GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - After posting a winning record at the Findlay Classic last weekend, the Davenport University women's volleyball team returns home to host the fourth annual Hampton Inn & Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 4-5).

The Panthers finished their opening weekend with a 2-1 record. After falling to Ashland in the season opener, Davenport responded with a pair of four-set victories over host Findlay and California (Pa.).

Senior outside hitter Abby Alan leads DU with 46 kills and six service aces through the first three matches. Junior libero Hayley Carr earned Findlay Classic All-Tournament Team honors after collecting 53 digs with nearly half of those digs (23) coming from the Findlay matchup alone and contributing with 12 assists, while freshman setter Kierra Dommer has registered a team-high 73 assists.

Mariya Montgomery leads the Panthers at the net with 11 total blocks, including four solo blocks and seven block assists. Jaide Wirth is coming off a career-best performance against California (Pa.), recording 17 kills to help Davenport close the weekend with a victory. Wirth finished the tournament with 25 kills on 44 attacks while posting a .500 hitting percentage.

This marks the fourth consecutive season Davenport has hosted the Hampton Inn & Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic. The Panthers will once again partner with Grand Valley State to co-host the event, which features Cedarville, Northwood, Post, Saginaw Valley State, Seton Hill and Slippery Rock and of course the hosts, Davenport and GVSU. 

Davenport will open the tournament Friday at 1 p.m. against Seton Hill before facing Northwood at 7 p.m. The Panthers will return to the court Saturday for a noon matchup against Slippery Rock and conclude the weekend against Cedarville at 4 p.m.

Scouting the Opponents 
Seton Hill 
About the Griffins

• Seton Hill enters the weekend 3-0 after defeating Point Park, Lake Erie and Slippery Rock at the Storm Volleyball Classic.
• The Griffins finished 15-12 overall and 7-7 in PSAC play last season and were picked sixth in the 2026 preseason coaches poll.
• This weekend marks the first meeting between Davenport and Seton Hill.
• Senior middle blocker Catie Flohr leads the team with 55 kills, a .404 hitting percentage and 60 points.
• Kendyl Wagner has collected a team-high 50 digs, while Mallory Meinen has dished out 119 assists.
• Cassidy Snider is in her first full season as head coach after being promoted in February 2026.

Northwood 
About the Timberwolves

• Northwood enters the weekend 1-2 after defeating Quincy and falling to Indiana (Pa.) and Wayne State at the Warrior Invitational.
• The Timberwolves finished 11-14 overall and 6-9 in G-MAC play last season and were picked third in the North Division in the 2026 preseason coaches poll.
• Davenport leads the all-time series 4-1, with Northwood earning its lone victory in the most recent meeting in September 2024.
• Olivia Nester leads the team with 34 kills, while freshman Kennedy Hinkle has recorded 32 kills and a team-high 40.5 points.
• Laney Kokaly has collected a team-high 37 digs, while Avery Dubey and Kyden Ehle have registered 54 and 52 assists, respectively.
• David Shumaker is entering his 24th season as Northwood's head coach.

Slippery Rock 
About the Rocks

• Slippery Rock opened the season with a 2-1 record at the Storm Volleyball Classic, defeating Point Park and Lake Erie before falling to Seton Hill.
• The Rock finished 10-17 overall and 3-11 in PSAC play last season and was picked eighth in the 2026 PSAC Western Division preseason poll.
• This weekend marks the first meeting between Davenport and Slippery Rock.
• Junior Marley Annis leads the offense with 38 kills and 40 points, while setter Paityn Krause has recorded a team-high 53 assists.
• Freshman Ellie Friedrichs leads the team with 10 service aces, while Kara Pasquale has collected a team-high 50 digs.
• Dylan Lasher is in his second full season as head coach.

Cedarville 
About the Yellow Jackets 

• Cedarville enters the weekend 1-2 after defeating No. 24 Missouri–St. Louis and falling to No. 23 Gannon in five sets and No. 1 Concordia–St. Paul at the Cedarville Invitational.
• The Yellow Jackets finished 24-6 overall and 14-1 in G-MAC play last season, advancing to the conference championship match before falling to Ohio Dominican in five sets.
• Cedarville was picked to finish first in the South Division in the 2026 G-MAC preseason coaches poll.
• The all-time series is tied 3-3, with Davenport winning the most recent meeting in four sets on Oct. 18, 2024.
• Allie Pilat leads the Yellow Jackets with 38 kills, while Sidney Shepherd has dished out a team-high 100 assists.
• Greg Smith has led Cedarville since 2018 and is the seventh head coach in program history.

Live Coverage: 
Sept. 4th (1 PM) vs. Seton Hill // Live Video // Live Stats 
Sept. 4th (7 PM) vs. Northwood // Live Video // Live Stats 
Sept. 5th (12 PM) vs. Slippery Rock // Live Video // Live Stats 
Sept. 5th (4 PM) vs. Cedarville // Live Video // Live Stats