*** UPDATED TUESDAY 4:15 PM - New Iowa Game Time ***
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Rutgers volleyball closes out the 2021 fall season wrapping up the season series with No. 9 Ohio State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and hosting Iowa in the season finale on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Prior to the match with the Hawkeyes, Rutgers will honor its six seniors – Kamila Cieslik, Beka Kojadinovic, Inna Balyko, Anastasiia Maksimova, Shealyn McNamara and Samantha Graver.
- Show your Block R to the marketing table on Wednesday night against the Buckeyes and be entered to win Apple AirPods or two (2) courtside seats to the Rutgers women's basketball game vs. Ohio State on Jan. 23.
- Wear RED or show your Block R to the marketing table on Friday night against the Hawkeyes and be entered to win a $50 gift certificates to Kite & Key or two (2) courtside seats to the Rutgers women's basketball game vs. Iowa on Feb. 24.
- Admission to all Rutgers volleyball games is free.
- Face coverings are required as the University continues to uphold health and safety practices in accordance with campus, local and state guidelines for indoor venues.
- All fans must register for parking - Click here to register your vehicle.
- Fans can enter with bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and approximately 12″ x 6″ x 12″, or one-gallon clear plastic bags or similar, and small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, can be taken into athletic venues. Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.
- In the first meeting with Ohio State, Maksimova led RU with eight kills while Balyko collected 19 assists. Defensively, the Scarlet Knights were led by Madyson Chitty's eight digs with Megan Vernon picking up four blocks.
- On the season, Kojadinovic has led the offense in 16 games with a team-leading 2.79 kills per set. She is the rally-era leader in aces with 105 in her career "On The Banks" which includes a team-leading 29 in the 2021 season. Last season she served up 10 aces against Michigan State setting a Rutgers record and tying for the second-most in a game in Big Ten history.
- Senior Inna Balyko, RU's first-ever First Team All-Big Ten selection who is fifth all-time and second in the rally era in career assists, is averaging 8.57 helpers per frame. She also aids the defense with a team second-best 32 blocks. Her name is listed in rally era top 10 as well for career aces, digs and blocks. Notably, she is fourth in the rally era in career solo blocks (26_ and block assists (242) and fifth in total blocks (268).
- Redshirt senior Shealyn McNamara, meanwhile, leads the defense with 109 total rejections this season and 1.17 blocks per set. In her two seasons "On The Banks", she has placed her name second among career rally-era stats at 1.03 blocks per set. With McNamara's 17 solo blocks this season she is three solo blocks away from becoming the rally-era season leader while with her 109 total blocks, she is 12 rejections away from becoming the rally-era leader.
- Also on the defense is sophomore Madyson Chitty who is collecting 3.43 digs per set for the defense. In her two seasons, she has placed her name fourth in the rally era in career digs per set at 3.24.
- Ohio State makes its way to the College Ave Gym at 23-5 overall and 13-5 in the Big Ten. The ninth-ranked Buckeyes have won five straight including victories over then-No. 15 Penn State and No. 9 Nebraska
- As a team, Ohio State is second nationally in assists per set (13.68) and third among Division I teams in kills per set (14.72).
- On the attack, the Buckeyes are led by Emily Londot at 3.64 kills per set and Gabby Gonzales at 3.54 kills per set. Both are among the top ten in the league in the category while Rylee Rader is second in the Big Ten and sixth nationally hitting .443 with 254 total kills. Directing the offense is Mac Podraza, who at 11.81 assists per set is second in both the country and the Big Ten. Hannah Gruensfelder, meanwhile, has served up a team-leading 29 aces.
- Defensively, Kylie Murr is contributing 4.59 digs per set, ranking third in Big Ten, while Arica Davis has totaled 125 blocks averaging 1.28 per set ranking sixth in the conference.
- Iowa comes to New Jersey with a 5-23 overall mark and a 3-10 record in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes picked up a set at No. 10 Ohio State last Friday in a 3-1 setback and dropped a 3-0 matchup at Indiana on Sunday.
- Courtney Buzzerio is leading the offense and is second in the Big Ten at 4.01 kills per set with Bailey Ortega producing 7.74 assists per set. Amiya Jones is ninth in the league in service aces with 29 on the year.
- On defense, Iowa will look to Mari Hinkle at 3.03 digs per set with Hannah Clayton adding 0.78 blocks per set and 78 total rejections.
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