Old Dominion (5-18, 1-11 Sun Belt) at James Madison (11-11, 6-6 Sun Belt)
Match Info – Friday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.
Location – Convocation Center (Harrisonburg, Va.)
Watch – ESPN+ (Friday | Saturday)
Live Stats – Friday | Saturday
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion volleyball continues its four-match road with a TowneBank Royal Rivalry series at James Madison this weekend. Friday’s series opener at JMU’s Convocation Center is scheduled for a 6 p.m., and Saturday’s match will begin at 1 p.m.
Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will also be available.
The Series
ODU and James Madison have played eight matches against each other, with James Madison leading the series, 7-1. The Monarchs hosted the Dukes on November 7-8 last year and lost both matches, 3-0 and 3-2.
In the first match, Rita Benidio finished with 13 kills, Wiktoria Zagumny had 28 assists, alumni Kate Kilpatrick led both teams with 13 digs, and Emma Schelah made three blocks. In the second match, Benidio recorded a 16-kill, 11-dig double-double while Elisa Maggi scored 14 kills and Katie Rakoski finished with 13. Zagumny posted a double-double of 42 assists and 14 digs, Kilpatrick contributed 16 digs with eight assists, and Schelah led the Monarchs with four blocks.
About ODU
The Monarchs (5-18, 1-11 Sun Belt) are coming off a Sun Belt series split in the bayou last weekend in what marked the team's first ever meeting with Louisiana Tech. The Monarchs were able to win the first match, 3-1 behind a stellar performance from Maggi, who recorded a double-double of 18 kills and 10 digs with two service aces. In the second match, the Bulldogs edged the Monarchs, 15-9 in the fifth set to split the series. Benidio had 20 kills and Zagumny turned in a double-double of 49 assists to go along with 10 digs.
Leilani Lawrence leads the Silver and Blue with 257 kills (3.34 per set) and 304 points, ranking sixth in the SBC with 3.95 points and 9.35 attacks per set. She comes into this weekend ranked third in the conference with 0.45 aces per set and is also fifth with 35 service aces. Maggi follows with 181 kills and 213.5 points. Zagumny leads in assists with 395 (7.9 per set), Kyra Hampton is second with 219 (6.84 per set), and Erica Duffy owns 181 (2.78 per set). Libero Ashlyn Gent has a team-best 246 digs (3.04 per set), followed by Maggi with 135 (1.75 per set). Schelah and Emma DiRocco lead the way in blocks, totaling 65 and 62m respectively.
Head coach Fred Chao is in his seventh season leading the Monarchs and is 72-108 overall with a 21-51 record against Sun Belt opponents.
About James Madison
The Dukes (11-11, 6-6) hosted Coastal Carolina last weekend. After opening the Sun Belt series with a 3-2 loss, JMU bounced back the next day with a 3-2 win on Halloween. In the first match against the Chanticleers, Kennedy Louisell had a season high 39 points on 34 kills and added 10 digs for her eighth double-double of the season. Louisell followed that effort with 36.5 points and 34 kills the next day, adding 12 digs for another double-double. The outside hitter served six aces in the series and was named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.
Louisell is the go-to option on offense. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native entered the week ranked second nationally in both points (493.5) and points per set (5.74), third in total kills (425), fifth in kills per set (4.94), and sixth in attacks per set (11.94). She’s also 12th in Division I in service aces (47), 16th in total attacks (1,027), and 18th in aces per set (0.55). At setter, Grace Wenrich comes into this weekend with 407 assists (4.90 per set) and Lindsey Large is right behind her with 404 (4.70 per set). Sydney Lewis is JMU’s libero and is up to 316 digs (3.67 per set), Ayen Nhial has made 119 blocks, and Anna Wilson stands at 107 blocks. Nhial and Wilson rank second and third in the Sun Belt with 1.38 and 1.29 blocks per set.
The Dukes rank second nationally with 257 blocks and fifth with 2.99 blocks per set. JMU is second in the SBC with a .248 hitting percentage, fourth in the league with 1.74 aces per set, and fifth with 150 service aces.
The Dukes are led by 17th year head coach Lauren Steinbrecher, who is the winningest coach in JMU volleyball history at 306-165. Louisell was voted the Sun Belt’s Preseason Player of the Year and was joined on the All-Sun Belt Preseason Team by Nhial. JMU was picked to win the East Division with 12 first-place votes, though the team currently sits in fifth place in the standings.
Up Next
ODU will be back in Norfolk next weekend to host ULM for its final two matches of the regular season. First serve on Friday, Nov. 13 is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the Monarchs and Warhawks will play 2 p.m. next Saturday, Nov. 14 in what will mark Senior Day for Old Dominion.