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Mya Plemons
Photo by: Rachel Von Art
'Dons and Eagles Meet Up For Exhibition Volleyball Contest
8/20/2026 12:54:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne women's volleyball team will be hosting Eastern Michigan for an exhibition match on Friday (Aug. 21) at 2 p.m. on the Arnie Ball Court. This will be Purdue Fort Wayne's final tuneup before the regular season begins next week.
Game Day Information
Who: Eastern Michigan Eagles
When: Friday, Aug. 21 | 2 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Arnie Ball Court
Live Stats: None
Watch: None
Tickets: Free!
Know Your Foe
Eastern Michigan went 13-18 a year ago, with a 5-13 mark in Mid-American Conference action. The Eagles were stout at home, which is where the Mastodons met them, but went 3-10 in true road matches. EMU played three Horizon League programs last year with Purdue Fort Wayne (W, 3-0), Oakland (W, 3-1, 3-0) and IU Indy (L, 3-1). EMU graduated its top two hitters from 2025, but AshleeKay Christensen, who averaged 2.50 kills per set on a .118 hitting percentage, is back for her sophomore campaign. The Eagles will also be working in a new setter, as both primary setting options from last year graduated.
Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne is a familiar foe for the Eagles, with 24 regular season matches between the two squads. EMU took last season's meeting in Ypsilanti, but the 'Dons swept the two prior meetings in 2022 and 2024. The Mastodons lead the overall series 13-11, with all but one of those coming in the Mastodons' Division I era.
All-Leaguer
Riley Rosneck earned a spot on the All-Horizon League Second Team a year ago after being the league Freshman of the Year in 2024. In 2025, Rosneck was third in the league with a 4.00 kill per set clip, registering 20 or more kills in seven matches.
New Faces in the Fort
Four freshmen joined the Purdue Fort Wayne roster for this season: Ava Tester (S), Ellie Adams (OH/DS), Anna Cassidy (MB) and Alyssa Gumbel (OH/DS). Gumbel enrolled a semester early after an injury kept her from playing in her senior season at Bellmont.
Hall of Fame Worthy
In January 2026, Mastodon women's volleyball alumna Peachy Jankowski was inducted into the Mastodon Hall of Fame. She led the Mastodons to 95 wins over her four years in Fort Wayne (2004-07), racking up 2,253 digs. The libero was named Independent Defensive Player of the Year in 2005.
Coming Up
The regular season begins on August 28 with a trio of matches at the Bellarmine Classic. The Mastodons will play Rutgers and Evansville on Friday (Aug. 28) and Bellarmine on Saturday (Aug. 29).
Game Day Information
Who: Eastern Michigan Eagles
When: Friday, Aug. 21 | 2 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Arnie Ball Court
Live Stats: None
Watch: None
Tickets: Free!
Know Your Foe
Eastern Michigan went 13-18 a year ago, with a 5-13 mark in Mid-American Conference action. The Eagles were stout at home, which is where the Mastodons met them, but went 3-10 in true road matches. EMU played three Horizon League programs last year with Purdue Fort Wayne (W, 3-0), Oakland (W, 3-1, 3-0) and IU Indy (L, 3-1). EMU graduated its top two hitters from 2025, but AshleeKay Christensen, who averaged 2.50 kills per set on a .118 hitting percentage, is back for her sophomore campaign. The Eagles will also be working in a new setter, as both primary setting options from last year graduated.
Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne is a familiar foe for the Eagles, with 24 regular season matches between the two squads. EMU took last season's meeting in Ypsilanti, but the 'Dons swept the two prior meetings in 2022 and 2024. The Mastodons lead the overall series 13-11, with all but one of those coming in the Mastodons' Division I era.
All-Leaguer
Riley Rosneck earned a spot on the All-Horizon League Second Team a year ago after being the league Freshman of the Year in 2024. In 2025, Rosneck was third in the league with a 4.00 kill per set clip, registering 20 or more kills in seven matches.
New Faces in the Fort
Four freshmen joined the Purdue Fort Wayne roster for this season: Ava Tester (S), Ellie Adams (OH/DS), Anna Cassidy (MB) and Alyssa Gumbel (OH/DS). Gumbel enrolled a semester early after an injury kept her from playing in her senior season at Bellmont.
Hall of Fame Worthy
In January 2026, Mastodon women's volleyball alumna Peachy Jankowski was inducted into the Mastodon Hall of Fame. She led the Mastodons to 95 wins over her four years in Fort Wayne (2004-07), racking up 2,253 digs. The libero was named Independent Defensive Player of the Year in 2005.
Coming Up
The regular season begins on August 28 with a trio of matches at the Bellarmine Classic. The Mastodons will play Rutgers and Evansville on Friday (Aug. 28) and Bellarmine on Saturday (Aug. 29).
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
OH/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballFriday, August 07
Thursday, July 16
Tuesday, July 14
Wednesday, July 08
