The UMBC volleyball squad (4-3) continues its rigorous non-conference slate as they travel to the VCU Invitational and face three strong opponents this weekend.

The Retrievers open by taking on Old Dominion on Friday, Sept. 16 at 3:00 p.m. They face the host VCU Rams on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 10:00 a.m. and conclude play by competing against the University of North Carolina at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Live stats will be available for all three matches and the Saturday morning contest will be streamed live on ESPN+.

RETRIEVER NOTEBOOK
·       The Retrievers have won three consecutive matches to improve to 4-3 in Kasey Crider's first season at helm.
·       A second consecutive career-performance from Kamani Conteh (32 kills) helped lead the UMBC volleyball team to a five-set victory over Sun Belt preseason favorite James Madison (20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 15-12) on Sept. 9. Two days later, the Retrievers followed up with a 3-1 win over Niagara.  
·       Conteh became the first Retriever to tally 30 kills in a match since Krystal Mlemchukwu had 30 kills at UAlbany in 2014. She was also just the third player in the rally-score era to reach the plateau, and it's only the fourth such occurrence (and the second in the 25-point era).
·       Freshman setter Serin Maden had 52 assists and a career-best 11 digs vs. JMU.
·       For the third consecutive week, Maden was named America East Setter of the Week. In addition, sophomore Mia Bilusic was tabbed as the Player of the Week. Bilusic averaged 4.56 kills per set and hit .345 with a pair of double-doubles in the two UMBC victories.
·       UMBC currently leads America East in assists (12.75) and kills (13.7) per set.
·       Bilusic (4.75) and Conteh (4.5) are 1-2 in the league in kills per set. Bilusic is also tops in services aces (0.79), while Maden is far and away the leader in assists at 10.7 assists per set through 28 sets in 2022.
·       Bilusic is seventh in the nation in services aces per set, while Maden is tied for 13th in assists per set.   
 
A GLANCE AT THE MONARCHS   
·       In just its second full year as a varsity program, ODU is off to a 4-6 start in 2022.  
·       The Monarchs are 4-3 over their last seven matches and enter the VCU Invitational after a 3-0 win at Norfolk State.
·       Freshman Bailey Burgess and junior Hailey Duncan each have 61 kills to lead the Monarchs.
·       This will be the first meeting between ODU and UMBC.     

A GLANCE AT THE RAMS  
·       VCU has dropped four of its last five matches and enters play this weekend at 4-5.
·       The Rams swept UMBC's America East rival, UAlbany, on Sept. 2.
·       In its last match, VCU fell to No. 16 Florida, 3-0. Senior Oairo Bentley led the way with seven kills.
·       Bentley leads the team with 2.51 kills per set, while sophomore Jasmine Knight is just behind at 2.46.   
·       The Retrievers have won 12 of 14 all-time matches versus VCU. UMBC has won three straight, but the last meeting ccurred in 2009.

A GLANCE AT THE TAR HEELS
·       The Tar Heels enter the VCU Invitational with a mark of 5-3.
·       UNC had a three-match winning streak snapped with a straight-set loss to Michigan on Sept. 10.
·       Carolina defeated Arizona, 3-2, on Sept. 3 and served up 14 aces in the victory. Sophomore Mabrey Shaffmaster led the offense with 19 kills.
·       Shaffmaster lead the way with 3.8 kills per set for the Tar Heels.
·       This will be the first meeting between UMBC and UNC in volleyball.

UP NEXT
UMBC makes the short trip to Coppin State on Tuesday evening, Sept. 20. The match gets underway at 6:00 p.m.