Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Rider
2021 Volleyball Campaign Begins Friday
8.26.21 | Women's Volleyball
OWL ABOUT TEMPLE
Temple finished the 2020-21 spring season as the American Athletic Conference runner-up, going 11-6 overall, including 4-4 in conference play. The Owls needed a late run to qualify for its first ever AAC Tournament, standing at 2-4 heading into the final weekend of action. Temple then swept defending champion Cincinnati to clinch the second spot out of the AAC East Division. In the tournament, Temple topped West champion Houston, 3-1, before falling 3-1 to UCF in the finals.Â
PRESEASON PICKS
The Owls were picked to finish sixth in the American, as voted on by the league's coaches. Returning first-team All-Conference selections Falanika Danielson and Gem Grimshaw were named to the preseason All-Conference team.
FAMILIAR FACES
Temple welcomes back all but one of its starters from last season. The final five games of Temple's 2020 season saw just seven players on the court for the Owls, with six of them back for the 2021 season. A notable absence is setter Tyler Lindgren, a 2020 All-Tournament selection, who graduated a year early.Â
Temple will get a boost from the return of 2019 All-Conference right side, Peyton Boyd. Boyd missed most of the 2020 season due to injury and is expected to return to the court in a few weeks.Â
SETTING SITUATION
Temple will have to replace a three-year starting setter in Lindgren, but has a pair of newcomers who can fill the role. Magdalena Rogalska and Patrycja Zielinska, both out of Poland, will contend for the starting job, while utility athlete, sophomore Nikki Shimao also got reps at the position last season. Zielinska saw action with the Polish junior national team, while Rogalska played at a strong club in Poland.
PIN HITTERS
Temple has a group of strong pin hitters with veteran experience. Senior Gem Grimshaw shifted to the right side in Boyd's absence last season and shined, racking up 3.42 kills per set, while adding to her six rotation play with 2.69 digs per frame. Graduate student Miray Bolukbasi led the Owls with 3.66 kills per set last season, while classmate Katerina Papazoglou has been a mainstay in Temple lineups over the past four years. Senior Xeryah Salanoa provides veteran leadership at the position, while newcomers Leonie Freytag and Jaaliyah Evans give Temple depth on the outside.
IN THE MIDDLE
Temple's middles are young but experienced, as the Owls return three who started matches in 2020. Sophomore Taylor Davenport led Temple with 1.09 blocks per set last season, while junior Kayla Spells and sophomore Nina-Symone Williams each tallied 0.64 blocks per frame. Freshman Chelci Banks could also break into the starting lineup, giving Temple four solid options in the middle.
DEFENSIVELY
Temple's defensive core is an all-Hawaiian team, led by returning AAC Libero of the Year, Falanika Danielson. The sophomore led the Owls and the American with 5.27 digs per set in 2020, ranking in the top-25 in the NCAA. Joining Danielson on the back line is junior Nikki Saito, while Shimao can also play the defensive specialist position.
SCOUTING RIDER
Rider was an NCAA Tournament team in the spring season, finishing 7-5 overall and winning the MAAC Championship. They return several players from last season's team, including MAAC Player of the Year, Morgan Romano, and MAAC Co-Setter of the Year, Anilee Sher. Romano averaged 3.94 kills per set last season, adding 2.21 digs per set. Sher dished out 525 total assists last season, averaging 11.17 per frame.
TEMPLE VS. RIDER
Temple is 9-0 all-time against Rider, but the teams haven't met since 2011.
SCOUTING DELAWARE
Delaware is coming off a 4-6 campaign from the shortened 2020-21 season. The Blue Hens' offense features preseason All-CAA pick Savannah Seemans at opposite. An All-Rookie selection last season, she led Delaware in kills (100) and finished second in kills per set (2.70) and digs per set (3.27) in 2020-21.
TEMPLE VS. DELAWARE
Temple owns the all-time series against Delaware, 18-11. The teams last met in the spring with Temple winning a 3-2 thriller (25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 21-25, 15-8) at McGonigle Hall. Temple's Katerina Papazoglou led the offense with a season-best 17 kills, adding 14 digs for a double-double. For Delaware, Michaela Putnicki tallied 19 kills and 15 digs, while Savannah Seemans had 15 kills with 24 digs.
SCOUTING STANFORD
Stanford's 2020-21 season was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing the team just a 2-8 record, but the Cardinal have won 10 of the last 15 Pac-12 Championships. Stanford was the also the 2019 NCAA Champion in the last full season of NCAA action. Preseason All-Pac-12 pick Kendall Kipp is back at opposite for Stanford, averaging 2.81 kills and 3.11 points per set in 28 career games. Caitie Baird and Elena Oglivie also return to the lineup after their All-Freshman selections last season.
TEMPLE VS. STANFORD
This will be the first meeting between Temple and Stanford.
