Temple University Athletics
Volleyball Ready to Open Season With Home Weekend Tournament
8.24.23 | Women's Volleyball
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Six games will be be played during the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing Cherry & White Challenge
PHILADELPHIA - The Temple Owls volleyball team will open the regular season this weekend at home in McGonigle Hall with a trifecta of matches as they host the 2023 Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing Cherry and White Challenge. Starting on Friday at noon, the Owls will take on Iona. Just one day later, Temple will face LIU to close out the three-match day with match time set for 6:30 p.m. And to wrap up the busy weekend of play, Temple will host Lehigh at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. All three Temple matches will be available on the ESPN+ app.
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OWL ABOUT TEMPLE IN 2023
Head Coach Linda Hampton-Keith improved the Owls' win total from seven wins in 2021 to 10 wins in 2022. Temple tied for ninth in the AAC last season as it went 10-21 overall with a 4-16 conference record. This year's roster includes 11 returners featuring three graduate students (two transfers), four seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and six freshmen.
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TWICE AS NICE
Going into 2023, Taylor Davenport looks to replicate her offensive accession from 2022. After making the transition from middle blocker to outside hitter, Davenport ended the season fifth overall in the AAC conference in kills per/set (3.61) kills (451), points (515), and points/set (4.12). She became the first Owl since the 2015 season to reach with at least 400 kills in a season and also marks the fourth highest output in the 25-point scoring format. Davenport recorded double-digit kills in 20 of the team's 31 matches. The Columbia, S.C. native had nine matches in 2022 where she earned at least 20 kills, including a career-high 27 versus St. Francis Brooklyn on Sept. 3.
TRANSFER EXPERIENCE
Hampton-Keith and her staff had luck with last year's transfer additions. Jelena Prolic saw limited action in her previous stop of Coastal Carolina from 2019-21. Last season with the Owls, Prolic played in 31 matches and finished the season with the second-most kills and digs on the team with 320 and 400, respectively. Offensively, Prolic tallied double-digit kills in 17 of the 31 matches. The Serbia native had a career-high 24 kills versus East Carolina and recorded 11 double-doubles, including back-to-back matches on Sept. 30 versus Tulane with 15 kills and 13 digs and then 11 kills and 15 digs on Oct. 2 versus Houston. Her 15 digs versus Tulane and Houston set a new career high.
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Going into this season, the additions of Olivia Vance and Avery Luoma will be pivotal to the growth of the Temple offensive scheme.
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From 2019-2022, Vance tallied 779 kills in her time with the University of Toledo. She helped the Rockets to the 2022 National Invitational Volleyball Championships after a 19-13 season. The Rockets advanced to the second round of the NIVC tournament to play Western Carolina after knocking off Clemson in the first round. The Michigan native played in 110 sets in all 32 matches and was third on the team with 282.5 points, 227 kills, and a .284 hitting percentage. Defensively, Vance was second on the Toledo squad with 88 blocks (65 block assists, 23 solo blocks).
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Luoma had spent four seasons at the Princeton University where she had totaled 519 career kills. In 2022 with the Tigers, Luoma earned her second straight First Team All-Ivy League nod after appearing in 23 matches where she ranked third in the Ivy League and second on the team in points per set (3.81), and ranked third in the conference and second on the team in kills per set (3.67).
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SETTING SITUATION
Setter Patrycja Zielinska has guided Temple's offense as the main starter a year ago. Zielinska recorded 795 assists in 28 matches and the junior ranked sixth in the AAC, averaging 7.79 assists per set. On eight occasions last season, Zielinska topped the 40-plus assists mark eight times, including a career-high 63 versus SMU on Oct. 21. The sophomore is the team leader and seventh in the conference with 29 service aces.
Fellow setter Magdalena Rogalska earned a 5-5 record as a starter in 2022. The Krakow, Poland native had 421 assists on the season. Like Zielinska, Rogalska has recorded 40 or more assists on multiple occasions last season. On Sept. 30, in a five-set win versus Tulane, Rogalska recorded 55 assists and followed it up with a career-high performance versus East Carolina with 58. On Oct. 30, Rogalska added 46 assists in the five-set win at Tulane.
In the offseason, Temple added two highly touted setters, Lexi Yoza and Ava Blascziek.
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ALL ACES
Along with leading the Owls offense at the setter position, Patrycja Zielinska was a force behind the service line. Zielinska recorded 20 or more assists in 18 contests. The senior had a team-best 32 aces, while her .35 aces/set ranked her fourth in the AAC matches.
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1000-CAREER DIGS CLUB
Libero Falanika Danielson became the 20th player in school history with at least 1,000 digs. The senior led the Owls in digs in 19 of the 31 matches, including four matches of over 20 digs, including a season-high 26 at Tulane on Oct. 30. Additionally, the Hawaii native led Temple and was sixth in the conference with 434 digs.
FIVE-SET PRESSURE
The Owls have an overall record of 10-21; in those 31 matches, they played 11 five-set matches, while earning a conference-best seven wins, going 7-4. Temple started the season perfectly in five-setters (5-0).
SCOUTING IONA
The Gaels were voted to finish fourth in the 2023 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Libero Hope Matschner and middle blocker Jen Soto were voted to the preseason all-conference team.
TEMPLE VS. IONA
This will be the second-ever meeting between the two school with Temple earning the win in three sets, 30-22, 30-15, 30-23 on Aug.26, 2006. Patrcia Vernon led the Owls with 13 kills and three blocks.
SCOUTING LIU
The Sharks were picked second in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Outside hitters Amaris Smith, Rumur Rouille, Camella Melendez, along with libero Alasha Colon all earned recognition with addition to the all-conference preseason team.
TEMPLE VS. LIU
It's the second-ever meeting between the two schools with Temple picking up the win in 2021, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18. Then-freshman Taylor Davenport had nine kills to help the Cherry and White to victory.
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SCOUTING LEHIGH
Lehigh just missed the Patriot League tournament a year ago as it went 14-12. Juniors Megan Shulte and Emily Stewart All- Patriot League Second Team plaudits as sophomores.
TEMPLE VS. LEHIGH
The Owls and the Mountain Hawks have played 15 in their school's histories with Temple leading with a 13-2 record. The Cherry and White have won the last two matches including a 3-0 victory at the Towson Tournament in 2021. Temple won the match in a sweep, 25-18, 25-21, 28-26, while former Owls Gem Grimshaw led the match with 12 kills.
For complete coverage of Temple volleyball, follow the Owls on social media @Temple_VB (Twitter), facebook.com/TempleOwls (Facebook), @temple.vb (Instagram), or visit the official home of Temple University Athletics at owlsports.com.
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OWL ABOUT TEMPLE IN 2023
Head Coach Linda Hampton-Keith improved the Owls' win total from seven wins in 2021 to 10 wins in 2022. Temple tied for ninth in the AAC last season as it went 10-21 overall with a 4-16 conference record. This year's roster includes 11 returners featuring three graduate students (two transfers), four seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and six freshmen.
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TWICE AS NICE
Going into 2023, Taylor Davenport looks to replicate her offensive accession from 2022. After making the transition from middle blocker to outside hitter, Davenport ended the season fifth overall in the AAC conference in kills per/set (3.61) kills (451), points (515), and points/set (4.12). She became the first Owl since the 2015 season to reach with at least 400 kills in a season and also marks the fourth highest output in the 25-point scoring format. Davenport recorded double-digit kills in 20 of the team's 31 matches. The Columbia, S.C. native had nine matches in 2022 where she earned at least 20 kills, including a career-high 27 versus St. Francis Brooklyn on Sept. 3.
TRANSFER EXPERIENCE
Hampton-Keith and her staff had luck with last year's transfer additions. Jelena Prolic saw limited action in her previous stop of Coastal Carolina from 2019-21. Last season with the Owls, Prolic played in 31 matches and finished the season with the second-most kills and digs on the team with 320 and 400, respectively. Offensively, Prolic tallied double-digit kills in 17 of the 31 matches. The Serbia native had a career-high 24 kills versus East Carolina and recorded 11 double-doubles, including back-to-back matches on Sept. 30 versus Tulane with 15 kills and 13 digs and then 11 kills and 15 digs on Oct. 2 versus Houston. Her 15 digs versus Tulane and Houston set a new career high.
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Going into this season, the additions of Olivia Vance and Avery Luoma will be pivotal to the growth of the Temple offensive scheme.
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From 2019-2022, Vance tallied 779 kills in her time with the University of Toledo. She helped the Rockets to the 2022 National Invitational Volleyball Championships after a 19-13 season. The Rockets advanced to the second round of the NIVC tournament to play Western Carolina after knocking off Clemson in the first round. The Michigan native played in 110 sets in all 32 matches and was third on the team with 282.5 points, 227 kills, and a .284 hitting percentage. Defensively, Vance was second on the Toledo squad with 88 blocks (65 block assists, 23 solo blocks).
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Luoma had spent four seasons at the Princeton University where she had totaled 519 career kills. In 2022 with the Tigers, Luoma earned her second straight First Team All-Ivy League nod after appearing in 23 matches where she ranked third in the Ivy League and second on the team in points per set (3.81), and ranked third in the conference and second on the team in kills per set (3.67).
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SETTING SITUATION
Setter Patrycja Zielinska has guided Temple's offense as the main starter a year ago. Zielinska recorded 795 assists in 28 matches and the junior ranked sixth in the AAC, averaging 7.79 assists per set. On eight occasions last season, Zielinska topped the 40-plus assists mark eight times, including a career-high 63 versus SMU on Oct. 21. The sophomore is the team leader and seventh in the conference with 29 service aces.
Fellow setter Magdalena Rogalska earned a 5-5 record as a starter in 2022. The Krakow, Poland native had 421 assists on the season. Like Zielinska, Rogalska has recorded 40 or more assists on multiple occasions last season. On Sept. 30, in a five-set win versus Tulane, Rogalska recorded 55 assists and followed it up with a career-high performance versus East Carolina with 58. On Oct. 30, Rogalska added 46 assists in the five-set win at Tulane.
In the offseason, Temple added two highly touted setters, Lexi Yoza and Ava Blascziek.
Â
ALL ACES
Along with leading the Owls offense at the setter position, Patrycja Zielinska was a force behind the service line. Zielinska recorded 20 or more assists in 18 contests. The senior had a team-best 32 aces, while her .35 aces/set ranked her fourth in the AAC matches.
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1000-CAREER DIGS CLUB
Libero Falanika Danielson became the 20th player in school history with at least 1,000 digs. The senior led the Owls in digs in 19 of the 31 matches, including four matches of over 20 digs, including a season-high 26 at Tulane on Oct. 30. Additionally, the Hawaii native led Temple and was sixth in the conference with 434 digs.
FIVE-SET PRESSURE
The Owls have an overall record of 10-21; in those 31 matches, they played 11 five-set matches, while earning a conference-best seven wins, going 7-4. Temple started the season perfectly in five-setters (5-0).
SCOUTING IONA
The Gaels were voted to finish fourth in the 2023 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Libero Hope Matschner and middle blocker Jen Soto were voted to the preseason all-conference team.
TEMPLE VS. IONA
This will be the second-ever meeting between the two school with Temple earning the win in three sets, 30-22, 30-15, 30-23 on Aug.26, 2006. Patrcia Vernon led the Owls with 13 kills and three blocks.
SCOUTING LIU
The Sharks were picked second in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Outside hitters Amaris Smith, Rumur Rouille, Camella Melendez, along with libero Alasha Colon all earned recognition with addition to the all-conference preseason team.
TEMPLE VS. LIU
It's the second-ever meeting between the two schools with Temple picking up the win in 2021, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18. Then-freshman Taylor Davenport had nine kills to help the Cherry and White to victory.
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SCOUTING LEHIGH
Lehigh just missed the Patriot League tournament a year ago as it went 14-12. Juniors Megan Shulte and Emily Stewart All- Patriot League Second Team plaudits as sophomores.
TEMPLE VS. LEHIGH
The Owls and the Mountain Hawks have played 15 in their school's histories with Temple leading with a 13-2 record. The Cherry and White have won the last two matches including a 3-0 victory at the Towson Tournament in 2021. Temple won the match in a sweep, 25-18, 25-21, 28-26, while former Owls Gem Grimshaw led the match with 12 kills.
For complete coverage of Temple volleyball, follow the Owls on social media @Temple_VB (Twitter), facebook.com/TempleOwls (Facebook), @temple.vb (Instagram), or visit the official home of Temple University Athletics at owlsports.com.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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