DAYTON – The Dayton volleyball season continues with a tournament at Marquette on Sept. 5-6. All three matches will take place in the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, Wis. The Flyers will take on RV Western Kentucky and Buffalo on Friday, Sept. 5 and will close the weekend with a match against RV Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 6.

OPENING WEEKEND RESULTS
Dayton started the 2025 campaign 2-1 at the Utah Classic, picking up four-set wins against Lafayette and Washington State and falling to then-No. 23 Utah in four. 

Karissa Kaminski and Liana Sarkissian both earned All-Tournament Team selections. Kaminski led the team with nine aces with a career-high four aces against Washington. She also finished the weekend with a team-high 54 digs. Sarkissian led Dayton with 14 kills against Utah, putting up a .619 attack percentage and four blocks against the Utes.

UD IN THE TOP 25
After the team's 2-1 weekend out in Utah, the Flyers held onto a spot in the AVCA Coaches Poll, dropping from No. 24 in the AVCA Preseason Poll to No.25 in the poll that was released on Sept. 1.

The Utes were the Flyers' first test against a ranked opponent, but they are one of four opponents currently ranked. Dayton will face Marquette and Kentucky, who are both receiving votes, before facing the current No. 14 Minnesota Gophers next weekend.

LINING THINGS UP
With a new season, new players and All-American departures, the Flyers' starting lineup took on a new look in the opening weekend of competition.

True freshman Melina Schrader was the team's starting setter with redshirt freshman Abigail Cresse also making her Dayton debut. Transfers Lily Barry and Kamryn Hunt started in all three matches in Utah as well.

Returners with prominent playing time were Karissa Kaminski and Liana Sarkissian, both beginning their senior seasons with three starts.

VERSATILE VIKTORIA
Senior Viktoria Wahlgren is listed as a setter on the roster, a position she has predominantly played since her high school and club volleyball days. She also played as a hitter growing up, which the Flyers took advantage of last weekend.

Wahlgren averaged 2.44 kills/set with a team-leading .340 attacking percentage in nine sets played. Defensively, she recorded 18 digs and four block assists as an opposite hitter and setter.

FLYERS PICKED AS A-10 PRESEASON FAVORITES
After finishing the 2024 season with a 31-3 record and an appearance in the Sweet 16, the Flyers were placed first in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll on Aug. 20. This is Dayton's second consecutive season in the top spot.

UD earned all 10 first-place votes and tallied 100 points total. VCU placed second in the A-10 with 86 points with Loyola Chicago, Davidson and George Washington rounding out the top five in the conference.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
Western Kentucky enters the Marquette tournament 2-1 after hosting Drake, Loyola Chicago and Wright State in their home tournament. The Hilltoppers are receiving votes in the Sept. 1 AVCA Poll. Callie Bauer, a Preseason All-Conference USA selection, leads Western Kentucky with 100 assists this season. Freshman Kaira Knox earned CUSA Rookie of the Week after tallying 46 kills on a .257 hitting percentage. She was also named Tournament MVP.

The Bulls hosted Liberty, Marist and Rutgers in its Buffalo Invite, going 2-1 with wins against Marist and Rutgers and marking the program's first win over a Big 10 opponent since 2017. Buffalo's Manoela Forlin was named to the Mid-American Conference's Preseason All-MAC team and currently leads the team with 46 kills and six service aces. Sophomore Reese Collins paces the Bulls with nine total blocks on the year.

Marquette began the season 2-1 in the Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Classic, defeating Hawaii and Utah State but falling to San Diego. The Golden Eagles are receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 in the second consecutive poll. Preseason All-Big East outside hitter Natalie Ring earned Big East Offensive Player of the Week, leading the Golden Eagles and conference with 5.27 and 6.27 points per set. Keira Schmidt leads Marquette's defensive efforts with 19 total blocks.

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