BALTIMORE, Md. – Coppin State volleyball will look to keep the momentum rolling as it travels up I-95 to Pennsylvania for the Crosstown Invitational this Friday and Saturday. The Eagles will compete in two matches each day, facing Big Ten foe Rutgers and Manhattan from the MAAC along with co-hosts Lehigh and Lafayette from the Patriot League.
What You Need to Know
- Live Stats: https://lehighsports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary (Rutgers, Manhattan, and Lehigh matches)
- Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/lafayette/wvball/ (Lafayette match)
- Television: https://watchstadium.com/network/patriot-league-network/ (Lehigh match)
- Radio: N/A
- Records: Coppin State 1-3 (0-0 MEAC), Rutgers 0-3 (0-0 Big Ten), Lafayette 0-2 (0-0 Patriot), Manhattan 0-3 (0-0 MAAC), Lehigh 2-0 (0-0 Patriot)
- Location: Bethlehem, PA – Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall / Easton, PA – Kirby Sports Center
Scouting Rutgers
- The Scarlet Knights have struggled so far this season, dropping contests to Colgate, Chicago State and California last weekend.
- RU is currently ranked fourth in the Big Ten in blocks per set.
- Rutgers is led by Serbian sophomore Beka Kojadinovic, who paces the Scarlet Knights with 3.2 kills per set and is second on the team in hitting percentage (.300) and blocks (12).
- The Scarlet Knights have a stellar defensive unit behind Jasmine Stackhouse (15 blocks through three games) and freshman Inna Balyko (10.3 assists per set).
Scouting Lafayette
- Lafayette has failed to record a win in the early going, being defeated by Duquesne and Saint Peter's.
- The Leopards are stellar in the service game, as they are second in the Patriot League with 11 aces, good for 1.57 per set.
- Freshman Grace Tulevich is the primary offensive weapon for the Leopards, shouldering the load with 3.86 kills per set along with a .310 percentage.
Scouting Manhattan
- The Jaspers have not fared well in its opening stretch, dropping all three of its matches (St. John's, Central Connecticut, and Eastern Michigan) in straight sets.
- Manhattan is solid on defense as senior Alyssa Rehrer leads the MAAC in digs per set (6) including a season-high 26 versus Central Connecticut.
Scouting Lehigh
- Lehigh University has started the season off on a positive note, winning its only two matches so far over Duquesne and Saint Peter's.
- The Mountain Hawks lay claim to the Patriot League's most dynamic offensive duo with Emily Poole currently second in hitting percentage (.385) and All-Patriot League First Teamer Ana Spangenberg out in front on kills (4.29 per set).
- LU gets plenty of assistance from Senior Megan Polak, who tops the Patriot League leaderboard with 11 assists per set.
Coppin Contributors
- Coppin State is fourth in the MEAC in team hitting percentage with .145 while allowing the fewest digs in the conference (11.17)
- Asia Stennis boosted the Eagles to a sweep of Saint Peter's on Wednesday as she compiled 17 kills and 12 digs to earn her fourth career double-double.
- Miajavon Coleman has been extremely efficient in the early going, currently residing in second place among the MEAC in hitting percentage (.359) to go along with being second on the Eagles in kills (31) and blocks (5).
- Brianna Lang has continued to improve in each game for the Lady Eagles as she's built upon her early experience, combining for 31 assists in her first two games, to averaging 30 assists per game in her previous two appearances.
