Volleyball Set for American Volleyball Classic

PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple volleyball team continues non-conference play at the 2019 American Volleyball Classic this weekend, hosted by American University. The Washington, D.C. event features Ohio University, Winthrop University, and the host Eagles.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, August 24
   10:00 a.m. - Temple vs. Ohio
    12:30 p.m. - Winthrop vs. American
    4:30 pm. - Winthrop vs. Temple
    7:00 p.m. - Ohio vs. American

Saturday, September 7
   11:30 a.m. - Winthrop vs. Ohio
    2:00 p.m. - Temple vs. American

OWL ABOUT TEMPLE
> Temple enters the American Volleyball Classic sporting a 3-0 record to start the season.
> Last weekend, the Owls won the UMBC Invitational with back-to-back-to-back 3-0 sweeps, topping Fairfield, Lafayette, and UMBC.
> Sophomore Gem Grimshaw and junior Averi Salvador were each named to the All-Tournament team at UMBC.
> Grimshaw led Temple's offense with 3.78 kills per set, also adding 1.11 blocks and 2.00 digs per frame, while Salvador topped the Owls defense with 5.78 digs per set.
> Sophomore Peyton Boyd and junior Katerina Papazoglou each tallied 2.33 kills per set with Papazoglou adding 2.67 digs per frame.
> Sophomore Tyler Lindgren dished out 9.22 assists per set, while freshman Kayla Spells led Temple with 1.56 blocks per frame.
> As a team, Temple hits a conference best .310, holding opponents to a .0.97 attack this season.

SCOUTING OHIO
> Ohio enters the weekend with a 1-3 overall record, going 1-2 at the Green Bay Invite, and falling to No. 17 Purdue, 3-1, on Sunday.
> The Bobcats finished 13-18 a season ago, including a 7-9 mark in the MAC.
> Lizzie Stephens is the early kills leader for Ohio, averaging 2.67 per set, while Olivia Margolies and Lauren Park each add 2.50.
> Vera Giacomazzi captains the offense to the tune of 9.67 assists per frame, while adding 2.20 digs per set.
> Macy Reihing (3.80 digs/set) and Dahlias Bouyer (1.13 blocks/set) shore up the Bobcats' defense.
> Temple is 0-1 all-time against Ohio, with the only match a 3-2 neutral court thriller in 1987.

SCOUTING WINTHROP
> Winthrop matched Temple's early 3-0 record to start the season, after going unbeaten at their own Christi Curtis Invitational against Morehead State, Davidson, and NC A&T.
> The Eagles are coming off a 16-14 record last season, which included an 11-5 mark in the Big South.
> Nikkia Benitez leads the Eagles' offense with 2.46 kills per set, adding 3.08 digs per frame. Sydney Gunter is second on the team with 2.08 kills per set.
> At setter, Siani Yamaguchi (5.46 assists/set) and Jana Owens (3.91 assists/set) have split time.
> Libero Hannah Lackney leads Winthrop with 4.00 digs per set, while Morgan Bossler shores up the net, averaging 1.00 blocks per frame.
> Temple is 1-0 against the Eagles, a 3-0 win to open the 1995 season.

SCOUTING AMERICAN
> The Eagles are coming off a 2-1 opening weekend at George Washington's DC Challenge. AU posted 3-1 wins over both GW and Howard before falling 3-1 to Hartford in the final match.
> Helena Elbaek, named the DC Challenge MVP, led AU with three double-doubles in three matches and a total of 78 kills (6.50 kills/set) for the weekend. Her 34 kills vs. Howard were a career high, as were her 15 digs in that match.
> Onuchi Ndee joined Elbaek on the All-Tournament Team after averaging 3.30 kills per set and leading AU with 10 total blocks.
> Libero Kristen Largay posted a team-best 40 digs (4.44 digs/set) over the first three matches.
> The Eagles are coming off a 20-13 season in 2018, which included a 13-3 mark in Patriot League play. American advanced to the PL Championship match, but fell 3-2 to Navy to end the 2018 season.

Volleyball Set for American Volleyball Classic

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Players Mentioned

Peyton Boyd

Gem Grimshaw

Tyler Lindgren

Katerina Papazoglou

Averi Salvador

Kayla Spells

Temple University Athletics