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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team continues non-conference competition this weekend with four matches at the Hall of Fame City Challenge in Canton, Ohio.
 
Slippery Rock opens the weekend 10 a.m. Friday against host Malone University before closing out the day at 4:45 p.m. against PSAC West rival Seton Hill University. On Saturday, SRU will play familiar foe Fairmont State University at 11:15 a.m. before wrapping up the weekend 6 p.m. Saturday against Saginaw Valley State University.

HALL OF FAME CITY CHALLENGE TICKET INFORMATION
All spectators must purchase their tickets, either per match or all-day passes, prior to the event. There will be no cash transactions accepted at the gate. To purchase tickets, visit the Malone Ticket Office website by clicking HERE.
 
Facial coverings are required for all spectators attending indoor events at Malone University. Social distancing, as well as sitting in family groups is strongly encouraged. Anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or has come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should not attend.

LIVE COVERAGE
Video and live in-game statistics are currently scheduled to be provided for every match of the Hall of Fame City Challenge HERE.
 
MATCH 1 DETAILS
Opponent: Malone
Date: Friday, Sept. 10 – 10 a.m.
Location: Osborne Hall | Canton, Ohio
Video / Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Series tied 1-1
Last Played: Sept. 3, 2021 (Malone won 3-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. MALONE
Slippery Rock and Malone have split the two matches in the all-time series with the most recent contest between The Rock and Pioneers, a 3-0 Malone win, coming last weekend at the Lock Haven Invitational. Chelsie Wheeler and Kate Lachendro each had six kills for SRU in the loss with Wheeler also totaling six solo blocks.
 
MATCH 2 DETAILS
Opponent: Seton Hill
Date: Friday, Sept. 10 – 4:45 p.m.
Location: Osborne Hall | Canton, Ohio
Video / Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SHU leads 11-8
Last Played: Nov. 8, 2019 (SHU won 3-1)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. SETON HILL
Seton Hill has won 10 straight matches against The Rock to extend its lead in the all-time series to 11-8. Zoe Rivet recorded a double-double of 41 assists and 11 digs in a 3-1 loss to the Griffins in the last meeting between SRU and SHU on Nov. 8, 2019.
 
MATCH 3 DETAILS
Opponent: Fairmont State
Date: Saturday, Sept. 11 – 11:15 a.m.
Location: Osborne Hall | Canton, Ohio
Video / Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 18-8
Last Played: Sept. 21, 2019 (SRU won 3-2)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. FAIRMONT STATE
Slippery Rock holds a healthy 18-8 record against Fairmont State in the all-time series. SRU will enter Saturday's match on a two-match winning streak against the Falcons. SRU downed the FSU in five sets on Sept. 21, 2019 behind a 17-kill, 28-assist, two-block showing by Logan Whitaker.
 
MATCH 4 DETAILS
Opponent: Saginaw Valley State
Date: Saturday, Sept. 11 – 6 p.m.
Location: Osborne Hall | Canton, Ohio
Video / Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SVSU leads 4-2
Last Played: Sept. 14, 2002 (SRU won 3-1)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. SAGINAW VALLEY
While Saginaw Valley State holds a 4-2 lead in the all-time series, The Rock and Cardinals have not met since 2002 when Slippery Rock earned a four-set win.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Record: 2-2
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 0-0
Neutral Site Record: 2-2
Streak: W2
Head Coach: Laurie Lokash | 38th Year (645-583)
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock capped off its time at the Lock Haven Invitational by beating the host Bald Eagles in five sets to capture its second straight win (Box Score).
 
EVERYONE GET INVOLVED
15 of the 18 players on Slippery Rock's 2021 roster appeared in at least one match at the Lock Haven Invitational last weekend.
 
FRESHMEN STANDOUTS
The rookie duo of Wheeler and Erica Selfridge paced The Rock's attack last weekend. Both Wheeler and Selfridge exited the opening weekend of their college careers tied for the team lead in kills at 30 with Wheeler also racking up a Rock-best 15 blocks and Selfridge ranking third on the team in both digs (46) and aces (2).
 
Highlights for the freshmen tandem included Selfridge going for 18 kills and 21 digs in SRU's win against Lock Haven and Wheeler tallying six blocks against Malone, seven blocks versus Roberts Wesleyan followed by 13 kills at Lock Haven.
 
Wheeler's seven-block showing against Roberts Wesleyan is tied for the third highest total in a single-match by a freshman at SRU over the last 20 seasons.
 
JACK OF ALL TRADES
Just as she was during her freshman season in 2019, Whitaker continues to be one of The Rock's most versatile players. In addition to guiding the offense with 89 assists, SRU's top setter also enters the weekend ranked third on the team in kills (19), second in digs (51) and fourth in blocks (4). She closed the LHU Invite with arguably her top performance at The Rock with 38 assists, 24 digs, five kills and two blocks over a five-set win against Lock Haven.
 
LACHENDRO AMONG THE PSAC WEST'S BEST
Lachendro rattled off three double-digit ace performances last weekend and enters the Hall of Fame City Challenge tied for third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division in aces with eight.
 
Additionally, Lachendro also ranks third in the PSAC West in both total digs (71) and digs per set (5.07).
 
CHIZMAR AND O'DONNELL STEPPING UP
After seeing limited playing time in 2019 both Alayna Chizmar and Stephanie O'Donnell saw a heavy workload to open the 2021 season.
 
Chizmar has started two of four matches played, tallying 13 kills, five aces and 20 digs with the highlight of her weekend being a four-ace outing in SRU's three-set win over Roberts Wesleyan.
 
After sitting out SRU's season-opener against Notre Dame, O'Donnell closed out the weekend by starting two of The Rock's final three matches. She produced eight blocks, the second most of any Rock athlete, to go with nine kills. Five of O'Donnell's blocks came against Roberts Wesleyan.
 
VETERANS IN THE MIDDLE
Slippery Rock senior middle hitters Tiara Teague and Lauren Crytzer began their final seasons at SRU by combining to produce 10 blocks and 18 kills. Teague was one of four Rock athletes to start all four matches. She currently leads the team in attack percentage (.268) while ranking third in blocks (7) and fourth in kills (15).
 
DEBUTS IN THE BOOKS
Paige Weeder, Taylor Fellers, Syd Montana, Mary Berger and Peytan Gullickson all made their official collegiate debuts throughout last weekend as the mixture of 2021 freshmen and sophomores all dawned the Green & White for the first time.
 
SRU'S NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Slippery Rock has been impressive in non-conference competition over the last seven seasons. During that time, SRU has recorded above .500 records outside of the PSAC in five of those years with an overall mark in those contests of 51-35 (.593)
 
NEXT FIVE MATCHES
Sept. 17 (1 p.m.) at West Liberty
Sept. 17 (7 p.m.) vs. Notre Dame (West Liberty, W. Va.)
Sept. 18 (Noon) at Wheeling
Sept. 18 (4 p.m.) vs. Fairmont State (Wheeling, W. Va.)
Sept. 21 (7 p.m.) vs. Pitt-Johnstown
 
THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
• Sept. 6, 2008 – Anna Bixler serves six aces vs. Saint Michael's.
• Sept. 8, 2013 – Caroline Houston serves seven aces vs. Glenville State.
• Sept. 11, 2015 –  Leah Jones records 24 kills vs. UVa.-Wise.
• Sept. 12, 2008 –  SRU defeats Bluefield State (3-0) for Laurie Lokash's 500th career win.
 
MALONE PRIMER
Record: 3-1
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 1-0
Neutral Site Record: 2-1
Streak: W1
Head Coach: Rafael Gonzalez | First Year (3-1)
 
PIONEER LEADERS
ATTACK: Macy McCauley (32 kills / .119), Anna Mallette (29 kills / .213)
ASSISTS: Molly Bullion (58 / 4.46 per set)
ACES: Anna Mallette (8), Ri'Gyn Humes (7)
DIGS: Anna Mallette (50 / 3.8 per set), Hallie Pinkerton (47 / 3.62 per set)
BLOCKS: Kristen Hankins (10)
 
SETON HILL PRIMER
Record: 0-3
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 0-0
Neutral Site Record: 0-3
Streak: L3
Head Coach: Rick Hall | 14th Year (249-139)
 
GRIFFIN LEADERS
ATTACK: Paige Cole (34 kills / .202), Mara Yahner (31 kills / .176)
ASSISTS: Riley Rock (44 / 3.67 per set), Shannon Watkins (34 / 3.09 per set)
ACES: Carrie Leazer (6), Paige Cole (5)
DIGS: Carrie Leazer (50 / 4.17 per set)
BLOCKS: Bobbi Rempe (7), Kierstin Schade (7)
 
FAIRMONT STATE PRIMER
Record: 4-0
Home Record: 4-0
Away Record: 0-0
Neutral Site Record: 0-0
Streak: W4
Head Coach: Travis Hinkle | First Year at FSU (4-0)
 
FALCON LEADERS
ATTACK: Julia DiPaola (38 kills / .246), Amelia Moore (37 kills / .405)
ASSISTS: Lilianna Keber (132 / 10.15 per set)
ACES: Julia DiPaola (6), Bryce Knapp (5)
DIGS: Bryce Knapp (59 / 4.54 per set), Julia DiPaola (56 / 4.31 per set)
BLOCKS: Emma Ludwig (20), Amelia Moore (11)
 
SAGINAW VALLEY PRIMER
Record: 4-0
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 2-0
Neutral Site Record: 2-0
Streak: W4
Head Coach: Will Stanton | 20th Year (265-260)
 
TOP CARDINALS
ATTACK: Maria Vukaj (63 kills / .182), Madison Thompson (38 kills / .238)
ASSISTS: Peyton Gerstacker (159 / 9.94 per set)
ACES: Kelsey Vittitow (5)
DIGS: Caitlinn Pistro (68 / 4.86 per set), Maria Vukaj (61 / 3.81 per set)
BLOCKS: Olivia Waszak (21), Haley Clum (19)
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock will play four matches against West Liberty, Notre Dame, Wheeling and Fairmont State at Sept. 17-18 at the Atlantic Region Crossover.



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