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Davenport University Athletics

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS
Huddle
Ashley Cefali

Women's Volleyball Justice Steiner, Manager of Athletic Communications

Preview: DU Heads North to Begin Conference Play

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - After consecutive weekends of out-of-conference tournaments, the Davenport University women's volleyball team will begin GLIAC play in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Panthers (3-5, 0-0 GLIAC) will match up with Northern Michigan on Friday (Sept. 15), followed by Michigan Tech on Saturday (Sept. 16).

Player Notes
Stephanie Kalinowski
  • Was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week after her outing at the 2023 Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown Classic last weekend, finishing with 69 digs and 4.31 digs per set through four matches. 
  • The libero registered a staggering 27 digs against Tiffin (Sept. 9), marking the second-highest total of her career in a single match.
  • Her career-high came against Parkside in 2020 when she tallied 29 digs. 

Kaitlin Jordan
  • Has recorded a block in all eight of the Panthers' matches this year, with her season-high being three against Adams State (Sept. 2).
  • Registered a season-best 10 kills last weekend against Colorado Christian (Sept. 9). Her career-high (15) came in her freshman season at Molloy University.

Scouting the opponents 
Northern Michigan (1-7, 0-0 GLIAC)
Series Record: Northern Michigan leads 8-3
Last Meeting: 10/21/22 - Northern Michigan defeated Davenport 3-2 (-24, -24, 13-25, 23-25, 9-15) in Grand Rapids, Mich.
About the Wildcats
At first glance, it may seem like this Northern Michigan team has taken a step back from a season ago. However, the Wildcats have played one of the toughest schedules in the country thus far. NMU has played four teams that are currently ranked inside the AVCA top-25, including No. 1 Concordia St. Paul. The Wildcats have also been without their best player, who has been sidelined for seven of its eight matches. 

NMU was one of the GLIAC's top teams a season ago, finishing the regular season No. 2 in the conference (23-9. 14-4 GLIAC). Now, after starting the 2023 season with a 3-1 victory over Minnesota Crookston, the Wildcats lost seven consecutive matches, only winning one set during that stretch. 

The Wildcats return both of their First Team All-GLIAC performers from 2022, Meghan Meyer and Jacqueline Smith. However, Smith has only been able to play in one match this season (Minnesota Crookston), which has been NMU's only win. The redshirt junior has been sidelined with an injury ever since, attributing to the teams' struggles to begin the 2023 campaign. 

Meyer finished atop the GLIAC and fourth in the nation in hitting percentage (.403) as a redshirt sophomore in 2022. She has been the clear leader of the offense as a redshirt junior, leading the team in kills (74), points (83), and blocks (eight). She also is hitting .331 with three service aces and 12 digs on the year. 

A First Team All-GLIAC performer for three consecutive seasons, Smith was named to the D2CCA Midwest All-Region Second team while garnering an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection. Smith was also second in the conference in kills last season with 537, marking the third highest in the country. 

Michigan Tech (2-6, 0-0 GLIAC)
Series Record: Michigan Tech leads 5-3
Last Meeting: 10/22/22 - Davenport swept Michigan Tech 3-0 (-18, -23, -22) in Grand Rapids, Mich.  
About the Huskies
Similar to Northern Michigan, Michigan Tech has had a difficult out-of-conference schedule to start the season. All six of the Husky's losses have come against teams who are either ranked inside the AVCA top 25 or are receiving votes in the latest poll. 

Both of Michigan Techs' victories have come by way of a sweep, defeating Minnesota Crookston and So. New Hampshire. 

The Huskies lost all four of their All-GLIAC honorees from a season ago: Carissa Beyer (First Team), Lina Espejo-Ramierez (Second Team), Jillian Kuizenga (Second Team), and Janie Grindland (Honorable Mention).  

With a lot of production to replace from last season's squad, Lindy Oujiri has already eclipsed 100 kills (106) to lead the Huskies offense. Defensively, Alayna Corwin leads the team with 88 digs, while Kaycee Meiners has tallied 25 blocks.

Live Coverage 
Friday, Sept. 15 at Northern Michigan (6:30 PM) - Live Video (FloSports) - Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 16 at Michigan Tech (3 PM) - Live Video (FloSports) - Live Stats

 
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Players Mentioned

Stephanie Kalinowski

#12 Stephanie Kalinowski

L
5' 3"
Graduate Student
Kaitlin Jordan

#8 Kaitlin Jordan

MB
6' 1"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Stephanie Kalinowski

#12 Stephanie Kalinowski

5' 3"
Graduate Student
L
Kaitlin Jordan

#8 Kaitlin Jordan

6' 1"
Sophomore
MB