Volleyball looks to keep momentum going this weekend in Michigan

Friday, September 2

Kalamazoo, MI

10 AM

Wright State University

North Dakota

Photo by: Joseph Craven

Volleyball looks to keep momentum going this weekend in Michigan

9/1/2022 11:15:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

DAYTON — The Wright State volleyball team heads north to Michigan for three matches this weekend as part of the Western Michigan Invitational, as the Raiders look to continue the success they found in their two opening weekend wins. Wright State is slated to take on North Dakota and tournament host Western Michigan on Friday before a Saturday matchup against Indiana State. All three matches are expected to be streamed on Bronco All-Access.

MATCH INFORMATION
Friday, September 2 - vs. North Dakota - 12 p.m. - Watch - Live Stats
Friday, September 2 - at Western Michigan - 6 p.m. - Watch - Live Stats
Saturday, September 3 - vs. Indiana State - 12 p.m. - Watch - Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT
Wright State opened the 2022 season with a pair of four-set victories in West Virginia last weekend, with head coach Travers Green recording his first win with the Raiders on Friday against Evansville before a Saturday victory over host Marshall. Callie Martin led the way with 33 kills across the eight sets, including a career-high 24 kills against Marshall, on the way to being named the Horizon League Player of the Week.

ALL-TOURNAMENT
The trio of Callie Martin, Jenna Story and Lainey Stephenson were recognized on the Marshall Invitational All-Tournament Team last Saturday, with Stephenson named tournament MVP after tallying 98 total assists (12.28 assists per set) over the opening two matches, while Martin recorded 39.5 points and 33 kills (4.13 per set) last weekend to go with eight blocks. Story averaged 5.25 digs per set (42 total) and tacked on five service aces to her opening weekend stat line.

WESTERN MICHIGAN INVITATIONAL
Wright State will open this weekend's action with its first-ever meeting with North Dakota, while the Raiders will take on Western Michigan for the seventh time and Indiana State for the second time in program history.

KNOW THE FOES
- North Dakota finished 2021 with a 1-29 overall mark and an 0-18 Summit League record, with its lone win coming the opening weekend against Seton Hall. North Dakota was also swept by HL foe Youngstown State and fell in five sets to Green Bay in early tournament action last season. This will be the first-ever meeting between Wright State and North Dakota.
- Western Michigan is coming off a 19-12 season with an 11-7 record in MAC play, and will meet the Raiders for the second straight season after the teams met in Lansing, MI last fall. Wright State and Western Michigan have met six times previously, but only once before in Kalamazoo (Sept. 2002).
- Indiana State was 18-13 last season with a 9-9 record in Missouri Valley action. The Raiders are 11-6 all-time against the Sycamores, with the last meeting coming in the Wright State Invitational in September 2019, while the first matchup came back in 1975.

SETTING THE TONE
Lainey Stephenson passed out 98 assists over the two opening weekend matches, an average of 12.25 assists/set, which ranks No. 3 nationally. Aided by Stephenson, the Raiders are averaging 14.62 assists/set as a team, the fifth-best mark in the country.

KILLIN' IT
Taylor Bransfield tied a career-high with 16 kills in the season-opener against Evansville, a mark she also tallied last November at Oakland, on the way to 23 total kills in the first weekend. Bransfield's 23 kills are the second-most on the roster behind Callie Martin's 33, while Megan Alders had 19 kills (including 11 against Marshall) and Sam Ott recorded 13. Freshman Aaliyah Byers opened her career with six and seven kill efforts as well.