Baltimore, Md -- The UMBC Volleyball team will take the floor at The RAC for the first time in 2016 as it hosts Akron, Delaware State and Loyola (MD.) in the two-day Charm City Challenge beginning on Friday.

The tournament will open with the Retrievers (2-2) taking on Akron (1-2) at 10:30 a.m.,followed by Delaware State vs Loyola at 12:30 p.m. Akron will then face Delaware State at 5 p.m. before Charm City rivals, UMBC and Loyola (MD.) faceoff at 7 p.m. in the marquee matchup of the tournament.

On Saturday, Loyola (MD.) will face Akron at 1 p.m., and the Retrievers will close the tournament with a 4 p.m. match against Delaware State.

SCOUTING UMBC: The Retrievers head into the weekend at 2-2 on the year. Junior Abbie Mirabella is the defending America East Player of the Week, and leads the squad with 54 kills. R-Sophomore Claudia Lopez has 88 helpers on the year and was named America East Setter of the Week on Tuesday.

SCOUTING AKRON: The Zips opened their season with a 1-2 week at the Pepsi Panther Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Zips opened the tournament with a 3-2 win over Western Illinois before falling to the host Panthers, 3-0 on Aug. 26. The team then suffered a 3-0 setback at the hands of Bradley University on Aug. 27

SCOUTING LOYOLA (MD.): The Greayhounds will open their season this weekend at the Charm City Challenge. Last season, the Greyhounds finished 6-25 overall and 1-15 in Patriot League play. Three players return for Loyola with over 265 kills: Molly Cichosz (304), Stacy Kazalas (295), and Haley Puddy (265).

SCOUTING DELAWARE STATE: The Hornets opened their season with three losses at the University of Maryland Invitational. The Hornets fell to the host Terrapins, Sacred Heart, and Eastern Michigan in straight sets