Mastodon Volleyball to Host Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational This Weekend

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne women's volleyball team will host three teams in the Gates Sports Center for the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational presented by Hyatt Place on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 20-21).

Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Information
Presenting Sponsor: Hyatt Place
Who: Indiana State, Saint Francis (Pa.), Eastern Michigan and Purdue Fort Wayne
When: Friday-Saturday Sept. 20-21
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6
Match Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Indiana State | Eastern Michigan

Tournament Schedule
Friday, September 20, 11 AM - Saint Franics (Pa.) vs. Indiana State
Friday, September 20, 4:30 PM - Indiana State vs. Eastern Michigan
Friday, September 20, 7 PM - Saint Franics (Pa.) at Purdue Fort Wayne
Saturday, September 21, 11 AM - Indiana State at Purdue Fort Wayne
Saturday, September 21, 1:30 PM - Eastern Michigan vs. Saint Francis (Pa.)
Saturday, September 21, 7 PM - Eastern Michigan at Purdue Fort Wayne

Know Your Foes
• Saint Francis (Pa.) is 3-6, but is coming off a 0-3 record at the Michigan/Oakland Invitational. The Red Flash lost to Oakland 3-0. Maggie Hogan has a team-high 107 kills, which averages to 3.45 per set. The Red Flash run a 6-2, with Alexandra Sappia and Emma Fenton splitting the setting duties. Hogan also leads the team with 2.45 digs per set.
• Indiana State is 3-6, coming off a 3-2 loss at IU Indianapolis. Emma Kaelin is averaging a team-best 3.26 kills per set. Chloe Gilley is pacing the Sycamore with 2.77 digs per set. The Sycamores went 2-1 at the Bluff City Showdown, where they topped Arkansas Pine Bluff and Lamar.
• Eastern Michigan is 4-7, but 0-4 away from home. The Eagles are coming off a 3-0 loss to Michigan State. EMU has played two Horizon League programs, resulting in a 3-2 win at IU Indianapolis and a 3-0 loss to Oakland. EMU has three players averaging between 2.00 and 3.00 kills per set: Kaili Doctor, Kendal Bonney and Ava Siefke.

Series Histories
• The 'Dons have won all eight matches against Saint Francis (Pa.), including each of the last two seasons. This is SFU's first trip to Fort Wayne.
• Purdue Fort Wayne leads Indiana State 4-2, but ISU won the last two meetings 3-0. The two have not met since 2018.
• The Mastodons lead the series against Eastern Michigan 12-10 with a 5-3 edge in Fort Wayne. The 'Dons swept the last meeting in Cincinnati in 2022.

Panna-Tastic
Panna Ratkai is one of five players from the 12-player All-Horizon League First Team back for 2024. Ratkai (OPOY) and Oakland's Emily Wichmann (DPOY) are the only major award winners back.

Jonesing for More
Nicole Jones had a career-high 15 digs at Michigan State on September 17. She also dished out 18 assists for her first double-double since Sept. 22, 2023.

You Betts-a Believe It
LonDynn Betts became a member of the 1,000-dig club at Michigan State on September 17. She became the 21st Mastodon to join the club, and the first since Rachael Crucis in 2022.

Hungary for More
Panna Ratkai has 20 or more kills in 17 matches in her career with five coming this season. She had 12 as a redshirt-freshman. This season, she is averaging a career-best 4.67 kills per set, which ranks 10th in the nation.

Last Time Out
The Mastodons fell to Michigan State 3-1 in East Lansing.

Next Time Up
Purdue Fort Wayne begins Horizon League play next week (Sept. 27-28) with a trip to Robert Morris.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Mastodon Volleyball to Host Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational This Weekend

Next Event

Players Mentioned

LonDynn Betts

Nicole Jones

Panna Ratkai

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics