Friday, August 30
Fort Wayne, Ind.
11 AM
Purdue Fort Wayne
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Western Michigan vs. South Alabama
Je'Bria Green
Photo by: Chris Tucker
Mastodons to Host Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational
8/29/2019 10:36:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Gameday Information
WHEN: Friday, August 30 - Saturday, August 31
WHERE: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Arnie Ball Court
LIVE STATS: Purdue Fort Wayne Live Stats
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Game Schedule
Friday, August 30
11 a.m. - Western Michigan vs. South Alabama
4:30 p.m. - South Alabama vs. Northern Kentucky
7 p.m. - Western Michigan at Purdue Fort Wayne
Saturday, August 31
11 a.m. - South Alabama at Purdue Fort Wayne
1:30 p.m. - Northern Kentucky vs. Western Michigan
7 p.m. - Northern Kentucky at Purdue Fort Wayne
Scouting Western Michigan (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
The Broncos return 11 from last year's squad that posted an overall record of 16-14, 6-10 in Mid-American Conference play. Heading into 2019, WMU is led by junior Rachel Bontrager, who ranked third in the MAC with 435 kills last season en route to First Team All-MAC honors.
Scouting South Alabama (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)
South Alabama returns nine letterwinners from last year's 13-17 squad that finished third in the Sun Belt Conference East Division, and welcomes four newcomers to the program for 2019. Senior middle blocker Kelley Hartman, a Second-Team All-Sun Belt selection in 2018, was voted Preseason All-Sun Belt for this season after ranking fifth in the league in service aces per set (0.31) and 10th in hitting percentage (.296) a year ago.
Scouting Northern Kentucky (0-0, 0-0 Horizon)
The Norse are coming off a 21-20 season, and only had one senior exhaust her eligibility. She was, however, the kills leader for the Norse in 2018. NKU has eight upper classmen to lead the squad: three seniors and five juniors. Anna Brinkmann enters her sophomore campaign as the leading returner from 2018 in kills.
Wayer Did She Come From?
Libero Julia Wayer had 29 digs in the Mastodons' exhibition against Ball State, which would have been a career-high for her in a regular-season match. A 5.8 digs per set average would also have ranked in the top 10 in the country last season.
All Them Double-Doubles
Purdue Fort Wayne had four players record double-doubles in its exhibition against Ball State: Maddi Nell (29 assists, 11 digs), Madison Gates (23 assists, 10 digs), Katie Crowe (15 kills, 16 digs) and Sidney Schiller (12 kills 16 digs).
Fuerst on the Team
Outside hitter Elizabeth Fuerst had the second-most kills in 2018, just behind Nicole Rightnowar, who exhausted her eligibility after last season. Fuerst will come into the 2019 season as the team's leader in career kills with 607.
Welcoming the Newcomers
Purdue Fort Wayne has six newcomers that will be fighting for spots on the court: Rachael Crucis, Alexandra Traciak, Maddi Nell, Sidney Schiller, Macy Niswander and Kendyll Gebert. Gebert is a transfer from Indiana Wesleyan.
On the Double... Double!
Katie Crowe has 19 double-doubles through her first two years of competition with the Mastodons, 11 of which came in 2018. Of the 19, 14 of them came on Arnie Ball Court.
Back Home Again in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Kendyll Gebert has returned to Fort Wayne after spending one year at NAIA member Indiana Wesleyan. She graduated from Snider High School, and played for her father, Loren, at Empowered Sports Club. Gebert returns to the Summit City after earning a place on the Crossroads All-Freshman Team at IWU.
High Up in the Rankings
Sydney Boerst currently ranks third in program history in career hitting percentage at .314. She is the leader in the rally scoring era (2001-present), and only trails Andi Reichart (.362) and Rachel Brown (.318).
Like a Brick Wall
Sydney Boerst holds a 0.89 blocks per set average for her career, which ranks ninth in program history. Eighth on the list is Dottie Porch, who averaged 0.92 blocks per set from 1994-97.
A New Kind of Volleyball on the Horizon
On Tuesday, August 6, the Purdue Fort Wayne athletic department announced that the Mastodons will be joining the Horizon League on July 1, 2020. The women's volleyball team is already familiar with the competition in the Horizon League, having played four teams in the League in 2017, two in 2018, and two this season.
Rightnowar to the Pros
2019 Mastodon alumna Nicole Rightnowar (2015-18) joined the Swiss club VBC Cheseaux for this season to continue her volleyball playing career in the professional ranks. She will be under the leadership of coach Teemu Oksanen and team captain and setter Oriane Hämmerli, and will compete in the National Women's A League in the Swiss Volleyball Federation.
Coming Up on 1,500
Purdue Fort Wayne's 1,500th program match will take place against Central Arkansas in the SIUE Tournament on September 21. The Mastodons have a .639 winning percentage over the course of the program's 42-year history.
Making an IMPACT
Madeline Dean is in her second season with the Mastodons as a part of Team IMPACT. Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit organization that connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with local college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes.
Players to Watch
Purdue Fort Wayne had two players selected to the Summit League's Preseason Players to Watch list: Sydney Boerst and Madelyn Wurster. Boerst is coming off a sophomore campaign in which she garnered two Player of the Week honors (one offensive and one defensive), and she was selected to the All-Summit League First Team. Wurster is going into her sophomore year after earning a place on the Summit League All-Freshman Team and tallying 2.00 kills per set in her freshman year.
In the Polls...
The Mastodons were picked to finish tied for fourth for the 2019 season. The 'Dons were tied with Oral Roberts with 35 points in the coaches' voting, behind just Denver, South Dakota and Omaha. The 'Dons finished fourth last season and earned the four-seed in the Summit League Tournament.
Last Time Out
The Mastodons came away with a five-set victory over Ball State in an exhibition on Arnie Ball Court. Four Mastodons recorded double-doubles, with Maddi Nell (29 assists, 11 digs), Madison Gates (23 assists, 10 digs), Katie Crowe (15 kills, 16 digs) and Sidney Schiller (12 kills 16 digs).
Next Time Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will travel to the West Coast for the San Francisco Tournament on September 6 and 7. The Mastodons will face Nevada, San Francisco and UC Riverside.
WHEN: Friday, August 30 - Saturday, August 31
WHERE: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Arnie Ball Court
LIVE STATS: Purdue Fort Wayne Live Stats
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Game Schedule
Friday, August 30
11 a.m. - Western Michigan vs. South Alabama
4:30 p.m. - South Alabama vs. Northern Kentucky
7 p.m. - Western Michigan at Purdue Fort Wayne
Saturday, August 31
11 a.m. - South Alabama at Purdue Fort Wayne
1:30 p.m. - Northern Kentucky vs. Western Michigan
7 p.m. - Northern Kentucky at Purdue Fort Wayne
Scouting Western Michigan (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
The Broncos return 11 from last year's squad that posted an overall record of 16-14, 6-10 in Mid-American Conference play. Heading into 2019, WMU is led by junior Rachel Bontrager, who ranked third in the MAC with 435 kills last season en route to First Team All-MAC honors.
Scouting South Alabama (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)
South Alabama returns nine letterwinners from last year's 13-17 squad that finished third in the Sun Belt Conference East Division, and welcomes four newcomers to the program for 2019. Senior middle blocker Kelley Hartman, a Second-Team All-Sun Belt selection in 2018, was voted Preseason All-Sun Belt for this season after ranking fifth in the league in service aces per set (0.31) and 10th in hitting percentage (.296) a year ago.
Scouting Northern Kentucky (0-0, 0-0 Horizon)
The Norse are coming off a 21-20 season, and only had one senior exhaust her eligibility. She was, however, the kills leader for the Norse in 2018. NKU has eight upper classmen to lead the squad: three seniors and five juniors. Anna Brinkmann enters her sophomore campaign as the leading returner from 2018 in kills.
Wayer Did She Come From?
Libero Julia Wayer had 29 digs in the Mastodons' exhibition against Ball State, which would have been a career-high for her in a regular-season match. A 5.8 digs per set average would also have ranked in the top 10 in the country last season.
All Them Double-Doubles
Purdue Fort Wayne had four players record double-doubles in its exhibition against Ball State: Maddi Nell (29 assists, 11 digs), Madison Gates (23 assists, 10 digs), Katie Crowe (15 kills, 16 digs) and Sidney Schiller (12 kills 16 digs).
Fuerst on the Team
Outside hitter Elizabeth Fuerst had the second-most kills in 2018, just behind Nicole Rightnowar, who exhausted her eligibility after last season. Fuerst will come into the 2019 season as the team's leader in career kills with 607.
Welcoming the Newcomers
Purdue Fort Wayne has six newcomers that will be fighting for spots on the court: Rachael Crucis, Alexandra Traciak, Maddi Nell, Sidney Schiller, Macy Niswander and Kendyll Gebert. Gebert is a transfer from Indiana Wesleyan.
On the Double... Double!
Katie Crowe has 19 double-doubles through her first two years of competition with the Mastodons, 11 of which came in 2018. Of the 19, 14 of them came on Arnie Ball Court.
Back Home Again in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Kendyll Gebert has returned to Fort Wayne after spending one year at NAIA member Indiana Wesleyan. She graduated from Snider High School, and played for her father, Loren, at Empowered Sports Club. Gebert returns to the Summit City after earning a place on the Crossroads All-Freshman Team at IWU.
High Up in the Rankings
Sydney Boerst currently ranks third in program history in career hitting percentage at .314. She is the leader in the rally scoring era (2001-present), and only trails Andi Reichart (.362) and Rachel Brown (.318).
Like a Brick Wall
Sydney Boerst holds a 0.89 blocks per set average for her career, which ranks ninth in program history. Eighth on the list is Dottie Porch, who averaged 0.92 blocks per set from 1994-97.
A New Kind of Volleyball on the Horizon
On Tuesday, August 6, the Purdue Fort Wayne athletic department announced that the Mastodons will be joining the Horizon League on July 1, 2020. The women's volleyball team is already familiar with the competition in the Horizon League, having played four teams in the League in 2017, two in 2018, and two this season.
Rightnowar to the Pros
2019 Mastodon alumna Nicole Rightnowar (2015-18) joined the Swiss club VBC Cheseaux for this season to continue her volleyball playing career in the professional ranks. She will be under the leadership of coach Teemu Oksanen and team captain and setter Oriane Hämmerli, and will compete in the National Women's A League in the Swiss Volleyball Federation.
Coming Up on 1,500
Purdue Fort Wayne's 1,500th program match will take place against Central Arkansas in the SIUE Tournament on September 21. The Mastodons have a .639 winning percentage over the course of the program's 42-year history.
Making an IMPACT
Madeline Dean is in her second season with the Mastodons as a part of Team IMPACT. Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit organization that connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with local college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes.
Players to Watch
Purdue Fort Wayne had two players selected to the Summit League's Preseason Players to Watch list: Sydney Boerst and Madelyn Wurster. Boerst is coming off a sophomore campaign in which she garnered two Player of the Week honors (one offensive and one defensive), and she was selected to the All-Summit League First Team. Wurster is going into her sophomore year after earning a place on the Summit League All-Freshman Team and tallying 2.00 kills per set in her freshman year.
In the Polls...
The Mastodons were picked to finish tied for fourth for the 2019 season. The 'Dons were tied with Oral Roberts with 35 points in the coaches' voting, behind just Denver, South Dakota and Omaha. The 'Dons finished fourth last season and earned the four-seed in the Summit League Tournament.
Last Time Out
The Mastodons came away with a five-set victory over Ball State in an exhibition on Arnie Ball Court. Four Mastodons recorded double-doubles, with Maddi Nell (29 assists, 11 digs), Madison Gates (23 assists, 10 digs), Katie Crowe (15 kills, 16 digs) and Sidney Schiller (12 kills 16 digs).
Next Time Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will travel to the West Coast for the San Francisco Tournament on September 6 and 7. The Mastodons will face Nevada, San Francisco and UC Riverside.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's VolleyballDons done did it #HLVB
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