Mastodon Women's Volleyball Hosts Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne women's volleyball will play host to Mercyhurst, Bellarmine and Toledo this weekend (Sept. 19-20) for the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational. This will be the first time in 2025 that fans can see the Mastodons on the Arnie Ball Court.

Tickets for the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational will be full-day passes, with one available for purchase on each day.

Game Day Information
Who: Mercyhurst Lakers, Bellarmine Knights and Toledo Rockets
When: Friday, September 19 - Saturday, September 20
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 | Match 4 | Match 5 | Match 6
Tickets: Day 1 | Day 2
Match Notes: Link

Attendance Challenge
The Purdue Fort Wayne or Indiana Fort Wayne student who attends the most Mastodon home athletics events this year will win an iPad at the end of the 2025-26 school year! Make sure to check in and get your QR code scanned at the game to start tracking your attendance.

Promotions
• Friday's match will be the kickoff for the home season and the international student celebration. Whip & Chill shaved ice will be available.
• Saturday night's match will be Camp Reunion Night, with free tickets available to all women's volleyball camp attendees (sixth grade and below).

Know Your Foes
• Mercyhurst is 2-8 with wins over Holy Cross and Canisius. The Lakers fell to Youngstown State in the season opener 3-0. Julia Shepher is leading the team with 2.78 kills per set on a solid .346 hitting percentage.
• Bellarmine is 4-5, coming off a 2-1 weekend at IU Indy's tournament, which included a 3-1 win over the Jaguars. Natalie Bland is the Knights' best hitter, averaging 3.32 kills per set this season.
• Toledo has a 6-3 record and is coming off a 1-2 weekend in Denver. The Rockets beat Denver and took Arkansas to five sets. The Rockets are very balanced offensively with five players averaging between 1.50 and 3.00 kills per set.

Series Histories
• The Mastodons and Lakers have never met as Division I foes. They did, however, play one neutral match in 1995 when the two teams were Division II, which the Mastodons won 3-0.
• One of the longest series in Purdue Fort Wayne history, the Mastodons owned a 30-2 advantage over Bellarmine in the GLVC days, but have not played since the 'Dons transitioned to Division I.
• Purdue Fort Wayne leads the series against Toledo 8-6, with the last meeting coming in 2022. Iris Riegel was the only Mastodon on the current roster to play in that match, which saw her lead the team with 11 kills.

Back for More
2024 Horizon League Freshman of the Year Riley Rosneck has the second-most points and kills per set in the league this season with 4.42 points and 4.00 kills per set.

So Good I Can't Barrett
Becky Barrett ranks in the top-55 nationally with 4.40 digs per set this season. That mark is good for third in the Horizon League.

When Life Gives You Plemons
Mya Plemons had a double-double of 10 kills and 10 blocks against Middle Tennessee in the season opener. She was the first to do so since 2017, and her 10 blocks in the four-set match is a top-five mark in the rally scoring era.

Last Time Out
The Mastodons dropped a pair of matches at Missouri State last week, taking a set off the Bears in the second match.

Next Time Up
Purdue Fort Wayne opens Horizon League play with Robert Morris on September 26-27.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Mastodon Women's Volleyball Hosts Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Becky Barrett

Mya Plemons

Iris Riegel

Riley Rosneck

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics