ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland Golden Grizzlies Volleyball team is set for its home-opening tournament, hosting the Golden Grizzly Invitational featuring the teams of UAB, Montana, and Eastern Michigan. The two-day tournament begins Friday, Sept. 11, at 10 a.m ET on the Blacktop at the OU Credit Union O'rena.
The Golden Grizzlies closed the Popcorn Classic with a pair of losses, falling to Valparaiso, 3-1, before dropping a 3-0 decision to Cincinnati. Against Valpo, OU battled back to take the second set, 28-26, but the Beacons claimed the final two sets to secure the win. Freshman Liv Hosford led Oakland with 13 kills and 10 digs for a double-double, while senior Ella Schomer added 10 kills and six blocks. Junior Lillian Frias recorded a team-high seven blocks, and senior Kalli Cook posted 20 digs as Oakland tallied a season-high nine aces. On Sunday, Cincinnati controlled the match from the start, taking the first two sets before Oakland mounted a late push in the third. Schomer and sophomore Molly Reck each recorded eight kills, while junior Delaney Stern totaled 15 assists and two aces.
Last Wednesday, Oakland took care of in-state foe Central Michigan, 3-1, inside McGuirk Arena. The win marked the first program win in Mount Pleasant in Oakland's 50-year history. The Golden Grizzlies took the first set in a thrilling 29-27 battle before adding wins in the second and fourth sets, 25-20 and 25-17, while CMU claimed the third. Oakland totaled 60 kills and hit .211 as a team, as Reck led the Black and Gold with 18 kills.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 11
OPPONENT: UAB
TIME: 10 a.m. ET
LIVE STATS
OPPONENT: UAB
TIME: 7 p.m. ET
PROMO: Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day / Fan Appreciation Day
LIVE STATS | TICKETS
SCOUTING THE BLAZERS
UAB enters the Golden Grizzly Invitational with a 3-3 record after opening the 2026 season with wins over Tennessee State, Chattanooga and Rider. The Blazers are hitting .237 as a team, with Kennedy Vaughn leading the offense with 75 kills and a .304 hitting percentage, while Mia Reese has added 68 kills at a team-best 3.24 kills per set. Rachel McCollum leads UAB with 120 assists, while Delaney Bowser has anchored the back row with 112 digs. UAB has also posted 54 total blocks and 50 service aces through six matches, holding opponents to a .163 hitting percentage.
UAB and Oakland have never faced each other in program history.
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
The Grizz are set at a 3-2 record after opening the 2026 season with wins over Central Michigan, Seattle and Cal Baptist. The Grizzlies are hitting .203 as a team, led by Delaney Russell with 57 kills and 3.00 kills per set, while Josie Blazina is hitting .284 with 31 kills. Gracie Cagle has paced the offense with 151 assists and 10 service aces, while Madeline Sanderson leads the team with 63 digs. Montana has also recorded 36 service aces and 23 total blocks through five matches.
The Grizz and Golden Grizzlies met for the first time last season at the Ellesyn Invitational in Missoula, playing two matches in the tournament as Oakland went 0-2 in a three-set and four-set pair of games.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 12
OPPONENT: Eastern Michigan
TIME: 3 p.m. ET
PROMO: Kids Day / Camper Reunion Day
LIVE STATS | TICKETS
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Eastern Michigan is 5-2 after opening the 2026 season with wins over Northern Illinois, Southern Indiana, Murray State, Robert Morris and Elon. The Eagles are hitting .198 as a team while holding opponents to a .150 clip, led by Haley Trosky with 73 kills and a .250 hitting percentage, while Nattie Slusher has added 62 kills. Lina Govoni has paced the offense with 159 assists, while Surabhi Srinivasan leads the team with 115 digs. Eastern Michigan has also recorded 57 service aces and 72 total blocks, including a team-high 39 blocks from Azra Eriç, who also leads the Eagles with 16 aces.
With a longtime history between these local schools, OU and EMU have 35 total matches between the pair, with Oakland holding a 9-26 record to the Eagles in Ypsilanti.
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.
