Volleyball Begins Conference Play on the Road

Wright State volleyball starts conference play by traveling to Indianapolis to take on IUPUI on Friday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. The Raiders will also travel to Highland Heights, Kentucky, to face Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 4 p.m.

Wright State

Wright State starts conference play on the road this weekend in fifth place in the Horizon League standings after traveling to Chicago last weekend to play in the Chicago State Invitational where they finished 3-0 overall to win the tournament. The Raiders swept all three competitors (Southeast Missouri, Louisiana, and Chicago State) in three sets in each match to improve their overall record to 6-7. Senior middle blocker Megan Hopkins was named to the Chicago State Invitational Tournament Team and senior setter Maddie Lohmeier was named the tournament MVP. More honors were given on Monday when Wright State volleyball seniors Katie Klusman and Jessie Thornton were named the Horizon League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week. Klusman led the Raiders last weekend in every match and overall, posting 43 kills. She had an impressive .480 hitting percentage in the 3-0 win against Southeast Missouri, when she also helped her team post its best hitting percentage of the year so far at .426. Thornton led the Raiders with 64 digs throughout the weekend as well as posting two services aces. Thornton is Wright State's career leader in digs, and that experience showed this weekend as she kept the Raiders in every match. Thornton posted 25 digs against Southeast Missouri, 13 digs against Louisiana, and 26 digs against host Chicago State all three-set matches. Thornton leads the Horizon League with 242 digs for a 5.26 digs/set average which places her at 29^th in the nation for digs per set.

IUPUI

The IUPUI Jaguars are currently 4-9, coming off of their last weekend of pre-season competition where they dropped matches to Cal Poly and North Dakota in the Green Bay Country Inn & Suites Classic. Their record at this time puts them last in the Horizon League volleyball standings. IUPUI started their season strong with a 3-0 record beating Eastern Illinois, Georgia Southern, and Florida International, but have lost nine of the last eleven matches. The Jaguar's senior right side hitter, Kori Waelbroeck, is second in the conference for kills with 196 kills for an average of 3.84 kills per set. Waelbroeck has been named to two All-Tournament Teams so far this season so Wright State's block needs to be ready at the net. IUPUI is third in the Horizon League in digs with an average of 17.04 digs per set while Wright State is second in the league with an average of 17.15 digs per set. IUPUI is also fourth in the conference in both blocks and service aces so WSU's defensive specialists need to be on their toes and ready to pick up balls to keep the ball in-system. The Raiders will take on IUPUI Friday night at 6 p.m.

Northern Kentucky

Northern Kentucky is currently 4-5 coming off of their final weekend of preseason competition at the Gator Invitational where they went 0-3 losing to Lipscomb University, University of Florida, and Florida A&M University. Northern Kentucky started off strong winning the first four matches of their season, after having their tournament at Houston Baptist University canceled due to Hurricane Harvey, but have dropped the last five matches. Northern Kentucky is currently in sixth place in the Horizon League volleyball standings. Northern Kentucky's attack is led by sophomore outside hitter, Laura Crawford, who is third in the conference for kills with 118 kills for an average of 3.58 kills per set, and junior outside hitter, Haley Libs, who is seventh in the conference for kills with 115 kills for an average of 3.48 kills per set. The duo recorded back-to-back double-doubles in the first two matches of the season against Robert Morris and Duquesne, and again versus Seattle and Sacramento State. Northern Kentucky's back row is also a cause for concern as the Norse are third in the nation at this time for digs per set, and lead the Horizon League with an average of 19.15 digs per set. Freshman Ashton Terrill and junior Haley Libs are keeping opponents' offense at bay from the back row, as both are ranked among the Horizon League's top defenders. The Raiders will take on Northern Kentucky Saturday at 4 p.m.

Next Up

The Raiders continue conference play on the road facing Oakland at 6 p.m. on Friday Sept. 29 and Cleveland State at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30.

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Players Mentioned

Katie Klusman

Maddie Lohmeier

Jessie Thornton

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