Volleyball Set for Crosstown Tournament at Lehigh & Lafayette

Friday, August 31

Bethlehem, Pa.

1 PM

Rutgers University

Coppin State

Volleyball Set for Crosstown Tournament at Lehigh & Lafayette

Aug 30 | Women's Volleyball

Match Notes Live Coverage

Scarlet Knights have a combined 29-6 historical record against Lehigh, Lafayette, Coppin State and Rider

BETHLEHEM & EASTON, Pa. (Aug. 30, 2018) - Rutgers volleyball heads to its second tournament of the year on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at the Crosstown Tournament hosted by Lehigh and Lafayette. The Scarlet Knights will face the hosts Mountain Hawks and Leopards, along with Coppin State and Rider while holding a combined 29-6 historical record against these four teams since 1991.

THE SLATE \| All Times Eastern
Fri. 8/31	vs. Coppin State @ Lehigh	1 p.m.
Fri. 8/31	at Lehigh	4 p.m.
Sat. 9/1	at Lafayette	10 a.m.
Sat. 9/1	vs. Rider @ Lafayette	1 p.m.

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HEAD-TO-HEAD

KNIGHT NOTES
• Rutgers' early strength has been in the battle at the net with 3.10 blocks per set, a mark that ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 15th in NCAA Division I Volleyball. The Scarlet Knights have outblocked opponents in all three matches thus far, led by 1.50 blocks/set from junior middle Jasmine Stackhouse. Stackhouse ranks sixth in the B1G with that early mark.

• 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 above the College Ave. Gym.

• Rutgers has a combined 29-6 historical record against the four teams from this weekend's tournament dating back to 1991.

• Sophomore right side Beka Kojadinovic enjoyed a breakout opening weekend at Cal, where she was named to the Molten Classic All-Tournament Team. The Serbia native bounced 3.20 kills/set with 12 blocks and 27 digs, while posting a career day with 17 kills and a .382 attack clip in the four-set setback to Colgate.

• Junior libero Karysa Swackenberg also reached a career high in California, scooping 24 against Colgate. Swackenberg has 3.90 digs/set and two aces in the early going.

• Junior middle Jasmine Stackhouse recorded a career-high 11 kills on a .421 swing percentage in a straight-set loss to Chicago State. The Detroit, Michigan native is Rutgers' secondary point producer through three contests with 31.5 points scored, including a team-high 15 block assists.

• Freshmen Anastasiya Kudryashova and Anastasiia Maksimova made their collegiate debuts last weekend and have already begun to pile up the stats. Kudryashova got five kills in her second career game and averages a block per set through three played. Maksimova set her early career high twice at seven kills against Cal and Chicago State.

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 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.