ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland Golden Grizzlies volleyball team will host Cleveland State Tuesday evening inside the OU Credit Union O'rena. The conference mid-week match up is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ with Neal Ruhl on the call.
OU heads home after going 0-2 on the road in Milwaukee in their first Horizon League weekend of the 2025 season. The Golden Grizzlies showed growth over the weekend on the stat sheet. Oakland stayed even-keeled with the Panthers on the defensive side of the ball with blocks and digs, matching fairly even and out-digging the home team on Saturday.
Sixth-year opposite hitter Libby Smith is leading the Black and Gold with 118 kills (2.81/set) from the net this season, as senior defensive specialist/libero Lyse Bates is holding down the pass game with 159 digs (3.18/set) and freshman middle blocker Grace Cooney is stopping the attack, stuffing 27.0 total blocks (0.61/set) in 2025.
Oakland is seventh in the nation and first in Horizon League in team attacks/set with 38.10, totaling 1,905 for 47th in the NCAA and top of the league.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 30
OPPONENT: Cleveland State
TIME: 6 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS | TICKETS
WATCH: ESPN+
PROMO: Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
Cleveland State has posted a 2-11 record, also going 0-2 over their first Horizon League weekend at Northern Kentucky. The Vikings saw back-to-back wins mid-September with a Power Four victory over Duke and later a mid-week match sweeping Kent State at home. CSU is currently 10th in the league in team kills/set (9.88) and hitting percentage (.111).
As the reigning Horizon League Tournament champions, Cleveland State was voted to finish fourth in the #HLVB Preseason Poll, receiving two first place votes. Oakland fell to the Vikings in both matches during the 2024 season, succumbing 3-1 in both mid-week contests, as CSU leads the all-time series with their Horizon League opponent, 10-16.
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.
