Davenport University Athletics

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS

Walter Cronk

Women's Volleyball 10/12/2023 11:33:00 AM Justice Steiner, Manager of Athletic Communications

Preview: Panthers Pause GLIAC Play, Head to Midwest Region Crossover

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport women's volleyball team will take a break from conference play as they head to Hammond, Ind. to compete in the Midwest Region Crossover Tournament this Friday and Saturday (Oct. 13-14). The tournament features schools from the Midwest Region (GLIAC, GLVC, and G-MAC), competing only against teams from opposing conferences.

The Panthers (8-9, 5-4 GLIAC) went 2-1 last season at the tournament, holding a 9-6 record all-time and going 8-1 under head coach Brian Netzler.

Davenport remains tied for No. 3 in the conference standings with Parkside and Michigan Tech. DU has yet to play the Rangers while defeating the Huskies 3-0 in Houghton, Mich. earlier this season (Sept. 16).

As a team, Davenport remains one of the best serving teams in the GLIAC, ranking second in total service aces (115) and third in aces per set (1.85).

Player Notes
Abby Alan

Since her first start, she has recorded nine or more kills in each of the last four matches.
Second on the team in kills per set (2.29).

Nicole Odeen

Dished out a season-high 46 assists last time out in a 3-1 win over Lake Superior State (Oct. 7).
Leads the team in total assists (373), marking the seventh most in the GLIAC.
Ranked ninth in the conference in assists per set (5.74).
Second leading Panther in service aces (23), good for fifth in the GLIAC.

Abby Welke

Continues to become more involved in the Panthers' offense.
Set a season-high in kills for the second consecutive week, slamming eight against LSSU (Oct. 7).
Notched season-highs in points (9) and digs (10) as well in the win against the Lakers (Oct. 7).

Scouting the Opponents
#4 Missouri St.-Louis (17-0, 5-0 GLVC)
Series Record: Missouri St.-Louis leads 2-0
Last Meeting: 10/15/22 - Missouri St.-Louis defeated Davenport 3-1 in Hammond, Ind. (Midwest Region Crossover)
About the Tritons

Ranked No. 4 in Division II.
Advanced to NCAA Semifinals in 2022, falling to eventual National Champion West Texas A&M.
Head coach Ryan Young was named 2022 Midwest Region Coach of the Year a season ago.
Return four out of five All-GLVC performers from 2022.
2-0 this season against opponents ranked inside the AVCA top-25 rankings.
Have swept 11 of their 17 opponents.
Have won 24 of their last 27 sets.
Rank third in the nation in kills per set (14.84).
Hitting .283 on the season, marking the sixth-best in the country.
Leads the GLVC in total service aces (129) and aces per set (2.22).

Top Threats
Lexie Rang

Named First Team All-GLVC in 2022.
10th in the nation and second in the conference in points per set (4.96)
Through 17 games, she is averaging 4.20 kills per set, marking the fourth highest in the GLVC and 19th best in Division II.
Has recorded seven double-doubles in 2023.
Tallied 20 or more kills three times this season.

Caitlin Bishop

First Team All-GLVC as a freshman (2022).
Second in the nation in assists per set (12.03)
Has totaled 698 assists, marking the sixth most in Division II

Kylie Adams

2022 Second Team All-GLVC Honoree
Currently leads the team in digs per set (4.78), marking the third-best in the conference.
Has totaled 277 digs in 2023, the sixth most in the GLVC.

Tiffin (10-8, 5-5 G-MAC)
Series Record: Tiffin leads 3-1
Last Meeting: 9/9/23 - Tiffin defeated Davenport 3-2 in Allendale, Mich.
About the Dragons

Currently No. 4 in the G-MAC South
One of the best blocking teams in the country, fourth in total blocks (164.5) and 14th blocks per set (2.38) nationally.
Fourth in the conference in total digs (1,021).
Return all three of their All-G-MAC performers from 2022.

Top Threats
Kenedi Goon

Named G-MAC Volleyball South Division Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 2).
Leads the team in points per set (3.14).
Ranks ninth in the conference in total kills (180).
Second on the team in blocks (65), marking the fourth-highest total in the G-MAC.

Kaylee Freund

Third Team All-G-MAC as a freshman (2022).
One of the top blockers in the country.
Second in the nation in total blocks (87).
11th nationally in blocks per set (1.28).
Has played in all 18 matches for Tiffin.

Taylor Peterson

Third Team All-G-MAC as a sophomore (2022).
Has totaled 69 kills and 1.68 kills per set on the season.
Averaging a career-high 1.32 digs per set.

Live Coverage
Friday, Oct. 13 vs. Missouri St.Louis (3 PM ET) - Live Stats
Friday, Oct. 13 vs. Tiffin (8 PM ET) - Live Stats

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Players Mentioned

#6 Nicole Odeen: S; 5' 7"; Senior

#9 Abby Welke: OH/RS; 5' 11"; Junior

#21 Abby Alan: OH/RS; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#6 Nicole Odeen
: 5' 7"; Senior
: S

#9 Abby Welke
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH/RS

#21 Abby Alan
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH/RS

Players Mentioned

#6 Nicole Odeen

#9 Abby Welke

#21 Abby Alan

Players Mentioned

#6 Nicole Odeen

#9 Abby Welke

#21 Abby Alan