DAYTON - The University of Dayton volleyball team is set to open the 2021 season with its annual Dayton Invitational Aug. 27-28. Dayton will be hosting Cincinnati, defending national champion No. 3 Kentucky and RV Texas State over the two-day event.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Aug. 27
Match 1: Texas State vs. Kentucky 10:30 a.m.
Match 2: Cincinnati vs. Dayton 12:30 p.m.
Match 3: Cincinnati vs. Texas State 7 p.m. (UD Arena)
Match 4: Kentucky vs. Dayton 7 p.m.

Aug. 28
Match 5: Kentucky vs. Cincinnati 12 p.m.
Match 6: Texas State vs. Dayton 2 p.m.

ABOUT DAYTON
Dayton (0-0) is set to open the 2021 season by hosting the Dayton Invitational Aug. 27-28. The Flyers are coming off their 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round for the eighth time in program history, during the COVID-19 shortened season played in the spring of 2021. UD returns five of its six starters from last year's squad including AVCA Third Team All-American Jamie Peterson who led the team with 4.21 kills/set and 0.56 aces/set.

SCOUTING CINCINNATI
Cincinnati (0-0) went 6-7 during the spring of 2021 and is looking to get back to its 2019 form when the team advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals for the first time in program history. Maria Mallon led the Bearcats last season with 124 kills and was second on the team with 131 digs.  

SCOUTING KENTUCKY
Third-ranked Kentucky (0-0) is coming of the program's first NCAA Championship title season and was picked to win the Southeastern Conference for the fifth season in a row. Despite losing four seniors, the Wildcats return three that were named to AVCA All-American squads last year, including First Team All-American Alli Stumler who led the team with 4.39 kills/set.

SCOUTING TEXAS STATE
Texas State (0-0) competed during both the fall and spring last year, compiling an overall record of 31-9 and the Bobcats advanced to the NCAA Second Round. TXST received 11 votes in the first AVCA Top 25 poll of the season and was picked to win the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. The Bobcats return all their starting players including Janelle Fitzgerald who led the team last season with 3.45 kills/set.

SERIES STUFF
Cincinnati: Tied 25-25. In a series that dates back to 1970, Dayton and Cincinnati have played a total of 50 times with each team claiming 25 wins. The two last squared off on Oct. 30, 2019 in Cincinnati as the Bearcats picked up the 3-1 win over the Flyers.

Kentucky: Tied 3-3. After taking three of the first four meetings between the two, Dayton has since dropped back-to-back matches to Kentucky in the all-time series. The Wildcats claimed a straight-set win over the Flyers on Aug. 31, 2018 in Lexington the last time the pair matched up.

Texas State: First Meeting.

HAUSFELD COURT
Former Flyer Kacie Hausfeld passed away tragically in an airplane crash during her time as a Dayton Flyer. In her memory, her family made a substantial contribution to the Dayton volleyball program. That donation enabled the program to renovate Frericks Center, adding a new public address and sound system, new seating on the event level, new scoreboards and video boards and the playing surface was named "Hausfeld Court" among many other improvements to the facility.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
All Dayton volleyball matches are free and open to the public. Masks are required inside any building on campus and must be worn when moving from your seat to the bathroom or concession stand and back. Masks are not required but strongly recommended while you are in your seat.

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