Tuesday, October 24
Rochester, Mich.
6 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
at
Oakland
Becky Barrett, LonDynn Betts
Photo by: Josh Gales
Mastodons Travel to Oakland in Tuesday Night Clash
10/23/2023 7:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne women's volleyball team takes on Oakland on Tuesday (Oct. 24) night in their second Horizon League battle of the season.
Game Day Information
Who: Oakland Golden Grizzlies
When: Tuesday, October 24 | 6 PM
Where: Rochester, Mich. | OU Credit Union O'Rena
Live Stats: Link
Know Your Foe
Oakland is 13-10 this season with two wins in their last three matches. Last week, the Golden Grizzlies lost to Robert Morris before topping Youngstown State in three sets to improve their Horizon League record to 7-4.
Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne is 35-24 in matches against Oakland. The two teams met earlier this year on Sept. 19 with the Golden Grizzlies winning in three sets. The 'Dons are 21-16 in games at Oakland after winning back-to-back matches on the road in the Spring 2021 season.
Record-Breaking Ratkai
Redshirt-freshman Panna Ratkai set a new rally scoring era program record with 35 kills in Purdue Fort Wayne's 3-2 loss to first-place Milwaukee on Friday (Oct. 20). Ratkai's totals for the night: 35 kills on 86 attempts, seven digs, four aces and three blocks.
Her 35 kills were:
• the most in the rally scoring era in program history (passing: 34, Fabiana Souza vs South Dakota State, Nov. 12, 2005)
• the second most all-time in program history (36, Laura Douglas at Lewis, Oct. 28, 2000)
• tied for the fourth-most in Horizon League history
• tied for first in Horizon League history during the rally scoring era (35, Kara Koch, Cleveland State vs. UIC, Nov. 4, 2011)
• tied for the fifth-most kills by any player in the nation in a match this season
Her 86 attacks were:
• fourth in Horizon League history for attacks
• second in Horizon League history for attacks in the rally scoring era (87, Kara Koch, Cleveland State vs. Oakland, Sept. 8, 2012)
• third in program history all-time
Panna of the Week
Panna Ratkai was named the Horizon League player of the week for the fourth time this season. She's the eighth player in HL history to be named POTW four or more times in a season and the only one to do it in her freshman year. The other seven were either named Player of the Year or Defensive Player of the Year:
Karen Fruit (2004 - senior) - Player of the Year
Kerri Schuh (2011 - senior) - Player of the Year
Stephenee Yancy (2014 - junior) - Player of the Year
Jenna Story (2019 - sophomore) - Defensive Player of the Year
Katie Crowe (spring 2021 - senior) - Player of the Year
Ari Miller (2021 - junior) - Player of the Year
Paula Gursching (2022 - sophomore) - Player of the Year
Double Doubles
The 'Dons saw double-double efforts in both of last weekend's matches. Ashby Willis hit 15 kills and 17 digs against Milwaukee and Taya Haffner had 41 assists and 13 digs in the win over Green Bay.
Preseason Polls
Oakland was picked sixth in the 2023 Under Armour #HLVB Preseason Poll. The Golden Grizzlies are currently tied for fourth in the Horizon League standings with a 7-4 record in conference play so far.
Amazing Assistance
Taya Haffner assisted on an even 100 kills between two matches this past weekend. Haffner set a new season high of 59 assists in the match against Milwaukee and added 41 assists in a three-set win over Green Bay.
Fabulous Freshmen
Purdue Fort Wayne has two freshmen that rank among the Horizon League's best players. In conference play, Panna Ratkai leads the conference in kills, points and service aces and also ranks in the conference's top 25 in digs and hitting percentage. Ashby Willis ranks in the conference's top 25 kills, points, and hitting percentage.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne split their weekend matches with a five-set loss to Milwaukee and a three-set win over Green Bay. In the latter match, Panna Ratkai continued her dominant stretch of play with 21 kills against the Phoenix. Taya Haffner distributed the ball at an elite level, dishing out 41 assists and leading the 'Dons to a .299 hitting percentage. Jena Medearis had 10 kills with a .471 hitting percentage and Ashby Willis added nine kills. Abby Stratford had a solid match as well with six kills on 18 swings from the right side.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne travels to IUPUI on Saturday (Oct. 28) for the second edition of their rivalry this season.
Game Day Information
Who: Oakland Golden Grizzlies
When: Tuesday, October 24 | 6 PM
Where: Rochester, Mich. | OU Credit Union O'Rena
Live Stats: Link
Know Your Foe
Oakland is 13-10 this season with two wins in their last three matches. Last week, the Golden Grizzlies lost to Robert Morris before topping Youngstown State in three sets to improve their Horizon League record to 7-4.
Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne is 35-24 in matches against Oakland. The two teams met earlier this year on Sept. 19 with the Golden Grizzlies winning in three sets. The 'Dons are 21-16 in games at Oakland after winning back-to-back matches on the road in the Spring 2021 season.
Record-Breaking Ratkai
Redshirt-freshman Panna Ratkai set a new rally scoring era program record with 35 kills in Purdue Fort Wayne's 3-2 loss to first-place Milwaukee on Friday (Oct. 20). Ratkai's totals for the night: 35 kills on 86 attempts, seven digs, four aces and three blocks.
Her 35 kills were:
• the most in the rally scoring era in program history (passing: 34, Fabiana Souza vs South Dakota State, Nov. 12, 2005)
• the second most all-time in program history (36, Laura Douglas at Lewis, Oct. 28, 2000)
• tied for the fourth-most in Horizon League history
• tied for first in Horizon League history during the rally scoring era (35, Kara Koch, Cleveland State vs. UIC, Nov. 4, 2011)
• tied for the fifth-most kills by any player in the nation in a match this season
Her 86 attacks were:
• fourth in Horizon League history for attacks
• second in Horizon League history for attacks in the rally scoring era (87, Kara Koch, Cleveland State vs. Oakland, Sept. 8, 2012)
• third in program history all-time
Panna of the Week
Panna Ratkai was named the Horizon League player of the week for the fourth time this season. She's the eighth player in HL history to be named POTW four or more times in a season and the only one to do it in her freshman year. The other seven were either named Player of the Year or Defensive Player of the Year:
Karen Fruit (2004 - senior) - Player of the Year
Kerri Schuh (2011 - senior) - Player of the Year
Stephenee Yancy (2014 - junior) - Player of the Year
Jenna Story (2019 - sophomore) - Defensive Player of the Year
Katie Crowe (spring 2021 - senior) - Player of the Year
Ari Miller (2021 - junior) - Player of the Year
Paula Gursching (2022 - sophomore) - Player of the Year
Double Doubles
The 'Dons saw double-double efforts in both of last weekend's matches. Ashby Willis hit 15 kills and 17 digs against Milwaukee and Taya Haffner had 41 assists and 13 digs in the win over Green Bay.
Preseason Polls
Oakland was picked sixth in the 2023 Under Armour #HLVB Preseason Poll. The Golden Grizzlies are currently tied for fourth in the Horizon League standings with a 7-4 record in conference play so far.
Amazing Assistance
Taya Haffner assisted on an even 100 kills between two matches this past weekend. Haffner set a new season high of 59 assists in the match against Milwaukee and added 41 assists in a three-set win over Green Bay.
Fabulous Freshmen
Purdue Fort Wayne has two freshmen that rank among the Horizon League's best players. In conference play, Panna Ratkai leads the conference in kills, points and service aces and also ranks in the conference's top 25 in digs and hitting percentage. Ashby Willis ranks in the conference's top 25 kills, points, and hitting percentage.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne split their weekend matches with a five-set loss to Milwaukee and a three-set win over Green Bay. In the latter match, Panna Ratkai continued her dominant stretch of play with 21 kills against the Phoenix. Taya Haffner distributed the ball at an elite level, dishing out 41 assists and leading the 'Dons to a .299 hitting percentage. Jena Medearis had 10 kills with a .471 hitting percentage and Ashby Willis added nine kills. Abby Stratford had a solid match as well with six kills on 18 swings from the right side.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne travels to IUPUI on Saturday (Oct. 28) for the second edition of their rivalry this season.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballDons done did it #HLVB
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