Friday, September 13
Valparaiso, Ind.
10 AM ET
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Cornell
Becky Barrett, Abby Stratford
Photo by: Jim Whitcraft
Grab the Popcorn! Mastodon Volleyball Visits Valpo for Popcorn Classic
9/11/2024 11:17:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne women's volleyball will make the two-hour drive to Valparaiso to compete in the Popcorn Classic this weekend (Sept. 13-14).
Popcorn Classic Information
Who: Cornell, Miami (OH), Valparaiso and Purdue Fort Wayne
When: Friday-Saturday Sept. 13-14
Where: Valparaiso, Ind. | Athletics-Recreation Center
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Watch: Game 3
Match Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne
Mastodon Schedule
Friday, September 13, 10 AM - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Cornell
Friday, September 13, 4:30 PM - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Miami (OH)
Saturday, September 14, 2 PM - Purdue Fort Wayne at Valparaiso
Know Your Foes
• Cornell is 2-1 with 3-0 wins over Liberty and Navy. The Big Red fell to UC San Diego in the last match of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational. Cornell is led by Eliza Konvicka, who averages 3.80 kills per set. The Big Red run a 5-1 with Doga Ozalp, who is dishing out 9.40 assists per set.
• Miami (OH) is 4-2 this season and is coming off a 1-2 weekend at the Evansville Invitational. The Redhawks fell to Samford and Chicago State in five sets before topping the host Purple Aces in four. Regan Lantz has a team-high 3.05 kills per set and Hayden Hicks is leading the way from the setter spot with 9.04 assists per set.
• Valparaiso is 4-2 this season with wins over SIUE, IU Indianapolis, Northern Illinois and Tarleton State. The Beacons have a very balanced attack with six players between 1.50 and 3.00 kills per set. Emma Hickey has a team-high 5.48 digs per set. Valpo runs a 6-2 with setters Mara Thomas and Addy Kois splitting the load, with both averaging over 5.00 assists per set.
Series Histories
• Cornell and Purdue Fort Wayne have split the series 1-1 and have not played since 2010. The Mastodons won the last meeting 3-1.
• Miami leads the series against the Mastodons 5-3 and has won the last three meetings. The 'Dons' last win was in 2005, a 3-0 victory.
• The Mastodons and Beacons have evenly split the 28 matches in the series dating back to 1976. Valparaiso has won the last seven meetings.
Panna-tastic
Panna Ratkai is one of five players from the 12-player All-Horizon League First Team back for 2024. Ratkai, the 2023 Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year, and Oakland's Emily Wichmann (Defensive Player of the Year) are the only returning major award winners.
Hungary For More
Panna Ratkai has 20 or more kills in 16 matches in her career with four coming this season. She had 12 as a redshirt-freshman. This season, she is averaging 5.04 kills per set. If she keeps this pace for the rest of the season, she will have the third-highest average in program history for a season and would move her into first on the all-time kills per set list.
That's Very Me-Daring of Jena Medearis
Jena Medearis registered a career-high 16 kills against UIC in the Leatherneck Classic. She did so on an efficient .500 hitting, recording just two errors on 28 attempts.
Freshman Phenom
Mya Plemons has a hitting percentage of .492 through six matches in her freshman campaign. If extended through an entire season, this would be the program record. If she had enough attempts, this mark would be good for seventh in the nation.
All-Tournament Accolades
Panna Ratkai, Abby Stratford and Jena Medearis were selected to the Skyhawk Invitational All-Tournament Team in the opening weekend. Ratkai was selected as the MVP after 5.00 kills per set with a .262 hitting percentage. From the right side, Stratford finished with 2.58 kills per set on an efficient .360 clip. Medearis added 1.92 kills per set while hitting .313.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne fell to former league foes UIC, Western Illinois and South Dakota State, each 3-1, at the Leatherneck Classic.
Next Time Up
The Mastodons will take a break from tournaments to play a midweek contest at Michigan State on Tuesday (Sept. 6).
Popcorn Classic Information
Who: Cornell, Miami (OH), Valparaiso and Purdue Fort Wayne
When: Friday-Saturday Sept. 13-14
Where: Valparaiso, Ind. | Athletics-Recreation Center
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Watch: Game 3
Match Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne
Mastodon Schedule
Friday, September 13, 10 AM - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Cornell
Friday, September 13, 4:30 PM - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Miami (OH)
Saturday, September 14, 2 PM - Purdue Fort Wayne at Valparaiso
Know Your Foes
• Cornell is 2-1 with 3-0 wins over Liberty and Navy. The Big Red fell to UC San Diego in the last match of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational. Cornell is led by Eliza Konvicka, who averages 3.80 kills per set. The Big Red run a 5-1 with Doga Ozalp, who is dishing out 9.40 assists per set.
• Miami (OH) is 4-2 this season and is coming off a 1-2 weekend at the Evansville Invitational. The Redhawks fell to Samford and Chicago State in five sets before topping the host Purple Aces in four. Regan Lantz has a team-high 3.05 kills per set and Hayden Hicks is leading the way from the setter spot with 9.04 assists per set.
• Valparaiso is 4-2 this season with wins over SIUE, IU Indianapolis, Northern Illinois and Tarleton State. The Beacons have a very balanced attack with six players between 1.50 and 3.00 kills per set. Emma Hickey has a team-high 5.48 digs per set. Valpo runs a 6-2 with setters Mara Thomas and Addy Kois splitting the load, with both averaging over 5.00 assists per set.
Series Histories
• Cornell and Purdue Fort Wayne have split the series 1-1 and have not played since 2010. The Mastodons won the last meeting 3-1.
• Miami leads the series against the Mastodons 5-3 and has won the last three meetings. The 'Dons' last win was in 2005, a 3-0 victory.
• The Mastodons and Beacons have evenly split the 28 matches in the series dating back to 1976. Valparaiso has won the last seven meetings.
Panna-tastic
Panna Ratkai is one of five players from the 12-player All-Horizon League First Team back for 2024. Ratkai, the 2023 Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year, and Oakland's Emily Wichmann (Defensive Player of the Year) are the only returning major award winners.
Hungary For More
Panna Ratkai has 20 or more kills in 16 matches in her career with four coming this season. She had 12 as a redshirt-freshman. This season, she is averaging 5.04 kills per set. If she keeps this pace for the rest of the season, she will have the third-highest average in program history for a season and would move her into first on the all-time kills per set list.
That's Very Me-Daring of Jena Medearis
Jena Medearis registered a career-high 16 kills against UIC in the Leatherneck Classic. She did so on an efficient .500 hitting, recording just two errors on 28 attempts.
Freshman Phenom
Mya Plemons has a hitting percentage of .492 through six matches in her freshman campaign. If extended through an entire season, this would be the program record. If she had enough attempts, this mark would be good for seventh in the nation.
All-Tournament Accolades
Panna Ratkai, Abby Stratford and Jena Medearis were selected to the Skyhawk Invitational All-Tournament Team in the opening weekend. Ratkai was selected as the MVP after 5.00 kills per set with a .262 hitting percentage. From the right side, Stratford finished with 2.58 kills per set on an efficient .360 clip. Medearis added 1.92 kills per set while hitting .313.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne fell to former league foes UIC, Western Illinois and South Dakota State, each 3-1, at the Leatherneck Classic.
Next Time Up
The Mastodons will take a break from tournaments to play a midweek contest at Michigan State on Tuesday (Sept. 6).
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballDons done did it #HLVB
Saturday, October 04
Women's Volleyball Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Trophy
Tuesday, September 24
Women’s volleyball content day BTS
Wednesday, August 28
2024 Mastodon Hall of Fame Ceremony
Tuesday, February 06
