Mustang Volleyball Heads to Virginia This Week for Dukes Invitational

Friday, September 8

Harrisonburg, VA

7 A.M.

University of New Hampshire

Mustang Volleyball Heads to Virginia This Week for Dukes Invitational

9/6/2023 3:24:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

LIVE STATS VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE
ESPN+ STREAM VS. JAMES MADISON LIVE STATS VS. JAMES MADISON
LIVE STATS VS. VCU

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Coming off a 2-1 record last week at the Stephen F. Austin Tournament Texas, Cal Poly volleyball will head even further east this week to Harrisonburg, Va. for the Dukes Invitational hosted by James Madison University. The Mustangs (4-2) will head to Harrisonburg for three matches, with two on Friday and one on Saturday. Friday, Cal Poly will face the University of New Hampshire at 7 a.m. PT. Live stats will be available for fans to follow the action. They will then take on host James Madison, who was in the 'others receiving votes' category of the latest AVCA Top 25 poll this week, later that same day at 4 p.m. PT. That match will be streamed live on ESPN+. Saturday, the Mustangs will wrap up the tournament against VCU at 1 p.m. PT. That match will have live stats for fans to follow the action. Cal Poly is riding the momentum of having won four of its last five matches heading into this week's matches. After to falling to Stephen F. Austin last week, the Mustangs rebounded with wins over Southern Miss and Nicholls State. Outside hitters Tommi Stockham and Annabelle Thalken were both named to the Stephen F. Austin All-Tournament Team. For the tournament, Stockham averaged 3.27 kills per set and 2.45 digs per set while Thalken averaged 2.55 kills per set, 1.18 digs per set, and had nine blocks. Leading the team offensively so far this season overall has been redshirt sophomore outside hitter Lizzy Markovska, who is averaging 3.41 kills per set. Stockham is right behind her at 3.23 with Thalken third at 2.09. The back row defense of junior libero Jolei Akima has been one of the strongest points of the team so far. Akima has had at least 20 digs in four of the first six matches and is averaging 4.95 digs per set which ranks 33rd in the nation. As a team, Cal Poly's defense has been among the top in the nation. The Mustangs rank 22nd in digs per set, 37th in opponent hitting percentage, and 44th in blocks per set. The Mustangs also rank 33rd in the nation in aces per set, a big chunk of which came during their win last week against Southern Miss when they posted 15 aces which was the most in a single match by a Cal Poly team since 2001.