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Davenport University Athletics

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS
Lindsay Taylor
Walter Cronk

Women's Volleyball Justice Steiner, Manager of Athletic Communications

Preview: Panthers to Continue Non-Conference Play at Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown Classic

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -  After an opening weekend across the country in Canyon, Texas, the Davenport women's volleyball team now looks ahead to the 2023 Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown Classic at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. DU will take on four out-of-conference opponents over the two-day event (Sept. 8-9). 

The Panthers (2-2, 0-0 GLIAC) split in the opening weekend at the BritKare Lady Buff Classic, sweeping East Central and defeating Adams State 3-1 (-16, -15, 23-25, -16). DU fell short against St. Mary's 3-2 (18-25, -21, -22, 18-25, 9-15) and was swept by defending national champions, No. 1 West Texas A&M.

Player Notes
Lindsay Taylor 
  • Leads the team with 42 kills, 2.90 kills per set, and 49 points to start her final season with DU.
  • Recorded a double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs in the season opener against St. Mary's.

Sydney Swan
  • The true freshman has made a huge impact thus far in her inaugural season with the Panthers, currently second on the squad in kills (37) and points (46).
  • Leads the team with nine service aces through four matches.
  • Was one kill away from a double-double against No. 1 West Texas A&M, registering a team-high nine kills to go along with 10 digs.

Emma Turnquist
  • Tied a career-high in kills with 13 to help lead the Panthers to their first win of the season over East Central.
  • Defensively, the junior leads the team with 12 blocks.

Scouting the Opponents
Clarion (4-0, 0-0 PSAC)
Series Record: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: 9/6/19 - Davenport swept Clarion 3-0 (-23, -21, -21) in Clarion, Pa.
About the Golden Eagles
In 2022, Clarion finished second in the PSAC West (28-5, 14-2 PSAC) and reached the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional championship match, the first time advancing to a regional final since 2010.

The Golden Eagles return their top two players from the historic 2022 season, London Fuller and Cassidy Snider. Fuller was a Second Team All-American (D2CCA) last season, while Snider earned Honorable Mention All-American honors (AVCA).

Clarion has picked up where it left off a season ago behind its two All-Americans, sitting with a perfect 4-0 record and only dropping three sets this season. The Golden Eagles defeated fellow GLIAC foe Saginaw Valley State 3-2 (20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 20-25, 15-11) on Sept. 1 in Clarion, Pa.

Snider has been dominant to start the season, sitting with a team-high 64 kills, 4.27 kills per set, 71 points, and a .360 hitting percentage. Defensively, Fuller is leading the way with 48 digs and 3.20 digs per set to go along with 16 blocks. 

Ursuline (0-4, 0-0 G-MAC)
Series Record: Davenport leads 1-0
Last Meeting:10/18/19 - Davenport swept Ursuline 3-0 (-16, -13, -25) in Indianapolis, Ind.
About the Arrows
It has been a bumpy start to the 2023 season for UC as they have been swept in all four of their matches. 

The Arrows return their top offensive threat from a season ago, Abigail Aguilera-Ayala, who finished the 2022 campaign with 250 kills, nearly 100 more than the next closest Arrow. Maleah Gibbons also returns after leading the team with 45 blocks to go along with 156 kills, 43 digs, and 25 service aces last season. 

Amie McCarthy has been the leader of the Ursulines' offense in 2023. She has recorded 32 kills and 34.5 points. Aguilera-Ayala has tallied 17 kills and 38 digs, while Gibbons has 16 kills and four blocks. 

Colorado Christian (2-2, 0-0 R-MAC)
Series Record: First meeting
About the Cougars
In 2022, CCU finished with a 15-13 overall record (10-8 RMAC), facing eight nationally ranked opponents. Their biggest win of the season came against No. 16 Angelo State 3-2 (-19, -23, 18-25, 19-25, -9) on Aug. 30, 2022 in Lakewood, Co. 

The Cougars return all four of their All-Conference performers from a season ago: Libby Goodman (First Team), Izzy Jones (Second Team), Lilly Woods (Second Team), and Renee Phillips (Honorable Mention). Goodman led the R-MAC in kills per set (3.75) and was third in total kills (364) last season as a redshirt sophomore. 

CCU started the year at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic in Golden, Co. picking up wins over Augustana and Pittsburg State. Junior Ali Douglass has led the way offensively this season with 41 kills and a .250 hitting percentage, while Madelyn Long has a team-high 31 digs. 

Tiffin (3-1, 0-0 G-MAC)
Series Record: Tiffin leads 2-1
Last Meeting: 9/3/21 - Davenport defeated Tiffin 3-1 (-17, -16, 20-25, -27) in Big Rapids, Mich.
About the Dragons
Tiffin garnered a 15-17 record (8-9 GMAC) in 2022, finishing fourth in the G-MAC South. The Dragons advanced to the G-MAC Tournament Semifinals, falling to Trevecca Nazarene 3-1 in the final game of the year.

The Dragons return all three of their All-G-MAC performers from 2022: Diana Heitkamp (Third Team), Kaylee Freund (Third Team), and Taylor Peterson (Third Team). Heitkamp now leads the team in digs through four games with 67, while Freund has a team-high 20 blocks, including three of which were solo. 

Starting the season in Kingsville, Texas, Tiffin swept two of its four opponents to open the 2023 campaign, Ouachita Baptist and N.M. Highlands. The Dragons also defeated Colorado St.-Pueblo 3-2 (-23, -19, 25-17, 25-16, -11) in the season opener. 

Live Coverage
Friday, Sept. 8 vs. Clarion (10 AM) - Live Stats
Friday, Sept. 8 vs. Ursuline (4 PM) - Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Colorado Christian (10 AM) - Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Tiffin (1 PM) - Live Stats
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Players Mentioned

Lindsay Taylor

#7 Lindsay Taylor

OH
6' 2"
Graduate Student
Emma Turnquist

#16 Emma Turnquist

OH/RS
6' 2"
Junior
Sydney Swan

#3 Sydney Swan

OH
5' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Lindsay Taylor

#7 Lindsay Taylor

6' 2"
Graduate Student
OH
Emma Turnquist

#16 Emma Turnquist

6' 2"
Junior
OH/RS
Sydney Swan

#3 Sydney Swan

5' 10"
Freshman
OH