DAYTON — The Wright State volleyball team lifts the lid on its 2025 campaign this weekend with three matches at the WKU Invitational in Bowling Gren. The Raiders kick off the year on Friday against host Western Kentucky before a Friday night matchup with Drake and a Saturday meeting with Loyola Chicago. The match against Western Kentucky can be seen on ESPN+.
MATCH INFORMATION
Friday, August 29 - at Western Kentucky - 12 p.m. -
Watch - Live Stats
Friday, August 29 - vs. Drake- 6 p.m. -
Live Stats
Saturday, August 30 - vs. Loyola Chicago - 12 p.m. -
Live Stats
IN CASE YOU FORGOT...
The 2025 Raiders return four Horizon League award winners from last season, led by HL Setter of the Year
Lauren Yacobucci, who was also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Midwest All-Region team and finished last season as the 2024 NCAA Division I statistical champion for assists per set with her 11.92 assists/set average. Yacobucci was joined on the HL first team with fellow returner
Reilly Zegunis, while
Haley Robinson and
Katie Sowko were each on the HL's all-freshmen team.
DEFENDING THE HORIZON
Wright State was picked first in the Horizon League's preseason poll, tallying 94 points and six of the 10 first place votes. The Raiders have been selected at the top of the preseason poll in five of the last six seasons dating back to the COVID-altered Spring 2021 campaign.
LONG ROAD FROM HERE
Wright State has played in four of the last six NCAA Championships and in the NIVC last year, seeing their season schedule stretch from August through late November/early December four times since 2019, while the COVID-altered Spring 2021 schedule still saw the Raiders log four months of action from late January through the postseason in mid-April.
OPENING WEEKEND
Wright State opens 2025 with its seventh overall meeting with Western Kentucky before facing Drake for just the second time and former conference foe Loyola Chicago for the 54th time.
KNOW THE FOES
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Western Kentucky tallied a 28-7 overall record in 2024 with a perfect 18-0 record in CUSA action, grabbing the regular season and tournament titles before falling in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament to Minnesota in four sets. Wright State is 4-2 all-time against the Hilltoppers, with the last meeting in 2013. All six previous meetings have also taken place as part of tournament action.
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Drake compiled a 20-10 overall mark with a 16-2 Missouri Valley record a season ago, with a 2-6 mark in true neutral site matches. Wright State and Drake have faced off just once before, in September 2022, a five-set Drake win.
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Loyola Chicago finished 2024 with a 22-12 overall mark and a 13-5 record in the A-10, tallying a 6-3 record in true neutral site matches last season. The Raiders and Loyola have met 53 times previously, with Wright State most recently facing off against the former Horizon League foe in 2023.
MOVING ON UP
Wright State recently announced that the Raiders' Tru by Hilton Beavercreek Invitational will be played in the Nutter Center, marking the first time collegiate volleyball has been played in the Nutter Center since Wright State hosted the 1991 National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The Raiders are set to face No. 3 Pitt on Friday, Sept. 12 before a matchup with Ohio State on Saturday, Sept. 13 and a meeting against Ohio on Sunday, Sept. 14.
Tickets for the Tru by Hilton Beavercreek Invitational are on sale now.
FALL SPORTS TICKETS
You can show your support for Wright State Volleyball student-athletes all season long, as every ticket purchased directly support the team. This season, your ticket purchase goes far beyond the game. Every dollar supports our student-athletes by providing critical resources that elevate their experience. Tickets are as low as $7 each and Wright State Athletics encourages purchasing your tickets in advance, as all sales are cashless. Volleyball fans can also purchase season tickets, which include access to all home matches and the opportunity to reserve your seat in McLin Gym for $75. A volleyball season ticket also includes a reserved Tru by Hilton Invitational All Session Pass.
Click here to learn more and purchase tickets!
