MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – RMU volleyball (3-14, 1-5 HL) returns to the UPMC Events Center this weekend to host Oakland (6-12, 1-5 HL) for a pair of Horizon League matches. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. Friday before the Colonials and Golden Grizzlies conclude the weekend Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
ALL-TIME MATCHUP
This weekend's contests will mark the 19th and 20th meetings in the all-time series between RMU and Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies lead the series, 15-3, and have won nine of the last 10 meetings.
RMU's last victory over Oakland came in 2023, when the Colonials earned a 3-1 win in Moon Township. The Colonials own a 2-6 record against the Golden Grizzlies at home.
LAST WHISTLE
The two teams last met on Oct. 5, 2025, when Oakland secured a five-set victory at the UPMC Events Center. The Colonials and Golden Grizzlies battled throughout the evening, combining for 35 ties and 17 lead changes.
After dropping the opening set, RMU responded by winning the next two frames to take a 2-1 advantage. Oakland answered by claiming the fourth set to force a decisive fifth, where the Golden Grizzlies ultimately prevailed, 15-11.
Layla Todd finished the match with 12 kills, while Tia Schultz nearly recorded a double-double with nine kills and nine digs. Schultz also added two service aces and three block assists. Addyson Butts contributed seven kills and a block assist.
SCOUTING OAKLAND
Oakland enters the weekend with a 6-12 overall record and a 1-5 mark in Horizon League action. The Golden Grizzlies are 1-5 on the road this season, with their lone road victory coming in a 3-1 win over Central Michigan on Sept. 12.
Offensively, Oakland averages 12.6 kills per set and is led by Molly Reck, who has recorded a team-high 222 kills, ranking eighth in the Horizon League. Reck averages 3.22 kills per set. Liv Hosford follows with 201 kills while averaging 3.19 per set.
Defensively, Kalli Cook anchors the back row with a team-high 283 digs and an average of 4.10 per set, which ranks fifth in the conference. At the net, Lillian Frias leads Oakland with 41.0 blocks, followed by Ella Schmoer with 33.0.
Krista Rice is in her fifth season at the helm of the Golden Grizzlies after spending six seasons as the associate head coach at Central Michigan. Rice has compiled a 49-90 record at Oakland for a .353 winning percentage.
RMU LATELY
The Colonials will look to return to the win column after dropping their last five contests. RMU owns a 3-4 record at the UPMC Events Center this season, earning victories over Siena, UMES and Youngstown State.
RMU is coming off a 3-0 road loss at Youngstown State on Oct. 6. The Colonials battled throughout the match but ultimately fell by set scores of 25-20, 25-20 and 25-17.
Freshman Lauren Decker led RMU with 11 kills and 12 digs, recording the Colonials' lone double-double of the evening. Keira Hornung finished with nine kills, while Tia Schultz added six and Addyson Butts recorded four.
Defensively, Anahi Alvarado posted a team-high 18 digs, while Kenlee Barnard finished with 32 assists and eight digs. Layla Todd added 11 digs and four kills.
THE DECKER EFFECT
Decker continues to make an immediate impact for the Colonials, leading the team with 233 kills while averaging 3.76 kills per set, which ranks second in the Horizon League.
The freshman has also made an impact across the floor, ranking fourth on the team with 155 digs and eight service aces while sitting fifth with 16.0 total blocks.
UP NEXT
The Colonials continue Horizon League play on the road next week, traveling to Highland Heights to battle Northern Kentucky on Friday at 6:00 p.m. RMU will then head to Dayton to face Wright State at 2:00 p.m.
