BERKELEY, Calif (Aug. 23, 2018) - Rutgers volleyball kicks off the 2018 season with three matches at Cal's Molten Classic on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24-25 inside the Haas Pavilion. The Scarlet Knights are looking to win a season opener for the first time since 2013.
| THE SLATE | All Times Eastern |
| Fri. 8/24 |
vs. Colgate |
3:30 p.m. |
| Fri. 8/24 |
at Cal |
10:30 p.m. |
| Sat. 8/25 |
vs. Chicago State |
2 p.m. |
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HEAD-TO-HEAD (Records and stats from 2017)
KNIGHT NOTES
• Rutgers returns seven letterwinners from 2017 and all but one starter to the 2018 roster. Senior outside hitter
Sahbria McLetchie led RU in kills in 13 matches last year and produced a team-high mark of 2.48 kills per set.
Kamila Cieslik looks to build on a productive rookie campaign that culminated in team-high marks of 258 kills and 36 service aces, highlighted by four double-double efforts.
• With eight international student-athletes and representation from five countries on the roster, Rutgers' volleyball team is the most culturally diverse team on campus. The flags of the United States, Russia, Germany, Israel and Serbia will fly about the College Ave. Gym.
• The Scarlet Knights registered at least one service ace in 31 of 32 matches last season, led by Cieslik's 36. That mark ranked in the top 15 in the Big Ten for the majority of 2017.
• Rutgers' blocking leaders return in juniors
Jasmine Stackhouse and
Stasa Miljevic.The teammates combined for 263 kills and 163 total blocks.
• Junior libero
Karysa Swackenberg will again don the off-color jersey and serve as a vocal leader during practice and in game action. The back-row specialist scooped up nearly 300 digs one year ago and is the reigning Big Ten Sportsmanship Team selection from RU.
FIRST-CLASS FRESHMEN
Inna Balyko will have the best opportunity at joining the starting lineup as one of Russia's top young setters. Balyko has been the primary setter for the Russian Junior National Team over the past three years. She has been at the core of multiple championship runs while wearing her country's colors, including two European championships. The Russian phenom was at the top of her game at the U19 European Championships, where she guided her team to a title while being named to the tournament's "Dream Team" as the championship's top setter.
Merle Weidt is a versatile talent from Germany, showcasing power and quickness from the middle, right side and outside while playing for the German Youth National Team and elite clubs from her homeland.
Anastasiia Maksimova is a contender for a starting outside hitter nod with national accolades and a tryout invitation for the Russian Junior National Team.
Anastasiya Kudryashova brings a 6-foot-4 frame and national regards as a middle from successful club teams in Russia, and has been working out as an opposite hitter during training camp.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Scholastic accolades have poured in during the offseason for Rutgers volleyball. The Scarlet Knights were honored as an AVCA Team Academic Award for the first time since 2014-15.
Six Scarlet Knights were named to the Academic All-Big Ten list, led by junior
Karysa Swackenberg, who also earned her first Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honor this summer for posting a GPA over 3.7 last year.
Rutgers also posted its fifth straight year with a perfect 1000 Academic Progress Rate, and earned a third consecutive citation on the NCAA's public recognition for teams in the top 25 percent nationally in multi-year APR scores.
