Friday, September 2
Towson, Md.
1:00 PM
Rutgers University
vs
Radford
Volleyball Back On The Road To The Towson Invitational
Aug 31 | Women's Volleyball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers volleyball team is back on the road this weekend taking its 3-0 record to the Towson Invitational. The Scarlet Knights will take on Radford on Friday and meet up with Morgan State and three-time Colonial Athletic Association champion and host Towson on Saturday.
Follow Rutgers women's volleyball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
| GAME DAY INFO |
| Venue: | SECU Arena | Towson, Md. |
| Game Notes: | Rutgers | Radford | Morgan State | Towson | Big Ten |
| Statistics: | Rutgers | Radford | Morgan State | Towson | Big Ten |
| Video: | vs. Radford | vs. Morgan State | vs. Towson (FloVolleyball $) |
| Live Stats: | vs. Radford | vs. Morgan State | vs. Towson |
| Social Media: | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
| TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE |
Friday, September 2
- Princeton vs. Morgan State – 10:00 a.m.
- Radford vs. Rutgers – 1:00 p.m.
- Towson vs. Princeton – 4:00 p.m.
- Morgan State vs. Radford – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 3
- Towson vs. Radford – 10:00 am.
- Rutgers vs. Morgan State – 1:00 p.m.
- Princeton vs. Radford – 4:00 p.m.
- Towson vs. Rutgers – 7:00 pm.
| ABOUT THE SCARLET KNIGHTS |
- Rutgers volleyball is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 1998 following last weekend's College of Charleston Classic. RU opened 2022 with a 3-1 win over Fresno State and followed with a five-set victory over the Citadel, the 2021 SoCon Champions and NCAA Tournament Team, and a sweep of host College of Charleston.
- Redshirt freshman outside hitter Alissa Kinkela was named the College of Charleston Classic Most Valuable Player. The Melbourne, Australia native totaled 46 kills, averaging 3.84 per set, hitting .310 on the weekend.
- Middle blockers Kristina Grkovic and freshman Taylor Humphrey were also named to the College of Charleston All-Tournament. Grkovic led RU with 14 blocks, averaging 1.17 per set while averaging 2.50 kills per set and swinging at a .333 clip. Humphrey, in her debut weekend, racked up 37 kills, for 3.70 per frame along with 16 digs.
- Madyson Chitty became the 14th Scarlet Knight to cross the 600-career dig mark last weekend. She currently ranks fourth in the rally era with 3.35 digs per game through 52 total match appearances and is 70 digs away from cracking the rally era top 10 in career digs. She posted a career-high 24 digs in the opener against Fresno State.
- Head coach Caitlin Schweihofer embarks on her third season "On The Banks" having made notable strides with the program in her first two seasons.
- In year one in the spring of 2021, Rutgers tripled its conference win total along with capturing numerous program firsts including its first-ever All-Big Ten honoree and Big Ten series sweeps. Over the season, RU established new team, season and match records for aces and reset program Big Ten game bests in kills, attempts, attacked percentage and assists.
- A mere four months later Schweihofer's Scarlet Knights were back in action for year two where they kicked off the fall 2021 season going 8-3 for the squad's best nonconference record since 2012. Rutgers battled eight top 25 teams during Big Ten play, which included not only eight NCAA teams, but the national runner-up in Nebraska and national champion in Wisconsin.
- For 2022, the Scarlet Knights welcome back seven letterwinners including two-year starting libero Madyson Chitty along with middle blockers Kristina Grkovic and Megan Vernon, who saw significant court time. Eight newcomers – a combo of four transfers and four freshmen – will also factor into this year's lineup.
| SCOUTING RADFORD |
- The Highlanders enter this weekend's competition at 1-2 overall having opened 2022 at the Eastern Kentucky Tournament. Radford kicked off the year with a five-set victory over UT Martin but fell in straight sets to host Eastern Kentucky ad IUPUI.
- Last year, Radford went 6-22 overall and 4-11 in the Big South.
- The Highlanders' offense is led by Taylor Jefferson at 3.13 k/s followed by Crystal Childs at 2.90 k/s and Sophie Paspal at 2.64 k/s. Directing the attack is the tandem of Fiona Baker (8.00 a/s) and Jackeline Nerro (7.83 a/s). Jefferson along with Kennedy Robinson have served up a trio of aces.
- Defensively, Radford's Shelby Hernadez is averaging 6.10 d/s while Paspal, in addition to being one of the top Highlanders on the attack, has captured a team-leading nine blocks at the net.
| SCOUTING MORGAN STATE |
- The Bears were swept in straight sets last weekend at the Charlotte Invitational with losses to host Charlotte, Campbell and Wofford
- A year ago, Morgan State went 5-24 overall and 3-11 in the MEAC.
- On the stat sheet, the Bears are led by Maila Billingsley at 2.67 k/s and Jourdan Page at 2.13 k/s. On the assist, Radford will be looking to Trinity Carruthers at 5.11 a/s and Mackenzie Jefferson at 3.50 a/s. Alyssa Sampson, meanwhile, has totaled four aces.
- The defense has been led by Sampson at 3.22 d/s while Justyus Jackson has compiled seven total blocks.
| SCOUTING TOWSON |
- The host Tigers are 3-0 after opening the season with a trio of sweeps at the Pirate Invitational. Towson picked up 3-0 wins over Norfolk State, host East Carolina and Furman.
- Towson will be the second NCAA Tournament squad the Scarlet Knight will see this season. The Tigers won the Colonial Athletic Association Title for the third-straight time in 2021 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament facing a familiar face in Penn State in the first round falling 3-1 against the 15th-ranked Nittany Lions. Towson concluded the 2021 campaign at 26-5 overall and 12-4 in the CAA.
- The Tigers were picked first in the 2022 CAA Preseason Poll with Fay Bakodimou, Nina Cajic and Lydia Wiers landing on the CAA Preseason Team.
- Offensively, Cajic leads the way at 3.11 k/s with Bakodimou contributing 2.78 k/s along with four aces and Victoria Barrett is adding 2.67 k/s. On the set, Sarah Jordan has been averaging 6.78 a/s and Katie McCracken is averaging 5.78 a/s.
- Jordan currently leads the defense with 2.22 d/s while Wiers has posted nine total blocks.
| UP NEXT |
- Nonconference road action continues next week at the Rambler Challenge with Kansas State, St. Thomas and host Loyola Chicago
Follow Rutgers women's volleyball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
- RU -
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballRutgers Volleyball Vs Washington Highlights
Friday, November 28
Rutgers Volleyball vs. Oregon Highlights
Thursday, November 27
Rutgers Volleyball vs. Ohio State Highlights
Monday, November 24
Rutgers Volleyball at No. 17 Indiana Highlights
Monday, November 24
