Purdue Fort Wayne Returns Home With Robert Morris and Youngstown State

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne women's volleyball team will return home this week after playing 9-of-10 matches on the road. The Mastodons will face Robert Morris and Youngstown State on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 29-30).

Game Day Information
Who: Robert Morris | Youngstown State
When: Friday, October 29 | Saturday, October 30
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: Robert Morris | Youngstown State
Match Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Robert Morris | Youngstown State

Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne has never lost to Robert Morris or Youngstown State, holding a 6-0 edge over both squads. The Mastodons are 3-0 against both teams since joining the Horizon League in 2020, and the 'Dons beat both already this season. Purdue Fort Wayne beat the Colonials 3-1 and the Penguins 3-0.

Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne finished up its stretch of 9-of-10 on the road with three matches at Milwaukee, Green Bay and UIC. The 'Dons picked up a 3-1 win over the Phoenix and went to five sets with UIC.

Coming Up
The Mastodons will remain at home for the rest of the regular season, which is two more weeks. Next week, the 'Dons will welcome Wright State and Northern Kentucky. The following week, Senior Night will be on November 12 against IUPUI.

Know Your Foes
• Robert Morris is 9-15, 2-10 in the Horizon League. The Colonials' two league wins came over IUPUI (3-0) and Youngstown State (3-2). Abby Ryan is leading RMU with 2.25 kills per set from the left side. Allena Carmody is digging out 3.13 attacks per set to pace RMU's back line. Against the Mastodons earlier this year, Alyssa Hudak and Annie Monaco led the Colonials with 13 kills each.

• Youngstown State is 4-19, 1-11 in league play, and is riding an eight-match losing streak into this weekend. The Penguins' only win in the Horizon League came against IUPUI, which YSU plays before coming to Fort Wayne. Freshman Paula Gursching is leading Youngstown State with 3.70 kills per set. No Penguin recorded more than seven kills in their first match against the 'Dons this year.

No One Has Played More
No Division I institution has played more volleyball than Purdue Fort Wayne this season. The Mastodons have played 100 sets this season. Eastern Kentucky is second, having played 97 sets.

Nearing 100
Head coach Steve Florio is nearing 100 wins in his career. He is currently sitting at 97 wins since taking over the head coaching duties of the program in 2014.

Leader For a Reason
Katie Crowe has led the Mastodons in kills in all but three matches this season. She has 338 kills, 101 more than the next player on the team: Maggie Castleman.

Saturday Night Five
The Mastodons have played seven five-set matches this season (SIUE, Kent State, Liberty, Green Bay, UIC, Oakland and at UIC). Purdue Fort Wayne opened Horizon League play with three five-set matches in its first four games.

Double Trouble
Katie Crowe has 11 double-doubles this season, with 56 total in her career. She had three consecutive against SIUE (17k, 10d), Evansville (12k, 11d) and Kent State (13k, 12d). She then got back to her double-double ways with one at Western Michigan with 15 kills and 12 digs. She recorded her 50th double-double against Old Dominion with 21 kills and 10 digs. Most recently, she got one against Cleveland State with 12 kills and 10 digs.

That Tends to Happen When You're Around Forever!
Katie Crowe ranks 21st among active Division I players in career kills with 1,530, 12th in the country in career sets played with 505, and 18th in matches played at 137.

Heavy Hitter
Ramei Jackson is in the top 10 in program history in career hitting percentage.
8. Hailie Ripley (.281, 2011-14)
9. Natalie Seiler (.275, 2014-17)
10. Ramei Jackson (.268, 2020-present)
11. Chrissy Miller (.266, 2001)
12. Julie Hefty (.259, 1984-87)

Diggin' Up Everything
Rachael Crucis is in the top-five in program history in digs per set and top-15 in career digs.
Digs Per Set
1. Tessa McGill (4.77, 2009-12)
2. Peachy Jankowski (4.67, 2004-07)
3. Rachael Crucis (4.34, 2019-present)
4. Olivia Hahn (3.93, 2013-16)
5. Katie Bruening (3.58, 1997-98)

Digs
10. Jen Milligan (1,354, 2010-13)
11. Nicole Rightnowar (1,348, 2015-18)
12. Sarah Leffers (1,290, 2000-03)
13. Julie Parrot (1,248, 1993-96)
14. Rachael Crucis (1,237, 2019-present)

Dishing 'em Out
Madison Gates is in the program's top-10 in career assists.
6. Kris Wilder (3,818, 1987-90)
7. Jessica Dominiak (3,326, 2005-08)
8. Jill Lyon (2,975, 1990-93)
9. Madison Spence (2,168, 2011-14)
10. Madison Gates (1,969, 2018-present)

Moving Up the Career Charts
Katie Crowe is in the top-10 in program history in kills, digs, aces, sets played and matches played.
Kills
1. Fabiana Souza (2,305, 2002-05)
2. Emily Spencer (2,106, 2011-14)
3. Laura Douglas (1,904, 1997-00)
4. Nicole Rightnowar (1,584, 2015-18)
5. Katie Crowe (1,530, 2017-present)

Digs
2. Peachy Jankowski (2,253, 2004-07)
3. Laura Douglas (1,623, 1997-00)
4. Jamie Schwartz (1,461, 2011-14)
5. Cynara Martins (1,455, 2004-07)
6. Katie Crowe (1,443, 2017-present)

Aces
6. Deanna Brown (144, 1998-01)
7. Janna Plummer (138, 1988-91)
8. Lisa Zehr (135, 1985-88)
9. Amy Luben (133, 1994-97)
10. Katie Crowe (128, 2017-present)

Sets Played
1. Katie Crowe (505, 2017-present)
2. Andi Reichhart (488, 1994-97)
3. Tessa McGill (487, 2009-12)
4. Emily Spencer (484, 2011-14)
5. Peachy Jankowski (482, 2004-07)

Matches Played
1. Andi Reichhart (143, 1994-97)
2. Katie Crowe (137, 2017-present)
3. Julie Huber (135, 1989-92)
4. Laura Douglas (134, 1997-00)
5. Peachy Jankowski (132, 2004-07)

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Purdue Fort Wayne Returns Home With Robert Morris and Youngstown State

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Players Mentioned

Maggie Castleman

Katie Crowe

Rachael Crucis

Madison Gates

Ramei Jackson

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics