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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Coming off just the second 3-1 start in program history and first in 10 years, the Davenport University women's volleyball team will be at Malone's Hall of Fame City Challenge on Friday and Saturday. The Panthers will face the likes of Bloomsburg (12:15 p.m.) and Notre Dame College (4:45 p.m.) on day one before seeing Malone (9 a.m.) and Edinboro (1:30 p.m.) on day two. DU will be playing BU and EU for the first time ever.

Starting with Bloomsburg of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), the Huskies went 1-2 on opening week with a five-set victory over Lake Erie before falling to Frostburg State in straight sets and California (Pa.) in five. Bloomsburg (12-18, 6-8 PSAC in 2021) was picked to finish fifth in the PSAC East Division and is coming off the first PSAC Tournament trip on program history last fall. The 12 overall wins and six conference victories were both program highs for the Huskies. BU's top returners include outside hitter Sydney Buell, setter Aydan Espinal, setter Bryn Stek, and middle blocker Liz Bopp.

Notre Dame College of the Mountain East Conference (MEC) has already played five matches with a 1-4 record and the win came against Mercyhurst on Saturday in straight sets. The Falcons were selected to finish fifth in the MEC North Division and eighth overall after going 16-16 overall, 7-9 MEC in 2021. NDC made a trip to the MEC Tournament for the fourth season in a row in 2021 and return one of two All-MEC performers in right side hitter Kelsie Palmer. The Panthers and Falcons have met once all time with DU winning the meeting in five sets just last fall.

Saturday's slate will begin with the host school Malone, a 1-3 program from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The Pioneers defeated Notre Dame College for that lone victory and also represent the NCAA's Midwest Region like Davenport. The Panthers and Pioneers have already met three times in their history with Malone holding a 2-1 edge, but they haven't seen each other since 2011. The Pioneers (10-18, 5-11 G-MAC in 2021) were picked to finish fifth in the G-MAC's North Division and return All-G-MAC Third Team honoree in outside hitter Anna Mallette.

Edinboro, like Davenport, won three of its first four matches to begin the season. The Fighting Scots defeated Ohio Dominican, West Alabama and Kentucky State, each of which came in straight sets. Edinboro comes from the PSAC like Bloomsburg and was picked to finish third in the PSAC West Division for the preseason poll. Edinboro finished the 2021 season with a 22-7 overall record, 13-3 PSAC) under the PSAC West Coach of the Year, Missy Soboleski, who is back for her 18th season with the Fighting Scots. Their play in 2021 earned them a regular-season PSAC West Championship for the first time since 2015.

Story by: Cooper Weidenthaler