ROCHESTER, Mich. – Head coach Krista Rice and the Golden Grizzlies volleyball team is set for their final non-conference tournament of the 2025 season this weekend. OU will have a rematch with Eastern Michigan on Friday and face host, Butler, on Saturday afternoon. The Butler Invitational will be played at the Fishers Event Center – home of the Indy Ignite of the Major League Volleyball professional league.
Oakland fell in three at Bowling Green last night, as opposite hitter Caroline Moore earned her first career start for the Black and Gold. The freshman led the group with seven kills off of a .357 hitting clip during the evening match.
The Golden Grizzlies dropped all three matches last weekend for the annual Golden Grizzlies Invitational at home. Despite the losses, OU has shown resilience and have forced four sets in each of their last five matches. Oakland averaged 50 kills and 52 digs a match over the weekend, as opposite hitter Ella Schomer led the Golden Grizzlies with 30 kills individually and operated with an error-free .391 hitting clip against Southern Illinois Friday.
Setter Delaney Stern surpassed her 500th career assist in last Friday's match against Xavier. The sophomore from Johnsburg, Ill. averages 4.81 assists a set and is on track to make Oakland's top-10 list in the category.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 19
OPPONENT: Eastern Michigan
TIME: 4 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS
WATCH: YOUTUBE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
OPPONENT: Butler
TIME: 2 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS | TICKETS
WATCH: ESPN+
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Since meeting last weekend in the OU Credit Union O'rena, Eastern Michigan and OU have faced off 35 times in the all-time series. EMU holds the record at 26-9 as they won the battle against the Golden Grizzlies last weekend, 3-1.
Eastern is off to a 7-3 start for the first time since 2018, winning two of their last three matches in Rochester last weekend. The Eagles have outhit their opponent in 8-of-10 games this season, producing a 7-1 record in 2025 and 17-3 overall mark in three seasons under head coach Kevin Foeman.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Butler, led by head coach Kyle Shondell, leads the all-time series with Oakland, 2-1. The Bulldogs currently sit at 5-5 on the season and are 3-1 in home matches, with their lone loss coming against Shondell's father and no. 14 Purdue. Alaleh Tolliver leads Butler in total kills with 152 and is second in the Big East in kills per set with 4.22.
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.
