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Friday, August 25
Muncie, Ind.
5 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Oklahoma
Panna Ratkai
Photo by: Josh Gales
Women's Volleyball Opens Season at Ball State Invitational
8/24/2023 3:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne women's volleyball will open the season this weekend at the Ball State Invitational. The 2023 season starts on Friday (Aug. 25) with a match against Oklahoma and two matches Saturday (Aug. 26) against Gonzaga and Ball State.
Game Day Information
Who: Oklahoma Sooners, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Ball State Cardinals
When: Friday, August 25 - Saturday, August 26
Where: Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena
Live Stats: Link
Watch: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Tickets: Link
Match Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Oklahoma | Gonzaga | Ball State
Know Your Foes
• Oklahoma posted a 15-13 record last season with a 5-11 record in the Big 12. They finished the year 2-2 in neutral site games.
• Gonzaga went 6-23 in 2022 and 2-16 in the West Coast Conference. The Bulldogs went 1-2 in neutral site games last season.
• Ball State fell in the MAC Championship a year ago, but still made the NCAA Tournament as an at large. They lost in the first round to No. 4 seeded Marquette.
Series Histories
• The Mastodons have never met Oklahoma or Gonzaga on the court.
• Ball State leads the all-time series 14-5, but the two teams have not played a regular season match since 2017. The 'Dons' last regular season win came in 2016, a reverse-sweep of the Cardinals.
Final Seasons?
The Mastodons' 2023 roster features four seniors: Maggie Castleman, Ramei Jackson, Abby Stratford and Joanna Larsen. All four student-athletes play up front as either pin hitters or middle blockers. All four have an additional year of eligibility due to the blanket COVID-19 waiver should they choose to use it.
Welcome Back
Seven more Mastodons return from the 2022 squad, including setters Nicole Jones and Taya Haffner. Additionally, libero LonDynn Betts returns alongside fellow sophomores Savanna Rogers, Jena Medearis and Iris Riegel. Panna Ratkai redshirted a year ago.
Hometown Heros
Taya Haffner and LonDynn Betts are both Fort Wayne natives. Haffner comes to Purdue Fort Wayne by way of Carroll High School and following a stop at Evansville. Betts came to Purdue Fort Wayne from Concordia Lutheran, right across the street from campus.
Ratkai's Debut
After redshirting the 2022 season, Panna Ratkai is set to make her first appearance for the Mastodons this weekend. Ratkai is originally from Gödöllo, Hungary and has played for the Hungarian Youth National Team before joining the Mastodons.
Fresh Faces
Three true freshmen will join the Mastodons for the 2023 season: Becky Barrett is a defensive specialist from Athens, Illinois. Ashby Willis is an outside hitter from Mount Carmel, Illinois. Kennedy McCants is a middle blocker from North Augusta, South Carolina.
Early Season Tournaments
The Mastodons will start the season with four weekend tournaments. On August 25 and 26, Purdue Fort Wayne will face Oklahoma, Gonzaga and Ball State at the Ball State Invitational. On September 1 and 2, the Mastodons will match up with Stony Brook, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Manhattan at the Red Flash Classic. The following weekend (September 8 and 9), the 'Dons square off with Kent State, Niagara and Canisius at the Ellicott Hotels Western New York Invitational. Finally, The 'Dons return home to host the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Presented by Hyatt Place for matches against Miami (OH), SIUE and Valparaiso.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne faced Xavier in an exhibition at the Gates Sports Center on August 19.
Coming Up
The Mastodons travel to Loretto, Pennsylvania next weekend for the Red Flash Classic.
Game Day Information
Who: Oklahoma Sooners, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Ball State Cardinals
When: Friday, August 25 - Saturday, August 26
Where: Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena
Live Stats: Link
Watch: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Tickets: Link
Match Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Oklahoma | Gonzaga | Ball State
Know Your Foes
• Oklahoma posted a 15-13 record last season with a 5-11 record in the Big 12. They finished the year 2-2 in neutral site games.
• Gonzaga went 6-23 in 2022 and 2-16 in the West Coast Conference. The Bulldogs went 1-2 in neutral site games last season.
• Ball State fell in the MAC Championship a year ago, but still made the NCAA Tournament as an at large. They lost in the first round to No. 4 seeded Marquette.
Series Histories
• The Mastodons have never met Oklahoma or Gonzaga on the court.
• Ball State leads the all-time series 14-5, but the two teams have not played a regular season match since 2017. The 'Dons' last regular season win came in 2016, a reverse-sweep of the Cardinals.
Final Seasons?
The Mastodons' 2023 roster features four seniors: Maggie Castleman, Ramei Jackson, Abby Stratford and Joanna Larsen. All four student-athletes play up front as either pin hitters or middle blockers. All four have an additional year of eligibility due to the blanket COVID-19 waiver should they choose to use it.
Welcome Back
Seven more Mastodons return from the 2022 squad, including setters Nicole Jones and Taya Haffner. Additionally, libero LonDynn Betts returns alongside fellow sophomores Savanna Rogers, Jena Medearis and Iris Riegel. Panna Ratkai redshirted a year ago.
Hometown Heros
Taya Haffner and LonDynn Betts are both Fort Wayne natives. Haffner comes to Purdue Fort Wayne by way of Carroll High School and following a stop at Evansville. Betts came to Purdue Fort Wayne from Concordia Lutheran, right across the street from campus.
Ratkai's Debut
After redshirting the 2022 season, Panna Ratkai is set to make her first appearance for the Mastodons this weekend. Ratkai is originally from Gödöllo, Hungary and has played for the Hungarian Youth National Team before joining the Mastodons.
Fresh Faces
Three true freshmen will join the Mastodons for the 2023 season: Becky Barrett is a defensive specialist from Athens, Illinois. Ashby Willis is an outside hitter from Mount Carmel, Illinois. Kennedy McCants is a middle blocker from North Augusta, South Carolina.
Early Season Tournaments
The Mastodons will start the season with four weekend tournaments. On August 25 and 26, Purdue Fort Wayne will face Oklahoma, Gonzaga and Ball State at the Ball State Invitational. On September 1 and 2, the Mastodons will match up with Stony Brook, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Manhattan at the Red Flash Classic. The following weekend (September 8 and 9), the 'Dons square off with Kent State, Niagara and Canisius at the Ellicott Hotels Western New York Invitational. Finally, The 'Dons return home to host the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Presented by Hyatt Place for matches against Miami (OH), SIUE and Valparaiso.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne faced Xavier in an exhibition at the Gates Sports Center on August 19.
Coming Up
The Mastodons travel to Loretto, Pennsylvania next weekend for the Red Flash Classic.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
S/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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