ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies Volleyball team is prepped for their final non-conference weekend of the 2026 season as they are set to host the Oakland Invitational featuring Marist and Illinois State. Action kicks off tomorrow, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. ET on the Blacktop at the OU Credit Union O'rena.

The Golden Grizzlies put together a strong fight at Michigan State Tuesday night, taking a set from the Spartans for the first time since 2010 in a 3-1 setback at the Breslin Center. The Golden Grizzlies battled back in set two, turning an early deficit into a 10-4 lead before closing out the 26-24 win to snap Michigan State's 24-straight-set winning streak. Liv Hosford led Oakland with 16 kills, while Delaney Stern posted 33 assists and a season-high 16 digs. Molly Reck added 16 digs, Kalli Cook recorded 14 digs and a career-high three aces, and Oakland finished with 67 digs in a hard-fought road battle.

Going 2-1 at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational last weekend at home, middle blockers Lillian Frias and Ellen Zapp were tabbed to the Golden Grizzlies Invitational All-Tournament Team. Frias, started in all three matches and led Oakland with 31 kills and a .463 hitting percentage – including a .563 hitting mark against Montana and a career-high 11 kills against Eastern Michigan. Zapp, was next down the list with 21 kills and a .356 hitting chart. On defense, she led with 10 total blocks, averaging 1.25/set.
 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18
OPPONENT: Marist
TIME: 6 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS | TICKETS


SCOUTING THE RED FOXES
Marist enters the Oakland Invitational with a 4-6 record, opening the season with losses to Lafayette, Delaware and Montana State before earning its first win against SIUE in five sets. The Red Foxes are hitting .229 as a team, averaging 12.4 kills, 11.3 assists, 13.8 digs and 1.4 blocks per set. Mallory Reck leads the attack with 162 kills (3.86/set), while Sarah Bumstead has 98 kills and a .317 hitting percentage and Caelyn Dumas has directed the offense with 398 assists (9.48/set).

The Golden Grizzlies and Red Foxes have never met before in program history.


SUNDAY, SEPT. 20
OPPONENT: Illinois State
TIME: 2 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS | TICKETS


SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS
Illinois State is posted with a 7-2 record, opening with a loss to Seton Hall before winning seven of its next eight matches, including sweeps over Central Michigan and a five-set dual with Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti. The Redbirds are hitting .251 as a team, averaging 13.2 kills, 12.0 assists, 15.1 digs, 2.1 aces and 1.9 blocks per set. Ruth Ziegler leads the offense with 77 kills and a .340 hitting percentage, while Ella Craggs has 157 assists and Samantha Bunch leads the team with 86 digs.

The Redbirds lead the all-time series with OU, 4-0, as they last met at the Western Michigan Invitational in Kalamazoo last season, as the Golden Grizzlies dropped straight sets.

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.