ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland Golden Grizzlies volleyball team is set for their first homestand of the 2025 season, hosting the annual Golden Grizzlies Invitational, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12-13 inside the OU Credit Union O'rena. OU will face Southern Illinois on Friday at 10 a.m., before kicking off the nightcap against Xavier at 7 p.m. The Golden Grizzlies will then challenge regional rival Eastern Michigan at 3 p.m. Saturday to cap off the weekend.

The Golden Grizzlies fell in all three matches last weekend at the Ellesyn Invitational, hosted by Montana. OU collectively totaled up 134 kills while hitting with a .191 percentage through the weekend, and forced a fourth set on Saturday against the Grizzlies – outserving them with 10 aces from the line.

Junior Ella Schomer was tabbed to the Ellesyn Invitational All-Tournament team last weekend. The opposite hitter started all three matches for the Black and Gold, averaging 2.73 kills/set, totaling 30 through the tournament off of a .295 hitting clip. Schomer earned a season-high 12 kills, operating with a .357 hitting percentage against North Dakota State on Friday.

The OU Credit Union O'rena will see three neutral site matches for the Golden Grizzlies visiting opponents. Xavier will face EMU on Friday at 12 p.m. before EMU is the home team against SIU at 5 p.m. Saturday afternoon, Southern Illinois will take on Xavier at noon on the Blacktop. All non-Oakland matches are free to the public.

 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 12
OPPONENT: Southern Illinois 
TIME: 10:00 a.m. ET
LIVE STATS | TICKETS

 

OPPONENT: Xavier
TIME: 7:00 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS | TICKETS
PROMO: Scavenger Hunt Night – Join us for an interactive scavenger hunt on campus pre-game

SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
The Salukis hold the upper edge in the all-time series with the Golden Grizzlies, 2-1, with the last match resulting in an SIU victory, 3-1, in Carbondale. The team was picked ninth in the annual coaches' Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll at the beginning of the season.

Under new head coach, Brittany Harry, SIU is coming off of a 1-2 weekend at home from their home tournament in Carbondale, posting an even 3-3 record on the year. The Salukis return eight players from the 2024 season: five outside hitters, two middle blockers, and a defensive specialist.

 

SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS
It's been over 10 seasons since the Golden Grizzlies and Musketeers have met in competition, with the lone meeting resulting in an Xavier victory in 2014. XU is 6-1 on the season, with their lone loss coming to city rival Cincinnati during a midweek match up this week.

The Musketeers rank second in the A10 with 15.07 digs per set behind Kelsey Niesen's 4.26 and Emma Grace's 3.46. Xavier has held all opponents to a combined .173 hitting percentage, including five under .200 and two under .100.

 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 13
OPPONENT: Eastern Michigan
TIME: 3 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS | TICKETS
PROMO: Club Day - All local youth volleyball club teams 12U are invited to attend with free admission for players and coaches

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
A local opponent to Oakland, Eastern Michigan and OU have faced off 34 times in the all-time series, with the Golden Grizzlies holding on to a five-match winning streak. EMU holds the record at 25-9 as Oakland won the last battle in Ypsilanti, 3-2, last season at the EMU Invitational. 

Eastern is off to a 5-2 start for the first time since 2018, sweeping all three in their home tournament last weekend. The Eagles have outhit their opponent in their last four-out-of-five matches and hit over .210 in four straight matches.

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.