COLUMBUS, Ohio – Another weekend tournament is ahead for the Ohio Dominican volleyball team as they travel to Amherst, New York for the Daemen University Wildcat Den Classic. The Panthers will play Davis & Elkins on Friday afternoon and then return to the court on Saturday afternoon to play California (Pa.) and Daemen.

The Black and Gold wrapped up their first weekend with a 2-1 record after playing 13 sets at the Vulcan Volleyball Invitational. In the opening match, ODU defeated Bloomsburg 3-2 in a thrilling five-set match. Later that evening, the Panthers fell to California, 3-2, in another five-set match. They concluded the invitational with a 3-0 win over West Virginia Wesleyan.

About Ohio Dominican

Senior Kelsey Shoup (Dalton, Ohio) was recognized as the G-MAC South Division Defensive Athlete of the Week this week for her performance on opening weekend. The libero appeared in all 13 sets, collecting 65 total digs, an average of 5.00 digs per set, and added 20 assists. She was also awarded to the Vulcan Volleyball Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Joining her on the All-Tournament Team was Lauren Lucas (Grove City, Ohio). The junior appeared in 11 sets, recording 36 kills with an average of 3.27 kills per set. Lucas snagged four service aces, 21 digs, and four blocks as well. The outside hitter netted her first career double-double against the Vulcans with 19 kills and 11 digs.

As a team, the Panthers notched 169 assists. Sophomores Saige Avery (Yorkville, Ill.) and Gabrielle Kirker (Tallmadge, Ohio) accounted for a majority of the assists with Avery grabbing 75 and Kirker tallying 58. Avery recorded back-to-back double-doubles on Saturday, registering 39 assists and a career-high 20 digs in the first match and 21 assists and 12 digs in the night cap. Kirker joined her with 25 assists and 10 digs in game one and 23 assists and 10 digs in game two.

At the net, middle blocker, Grace Zinchuk (Schaumburg, Ill.) recorded 12 blocks over the weekend. The sophomore also added four service aces and 26 kills. Fellow sophomores Ashley Aselage (Tipp City, Ohio) and Jenna Peters (Vermilion, Ohio) registered four blocks a piece. Aselage and Peters both grabbed 37 kills. Senior Alexis Keipert (Burlington, Ky.) added 23 digs and three services aces last weekend.

About Davis & Elkins

The Senators opened their 2023 campaign at the UVA-Wise Cavalier Classic where they went 0-4. The Black and Red fell to Lees-McRae College, Concord University, and UVA-Wise 3-0, and lost to Johnson C. Smith University, 3-1.

Fifth year middle blockers, Brianna and Brittany Portley, led the way for D&E, collecting 25 kills each. Brianna added 13 digs and 14 blocks at the net with Brittany adding five digs and four blocks. Libero Clara Caralt snagged 72 digs in her 13 sets of play. She averaged 5.54 digs per set.

Senior setter Simone Daniels netted 62 assists and four service aces. Daniels averaged 4.77 assists per set and added 17 digs. Freshman Keira Robinson recorded 46 assists and led the team with five service aces. The setter averaged 3.54 assists per set and notched 20 digs.

The Senators and the Panthers have a series history record of 2-1 with D&E in the lead. The two last faced off in the 2018 season where Davis & Elkins took the match, 3-0.

About California (Pa.)

The Vulcans won their invitational last weekend, going 3-0 and taking each match 3-2. Cal U defeated West Virginia Wesleyan, Ohio Dominican, and Bloomsburg in the opening weekend.

Sophomore Elisa Rugiero led the way collecting 42 kills. She also added eight service aces, 40 digs, and 13 blocks. Following her was junior Allie Droneberger with 36 kills, five service aces, 43 digs, and seven blocks. Libero Emily Buwawa matched Droneberger with 43 digs. Buwawa also had seven service aces.

Junior setter, Rachel Simon, led the way with 119 assists in the three matches. Simon averaged 7.93 assists per set and led with eight service aces. She netted seven kills and 25 digs.

The Panthers and Vulcans meet again in back-to-back weekends. Cal U defeated ODU in a hard fought five-set match last weekend, currently holding a 1-0 record over the Black and Gold.

About Daemen

The Wildcats traveled to the Tony Banner Memorial Tournament at Clarion where they went 2-2. Daemen were bested by Clarion, 3-0, and Shippensburg, 3-2. They then ended the tournament on a high note, defeating Fayetteville State, 3-0, and fellow G-MAC institution Lake Erie, 3-1.

Freshman Charlotte Koerber was awarded East Coast Conference Player of the Week after leading her team with 46 kills. The outside hitter added 10 service aces, 40 digs, and three blocks. Libero Jasmine Brundage led the way with 48 digs over the weekend.

Setter Dunja Masic snagged 74 assists and 11 service aces. Fellow setter, Olivia Alessi, grabbed 48 assists and 14 digs.

Daemen and Ohio Dominican have not met within the Division II Era, but have played once overall. The two faced off in 2008 during the NAIA Era with the Panthers winning 3-0 over the Wildcats.

Game Time

Ohio Dominican will open the Classic with Davis & Elkins on Friday afternoon with first serve set for 3:30 PM from Lumsden Gymnasium. They will return to the court on Saturday for a 1:30 PM matchup against California (Pa.) and end with Daemen at 4:00 PM.