 2000's Throwback Night in the OU Credit Union O'rena, while Saturday's promotion is Kids and Camper Day -- children under the age of 12 will receive free admission with a paying adult. Tickets are available at the door or through Ticketmaster.
Oakland is coming off of a 3-0 week, moving to 3-2 in the Horizon League after four-set wins over Cleveland State and Robert Morris and a five-set thriller in match two against the Colonials. Opposite hitter Ella Schomer picked up a career-high 15 kills in Saturday's match in Moon Township, operating with a .394 hitting clip. Libero Lyse Bates also picked up a career match over the weekend, digging 28 balls in Sunday's series finale to reach a collegiate high.
The senior picked up the Golden Grizzlies' first #HLVB Player of the Week award as she averaged 6.00 digs/set and 78 total digs through 13 sets. She eclipsed 40 receptions for a .950 serve-receive rate through all three matches. Bates currently leads the Horizon League with 103 digs in conference matches, averaging 5.42 digs/set among #HLVB players.
On a national scale, Oakland is sixth in the nation and first in Horizon League in team attacks/set with 38.38, totaling 2,418 for 20th in the NCAA and top of the league.
FRIDAY, OCT. 10
OPPONENT: Purdue Fort Wayne
TIME: 6 p.m. ET
LIVESTATS | TICKETS
WATCH: ESPN+
PROMOS: 2000's Throwback Night
SATURDAY, OCT. 11
OPPONENT: Purdue Fort Wayne
TIME: 2 p.m. ET
LIVESTATS | TICKETS
WATCH: ESPN+
PROMOS: Kids and Camper Day
SCOUTING THE MASTODONS
Purdue Fort Wayne is 3-13 in 2025, posting a 1-4 record in Horizon League action. The Mastodons have picked up non-conference wins over Niagara and Mercyhurst, while earning a 3-1 #HLVB victory over Green Bay last weekend. PFW is set in the middle of the league, averaging 15.27 kills/set and operating with a collective .175 hitting percentage.
The Mastodons were voted to finish just above the Golden Grizzlies with 35 points for seventh place in the league. Playing on the road in Fort Wayne, Oakland dropped two five set matches to PFW in 2024, with their last win occurring in another five-set match up at home in 2023. Having joined Oakland in the Division II ranks in the GLIAC, then later the Summit and Horizon Leagues through the years, Purdue Fort Wayne holds the all-time record with the Black and Gold at 37-25 and an even 5-5 split in the last 10 contests.
How to Follow Oakland Volleyball: For complete information on Oakland Volleyball, follow the team on X at @OaklandWVB and head coach Krista Rice at @KKg1007. The team is also on Instagram.
