Volleyball in Action at Villanova’s Wildcat Challenge This Weekend

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple Owls Volleyball team (5-5) returns to the Philadelphia area tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 19 and Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Wildcat Challenge on the Nevin Fieldhouse at Villanova University.

The Cherry and White will take on the host Wildcats on Friday and then will play the winner of Marist and Rhode Island on Saturday. Both matches will start at 4:30 p.m. and will be available on FloSports.

SCOUTING TEMPLE

Taylor Davenport earned her second AAC conference nod this season award of the season and second career Offensive Player of the Week award as she led the Owls offensively for the third consecutive weekend with 58 total kills.
Davenport helped the Cherry and White to consecutive wins with a sweep of Louisiana and a five-set win against New Hampshire. The Columbia, S.C. native totaled 58 kills over the span of three matches, averaging 5.27 kills per set. The graduate student tallied double-digit kills in each of the three matches, including 12 versus Texas A&M on Friday, 19 against Louisiana on Saturday, and 27 on Sunday against UNH, the third time she had at least 20 kills in a match this season.
The graduate student held her own on the defensive side with 30 total digs, averaging 2.73 assists per set. Davenport collected eight and seven, respectively on Friday and Saturday but then earned a career-high 15 to capture her third career double-double.
On the season, Davenport is first in the NCAA with 173 kills, 4.81 kills per set, and 192.5 points. The veteran outside hitter also is top 10 in the country with 442 attacks (4th) and 5.35 points per set (10th).
Senior Chelci Banks earned her first-ever AAC Defensive Player of the Week nod as she was defensive stalwart, helping the Owls to 20 total blocks.
Individually, the Marietta, Ga. native accumulated eight blocks, while averaging 1.14 blocks per set. On Friday, against the SEC's Texas A&M Aggies, Banks recorded a team-high four blocks and the next day in the sweep of Louisiana, the Cherry and White middle blocker added three more blocks in the victory.

SCOUTING VILLANOVA

Abby Harrell is the Wildcats leader offensively with a 108 kills while averaging 3.75 kills per set. On the defensive side, Harrell is third her team with 68 digs and 2.00 digs per set.
Harrell is one of seven players on the squad with double-digits blocks while she ranks third with 17.

ALL-TIME VS. VILLANOVA

Overall, the two schools are virtually even since 1983 at 24-22, but over the last 10 matches, Villanova holds an 8-2 advantage.

SCOUTING MARIST

The Red Foxes have struggled overall in 2024. Marist has only recorded 172 kills while its opponents connected with 297. Taylor Miller is the Foxes' leader with 47 kills. No player with 10 or more kills has a hitting percentage of .100 or better.

ALL-TIME VS. MARIST
This will be the first meeting between the Owls and Red Foxes.

SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND

Haven Rolle leads the Rams in kills (88), points per set (2.94) while hitting .313 with a team best four service aces. Defensively, Rolle is the second on the team with 40 total blocks. Libero Dakota Henry is the first Rams' player this season to reach 100-plus digs.

ALL-TIME VS. RHODE ISLAND

The Owls and the Rams will play for the first time since 2018 with Temple leading the all-time rivalry with a 30-21 record.

UP NEXT
The Owls will start American Athletic Conference action on Sept. 27 at Wichita State, followed by a visit to Tulsa on Sept. 29.

For complete coverage of Temple volleyball, follow the Owls on social media @Temple_VB (Twitter), facebook.com/TempleVolleyball (Facebook), @temple.vb (Instagram), or visit the official home of Temple University Athletics at owlsports.com. Please consider supporting Temple Volleyball with a donation by clicking here -> https://bit.ly/3KIB2SD