Temple University Athletics
Friday, August 24
McGonigle Hall
6:00 PM
Temple University
vs
Rhode Island
Volleyball Set for Hilton Penn's Landing Temple Invitational
8.23.18 | Women's Volleyball
PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple volleyball team opens the 2018 season hosting the Hilton Penn's Landing Temple Invitational at McGonigle Hall. The Owls will welcome Rhode Island, Loyola Marymount, and Hofstra to the event.
TEMPLE SCHEDULE
> Friday: Temple vs. Rhode Island at 6:00 p.m.
> Saturday: Temple vs. LMU at 11:00 a.m./Temple vs. Hofstra at 7:00 p.m.
THE OWLS
> Temple is coming off their fourth-straight 20-win season. A year ago, the Owls finished 20-10 overall, 15-5 in The American to finish second.
> The cherry and white earned a post-season spot for the first time in 15 years, advancing to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC)'s round of 16.
> Temple was picked to finish third in the balanced American Athletic Conference, garnering a first place vote.
> The Owls earned three preseason individual selections from the AAC, as Irem Asci, Iva Deak, and Dana Westfield were all honored.
> Temple is replacing 2017 All-Conference selections Izzy Rapacz and Kyra Coundourides, who graduated last year, but bring in a host of talented freshmen and returning veterans to the roster.
SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND
> The Rams finished sixth in the Atlantic 10 a season ago, going 12-16 overall.
> The preseason A-10 poll ranked URI sixth.
> Nine Rams return from last season, including setter Lauren Pick, who racked up 926 assists and 235 digs, playing every set in 2017.
> Middle Jenna McGuire also returns to bolster the Rams' line-up, finishing with 169 kills and 63 blocks last season.
> Libero Olivia Budinich returns to head up the back row play, ending the 2017 season with 213 digs and 18 aces.
TEMPLE VS. RHODE ISLAND
> Temple and Rhode Island were foes in the Atlantic 10 until Temple exited the conference for The American after 2012.
> The Owls are 29-21 all-time against the Rams.
SCOUTING LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
> Loyola Marymount returns to the court after going 16-13 overall last season, finishing 9-9 in the West Coast Conference.
> In the WCC pre-season poll, the Lions were picked to finish third in the conference.
> Outside hitters Megan Rice and Savannah Slattery both earned preseason All-Conference honors.
> Rice was a first team All-WCC member a year ago, finishing the season with 318 kils, 57 blocks, and 25 aces.
> Slattery returns after a season in which she earned an All-WCC honorable mention nod, posting 294 kills, 228 digs, and 43 blocks.
TEMPLE VS. LMU
> Temple and Loyola Marymount will meet for the first time in program history.
SCOUTING HOFSTRA
> Hofstra finished the 2017 season 18-14 overall with a 9-7 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association.
> The Pride were picked to finish third in the 2018 CAA preseason poll.
> CAA Preseason Player of the Year, Laura Masciullo, returns to lead the Pride. Last year she led Hofstra with 446 total kills.
> Hofstra also has a pair of preseasn All-CAA selections in outside Michela Rucli and setter Luisa Sydlik.
> Rucli posted 249 kills and 131 blocks last years, while Sydlik notched a team-best 1,358 assists.
TEMPLE VS. HOFSTRA
> The Owls have gone 4-9 all-time against Hofstra, but haven't played the Pride since a 3-1 Temple win in 2015.
SYDLIK SISTERS
> Hofstra's Luisa Sydlik is the second Sydlik sister to play in McGonigle Hall.
> Luisa's older sister, Sandra, was a stand-out setter for Temple from 2013-2015.
> Sandra racked up 3,318 total assists in her career with the Owls, and tied the modern-day single-season Temple record of 1,253 helpers in 2015.
TEMPLE SCHEDULE
> Friday: Temple vs. Rhode Island at 6:00 p.m.
> Saturday: Temple vs. LMU at 11:00 a.m./Temple vs. Hofstra at 7:00 p.m.
THE OWLS
> Temple is coming off their fourth-straight 20-win season. A year ago, the Owls finished 20-10 overall, 15-5 in The American to finish second.
> The cherry and white earned a post-season spot for the first time in 15 years, advancing to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC)'s round of 16.
> Temple was picked to finish third in the balanced American Athletic Conference, garnering a first place vote.
> The Owls earned three preseason individual selections from the AAC, as Irem Asci, Iva Deak, and Dana Westfield were all honored.
> Temple is replacing 2017 All-Conference selections Izzy Rapacz and Kyra Coundourides, who graduated last year, but bring in a host of talented freshmen and returning veterans to the roster.
SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND
> The Rams finished sixth in the Atlantic 10 a season ago, going 12-16 overall.
> The preseason A-10 poll ranked URI sixth.
> Nine Rams return from last season, including setter Lauren Pick, who racked up 926 assists and 235 digs, playing every set in 2017.
> Middle Jenna McGuire also returns to bolster the Rams' line-up, finishing with 169 kills and 63 blocks last season.
> Libero Olivia Budinich returns to head up the back row play, ending the 2017 season with 213 digs and 18 aces.
TEMPLE VS. RHODE ISLAND
> Temple and Rhode Island were foes in the Atlantic 10 until Temple exited the conference for The American after 2012.
> The Owls are 29-21 all-time against the Rams.
SCOUTING LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
> Loyola Marymount returns to the court after going 16-13 overall last season, finishing 9-9 in the West Coast Conference.
> In the WCC pre-season poll, the Lions were picked to finish third in the conference.
> Outside hitters Megan Rice and Savannah Slattery both earned preseason All-Conference honors.
> Rice was a first team All-WCC member a year ago, finishing the season with 318 kils, 57 blocks, and 25 aces.
> Slattery returns after a season in which she earned an All-WCC honorable mention nod, posting 294 kills, 228 digs, and 43 blocks.
TEMPLE VS. LMU
> Temple and Loyola Marymount will meet for the first time in program history.
SCOUTING HOFSTRA
> Hofstra finished the 2017 season 18-14 overall with a 9-7 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association.
> The Pride were picked to finish third in the 2018 CAA preseason poll.
> CAA Preseason Player of the Year, Laura Masciullo, returns to lead the Pride. Last year she led Hofstra with 446 total kills.
> Hofstra also has a pair of preseasn All-CAA selections in outside Michela Rucli and setter Luisa Sydlik.
> Rucli posted 249 kills and 131 blocks last years, while Sydlik notched a team-best 1,358 assists.
TEMPLE VS. HOFSTRA
> The Owls have gone 4-9 all-time against Hofstra, but haven't played the Pride since a 3-1 Temple win in 2015.
SYDLIK SISTERS
> Hofstra's Luisa Sydlik is the second Sydlik sister to play in McGonigle Hall.
> Luisa's older sister, Sandra, was a stand-out setter for Temple from 2013-2015.
> Sandra racked up 3,318 total assists in her career with the Owls, and tied the modern-day single-season Temple record of 1,253 helpers in 2015.
Players Mentioned
S
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