Old Dominion Invitational
Tournament Info – Friday, Sept. 12 - Sunday, Sept. 14
Location – ODU Volleyball Center (Norfolk, Va.)
Watch – ESPN+ (ODU vs. Delaware | ODU vs. Villanova)
Live Stats – ODU vs. Delaware | ODU vs. Villanova
Tickets – Click Here
Full Schedule
Friday
6:30 p.m. – ODU (H) vs. Delaware (A)
Saturday
2 p.m. – Delaware (H) vs. Villanova (A)
Sunday
2 p.m. – ODU (H) vs. Villanova (A)
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion volleyball is back on its home court this weekend as the Monarchs welcome Delaware and Villanova for the Old Dominion Invitational. The Monarchs will play the Blue Hens at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and the Wildcats at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The two visitors will also play a 2 p.m. neutral match on Saturday.
Both of ODU’s matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available for all three matches. Additionally, Volley Alley will be open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
About ODU
The Monarchs (1-5) were in Baltimore, Maryland this past weekend for the UMBC Tournament. ODU dropped its first two matches 3-1 to William & Mary and 3-0 to Maryland on Friday, but secured its first victory of the season with a 3-2 defeat of the host Retrievers on Saturday. Elisa Maggi earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team after leading the Monarchs with 39 kills (3.25 per set) and 45 points (3.75 per set).
Maggi is up to 74 kills (3.22 per set) this season and ranks third in the Sun Belt with 230 total attacks. Rita Benidio is next with 36 kills while LeeAnne Lowery and Katie Rakoski are tied for third on the team with 30 each. Wiktoria Zagumny owns 176 assists and is fourth in the league with 7.65 assists per set. Kate Kilpatrick has served a team-best 10 aces and is also first in digs with 90 (3.91 per set). At the net, Lowery has made 19 blocks, four of them solo, while Emma Schelah has recorded 12 blocks and Maggi is right behind her with 11.
About Delaware
Delaware hosted the Blue Hen Invitational last weekend against Virginia Tech, Hampton, and Le Moyne. The Blue Hens (2-3) fell in straight sets to the Hokies on Friday, but bested the Pirates 3-0 on Saturday and the Dolphins 3-0 on Sunday. Anna Logan Gillens represented UD on the All-Tournament Team after tallying 40 kills, 25 digs, three blocks, two assists, and two aces.
UD’s offense is led by Gillens with 57 kills (3.56 per set), followed by Dylan Norris with 48 kills and Jayda Redd with 40. Morris is currently ranked second in Conference USA with a .427 hitting percentage. Kennedi Inman is the primary setter with 160 assists and is the league leader with 10.00 assists per set. Redd, Cadence Nguyen, and Kristyn Membreno have combined to serve 20 aces. Nguyen is first on the team with 43 digs, and Asia Murray has 20 blocks and is first in the conference with 1.25 blocks per set.
The Blue Hens were picked to finish third in the CUSA Preseason Poll and Gillens was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Head coach Kim Lambert is in her fourth season leading the program. Friday will mark the first ever meeting between ODU and Delaware.
About Villanova
The Wildcats (5-0) hosted the Villanova Classic this past weekend. After defeating Yale 3-2 on Friday, the tournament hosts downed Fairfield 3-1 on Saturday and High Point 3-1 on Sunday. Campbell McKinnon was named the Tournament MVP after swinging for a .580 clip with 49 kills and 11 blocks. Teammates Abby Harrell and Cat Young were selected to the All-Tournament Team and McKinnon added BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday.
Harrell and McKinnon pace the offense with 86 and 77 kills, respectively. Setters Ava Harris and Alyssa Nelson have combined for 255 assists while Cat Young, Harrell, and McKinnon have served 21 aces between the three of them. Defensively, Harrell has made 56 digs, McKinnon is up to 15 blocks, Reagan McGivern owns 14 blocks, and Taylor Lewis has made 11. The Wildcats rank fourth nationally in both kills per set (15.10) and assists per set (14.10) and are fifth in hitting percentage (.335).
Villanova was picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll, and Harrell and McKinnon represented the Wildcats on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. They are led by head coach Josh Steinbach, who is in his 19th season with the program. ODU and Villanova have met once before at last year’s Villanova Classic. That meeting went to the Monarchs, 3-1.
Up Next
Next weekend will see ODU competing in the VCU Invitational. The Monarchs will host the Rams on Friday, Sept. 19 and will play NC State in Richmond on Sunday, Sept. 21. In addition to the tournament, the Monarchs will have a home match versus Wake Forest on Saturday, Sept. 20.