The UMBC volleyball squad continues its rigorous non-conference schedule as they head to West Virginia University for the Mountaineer Invitational on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 16 and 17. The Retrievers (3-8) open play versus Robert Morris at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday and take on the host Mountaineers at 5:00 p.m. that afternoon. That match will be broadcast on ESPN+.

UMBC concludes play by taking on George Washington at 1:30 p.m. on Friday.

RETRIEVER REVIEW

• In a homecoming of sorts, the Retrievers took two of three matches at the Charm City Challenge, held at Chesapeake Employers Arena last weekend. UMBC defeated Quinnipiac, 3-1, and swept Howard, 3-0, on Friday before falling to undefeated Maryland, 3-0, on Saturday.

HONORED

• Junior setter Andjelija Draskovic (Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia) and sophomore outside hitter Aysia Miller (Miliani, Hawaii) were named to the All-Tournament Team of the Charm City Classic.
• Graduate student libero Loren Teter (Redondo Beach, Calif.) was selected as the America East Conference Defensive Specialist of the Week. It was her second honor of the 2021 fall campaign. Teter averaged 5.14 digs per set and produced a 28-dig in three-set performance against Howard. Teter leads America East with 4.43 digs per set.

OTHER STAT LEADERS

• Sophomore middle blocker Beste Ayhan (Istanbul, Turkey) is ranked in the top five of three statistical categories in America East. She is second in blocks per set (1.12), fourth in hitting percentage (29.5) and fifth in service aces per set (0.36).
• Miller is ranked fifth in assists per set in the conference at 6.23.

A GLANCE AT THE OPPONENTS   

• ​​Robert Morris - The Colonials are 6-3 and were off to a hot 3-0 start to the season. They recently dropped a 3-23 decision against Marist.  In the loss, the Colonials racked up 34 block-assists, with senior RS Emily Devlin recording 12. This past weekend, Robert Morris went 2-1, defeating Coppin State, 3-2, and Morgan State, 3-1.  Sophomore OH/S Annie Monaco recorded 36 kills on the weekend, having a season-high 17 kills against Coppin State.  Sophomore OH Abby Ryan is leading the team in kills with 101 and kills per set at 2.97. The Colonials lead the Retrievers in the all-time series, 9-7, with their most recent match-up occurring in 2018 and resulting in a 3-2 Colonial victory.   
• West Virginia - The Mountaineers are off to a perfect 8-0 start, losing only two sets this season.   This past weekend, the Mountaineers captured a trio of wins, sweeping both American, 3-0, and Canisius, 3-0, and handling Buffalo, 3-1.  In the latest coaches' poll, the Mountaineers received six votes.  The Mountaineers are averaging 14.04 kills per set.  Fifth-year senior MB Briana Lynch and senior OH Natali Petrova lead the team in kills. Lynch has 92 kills on the season and is averaging 3.54 kills per set, while Petrova has 81 kills and puts away 3.24 kills per set.  Senior S Lacey Zerwas is averaging 10.92 assists per set.  The Mountaineers lead the all-time series with UMBC, 8-1, with their last match-up taking place  in 2013.  
• George Washington - The Colonials are 0-8 this season.  GW recently dropped a close 3-2 match against Maryland Eastern Shore in the team's  lone five-set match of the season.  This past weekend, the Colonials also fell to Loyola, Maryland, 3-0.  Freshman OH Salem Yohannes is leading the team in kills, with 83, and is averaging 3.07 kills per set. Yohannes tied her career-high 18 kills in the match-up against Maryland-Eastern Shore. The Colonials have captured 20 of their 22 meetings with the Retrievers.  UMBC captured the most recent match-up in 2017, sweeping the Colonials in straight  sets.

UP NEXT

UMBC returns home and welcomes local rival Coppin State to the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena on Monday, Sept. 20 at 6:00 p.m.