First Serve
The Tigers have been off for nearly a month following COVID-19 tests within several programs in the CAA that affected scheduling. The Tigers are in the CAA Semifinals for a third-straight season, however.

In The National Rankings
Neither team is mentioned in this week's poll. Towson is ranked second in the most recent NCAA RPI standings, with the caveat that it ranks teams currently playing.

Scouting the Reigning Champion Tigers
The Tigers return to the friendly confines of SECU Arena for just the second time this spring following several scheduling cancellations. Towson's last match on March 7 was a sweep over Delaware on March 7. Towson boasts two players with kills per set averages north of 3.00 as rookie Nina Cajic (3.77) leads the way while junior Emily Jarome (3.46) is close behind. Towson is the only program in the league with two players' averages inside the top six. No one in the CAA carries a better hitting percentage than sophomore Lydia Wiers (.473), who is nearly a full percentage point better than second place (.377) and ranks second in Division I. Cajic is third in the CAA (.352) as Fay Bakodimou (.310) sits fifth. The Tigers are the only CAA school with three players ranked in the top 10 in hitting percentage. Kristin Spengler runs the efficient offense, averaging 11.15 assists per set, which ranks her first in the CAA, including both North and South teams, and 12th in the country. As a team, Towson hits at a .301 percent clip, ranking 10th nationally. Towson's middles, Wiers and Aayinde Smith, each average better than a block per set, the only pair from the same team in the CAA within the top five of the league. Towson holds its opponents to a .156 hitting percentage, which ranks 45th in the country. Towson is the least-blocked teams in the CAA, getting halted at the net just 1.35 times per set.

Scouting the Cougars
The College of Charleston heads to Towson as the second seed from the south, holding an even 5-5 overall record a 4-4 mark in the CAA South. The Cougars won their last pair with a 3-0 and 3-1 decision over Elon. Lexi Wierzbicki (3.03) leads a versatile offense with three players averaging two or more kills per set. A two-setter system, Charleston is led by Amani Dunston (5.03) and Tori Carpenter (4.38) in assists per set. One of the best blocking teams in the country, Charleston gets nearly two blocks per set from the pair of Emma Falk (1.73) and Claire Campbell (1.20). Charleston leads the CAA in opponent hitting percentage, limiting foes to a .123. Charleston averages 3.20 blocks per set as a team, tops in the CAA and more than a half-block per set better than second place (2.80

Towson-Charleston History
It's a fast and furious history between the Tigers and the Cougars. The two squads met for the first time in 2007, a 3-0 Charleston win. In 2013, Towson and the Cougars began meeting on an annual basis as Charleston joined the CAA. The Cougars have won 11 matches while Towson has won another four, including the last two during the Tigers' historic run in 2019. It has been a year and a half since Charleston traveled to Tiger Town as Towson swept the Cougars 3-0 on October 20, 2019. Friday's meeting will be the first time the two programs have met in the CAA postseason. Charleston was the last CAA team to beat the Tigers during the regular season (Oct. 27, 2018).

Towson-Charleston By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record Charleston Leads 11-4
at Towson  Charleston 5-2
at Charleston Charleston 6-2
at Neutral Sites n/a
at Unknown Sites n/a
First Meeting Sept. 1, 2007 (CofC 3, Towson 0)
Last Meeting Nov. 8, 2019
Towson 3, Charleston 1
Streak Towson +2

Last Time Out vs. Charleston | Nov. 8, 2019 | Charleston, S.C. | TD Arena
The Tigers fought through an accordion style match, at Charleston in the last meeting, winning the first set 25-16 before dropping the second 27-25. Towson won set three 25-12 before capturing the win 27-25 in set four. Eventual Rookie of the Year Lydia Wiers led Towson with a .387 hitting percentage, batting down 14 kills on 31 swings with just two errors. Fellow middle Silvia Grassini had 13 kills while Olivia Finckel tied for the Towson high with 14 kills. Marrisa Wonders handed out 56 assists across the four sets while Towson managed 10 total blocks. Charleston was held to a .124 hitting percentage, and was led offensively by 15 kills from Lauren Freed and Mandy Napierala's 14. Logan Manusky had a match-best 26 digs.

With a Win on Friday, Towson Would...
- Advance to the CAA Championship game for a second-straight season and fourth time in program history.
- Extend its winning streak over the Cougars to three, the longest run of wins for Towson in series history.
- Make Towson the first team to reach the CAA Championship match on its home court since JMU did so during the 2017 season.
- Be the second time in program history Towson reached the CAA Championship match on home court , joining the 2004 season.

Back to It
- The Tigers are returning to the court for the first time since a 3-0 sweep over Delaware at SECU Arena on March 7.
- Friday's match will end a 26-day playing drought for the Tigers.
- Towson's matches at Hofstra were cancelled following positive tests within the Pride program.
- The remainder of Towson's regular season was halted following positive tests in the Tiger program.

Still the Reigning Champs
- Despite almost 500 days between CAA Championship matches, the Tigers are still the reigning champions of the league.
- The Tigers hoisted the league trophy after a perfect 16-0 CAA campaign in 2019, paired with 3-1 win over Elon and a sweep of James Madison in the Tournament.
- There are 10 Tigers currently on the roster that were members of the historic 2019 team: Katie McCracken, Ally Townsend, Lydia Wiers, Danielle Gravina, Asia Goins, Fay Bakodimou, Kristin Spengler, Emily Jarome, Morgan Wilson, and Nikiya Mitchel.
- Towson is looking to be the first team to repeat as CAA Champions since JMU won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017.

CAA Rookie of the Week (March 8)
For the second time this season, Nina Cajic has been selected as the CAA Rookie of the Week. Cajic continued her strong play to begin her Towson career as she helped Towson to a pair of sweeps against Delaware on Friday and Sunday. Cajic batted down 22 kills at a .395 percent clip on 43 swings with just five errors on the weekend. On defense, Cajic finished with 16 digs (2.67/set) along with seven block assists (1.17/set) as the Tigers won their seventh and eighth straight matches against Delaware. She was key to limiting Delaware to a .149 hitting percentage for the week, adding seven block assists (1.17/set) to her weekend as Towson swept Delaware for a seventh-straight meeting.

CAA Defensive Player of the Week (March 1)
Adding to her long list of weekly awards from the CAA, sophomore middle blocker Lydia Wiers was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. Wiers finished a four-set win at Temple with a career-best eight total blocks, helping limit the Owls to a .178 hitting percentage as a team. Wiers added 11 kills in the process, batting down chances at a .400 percent clip.

League of Their Own
Over the last five seasons, Towson has been one of the top teams in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). Since the 2015 campaign, the Tigers have racked a 62-20 record in league play, including a record-setting 16-0 mark in 2019. Towson has not dropped a regular season match to a CAA opponent since Oct. 27, 2018 at Charleston in a five set thriller. The Tigers have won their last 23 CAA matches, reaching back to a 3-1 win at UNCW on Oct. 29, 2018.
2021: 2-0 | 2019: 16-0 | 2018: 10-6 | 2017: 12-4 | 2016: 10-6 | 2015: 12-4 | Total: 60-20 (.750)

Welcome to Our House
- Towson will host the 2021 Spring CAA Championship on Friday, April 2 (Semifinals) and Saturday, April 3 (Championship).
- The top two teams from the North Division (Towson, Delaware, Hofstra, Northeastern) and the top two teams from the South Division (James Madison, William & Mary, Elon, College of Charleston, UNCW) will duke it out at SECU Arena for the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
- The Tigers are hosts by right of winning the 2019 CAA Regular Season Championship, paired with the tournament title.

Two Legs vs Four Legs
- Mascots come in all shapes, sizes, animals and breeds and people. But that hasn't stopped the Tigers this season.
- In 2019, the Tigers went 17-1 against mascots with four legs (Bobcats, Bears, Tigers, Great Danes, Greyhounds, Wildcats, Dukes (dog), Huskies, Pride (lions), Tribe (griffin), Cougars, and Nittany Lions).
- Towson has fared well against two-legged mascots, going 12-2 during the 2019 campaign with wins over Pirates, Cavaliers, Penguins, Highlanders, Blue Hens, Phoenix, Seahawks and Eagles.
- Two of Towson's 2019 losses came against two-legged foes, the Scarlet Knights and Chanticleers, before falling to the four-legged Nittany Lions.
- Towson is 1-0 this season against four-legged mascots, topping Stony Brook (Seawolves)
- Towson is 3-0 this season against two-legged mascots, besting Temple (Owls) and Delaware (Fightin' Blue Hens)
- This weekend's first foe, the Cougars, are in the four-legged category.

Climbing the Charts (As of March 7)
- Towson head coach Don Metil is nearing the 400-win mark for his career.
- Now in his 19th season as an NCAA volleyball head coach, Metil has amassed 394 wins.
- Entering the spring 2021 season, Metil is 42nd among NCAA coaches with a minimum five years as a Division I head coach.
- Metil is 394-198 all-time (.666) as a head coach.
- Metil's records by school: Notre Dame College: 40-30 | Lees-McRae: 30-9
Coppin State: 15-46 | Maryland Eastern Shore: 145-45 | Towson: 164-68
- Metil is second all-time in wins at Towson University.
- Cathy Cain: 201-143 (1989-98) | Don Metil: 164-68 (2013-Pres.) | Chris Riley: 144-54 (2000-05)

Aces
- Over the last several years, Towson has been known for its serving prowess.
- This spring, the Tigers have dropped in 22 service aces across four matches, including a season-high eight at Temple.
- The last time Towson was held without at least one service ace was Oct. 14, 2018 at the College of Charleston.
- Towson has at least one ace in its last 47 matches.

Waffle House Hash Browns
- Like an order of hash browns at a Waffle House, Towson's opponents have been smothered and covered over the last three seasons.
- Towson limited Stony Brook to a .136 hitting percentage in the season opener.
- In the CAA opener, Towson held Delaware to just a .054 hitting percentage, the lowest since limiting NJIT to .044 on Sept. 21, 2019.
- In 2021, Towson has held opponents at or below a .150 hitting percentage two times.
- During the 2018 campaign, the Tigers kept opponents at or below .150 on 13 occasions.
- In 2017, Towson hit that mark 14 times.
- Assistant coach Terry Hutchinson has been key to the blocking game in his three-plus seasons with the Tigers.
- Towson's 2018 (284.5) and 2019 (289.5) efforts in blocking rank at the top of the program's record books in the 25-point rally scoring era (since 2008).

Fan Attendance at SECU Arena
Towson Athletics, in conjunction with protocols established by Baltimore County and the Towson University COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee, has updated its spectator policy for the 2021 spring season. All but two of the Tigers' 19 varsity teams will be competing during the semester.
  
This decision remains in effect until further notice. Given the constant daily developments regarding COVID-19, all events scheduled are subject to change.
  
A limited number of spectators will be allowed into SECU Arena. Seating will be broken up into assigned sections in order to accommodate fans and families attending various games.

Spectators will include only those on a team pass list.

Protect this House
- Since moving into SECU Arena full time in 2013, Towson has racked up an impressive 66-23 overall record at SECU Arena.
- The Tigers have three seasons with double digit wins, including a 10-3 mark in 2017.
- The Tigers finished 2018 strong at home with a three-match win streak at home.
- The Tigers finished 2019 with a 12-1 overall mark at SECU Arena, with an 8-0 mark in the CAA.
- Towson is 1-0 at SECU Arena this spring with four more home matches pending.
- Towson has won 12 straight at home since early in 2019.

Wins on Wins on Wins on Wins
Over the last five seasons, the Tigers have been a tough out for opponents. Between 2015 and 2019, the Tigers have racked up a 123-39 overall record, which ranks 20th among NCAA Division I teams in terms of total wins in that span. With a winning percentage of .759 over the last five years, Towson ranks 22nd among fellow Division I teams in terms of winning percentage.

Tigers in the Community
- For the 7th consecutive year, the department exceeded 10,000 hours of community service to the Greater Baltimore region, finishing with 11,162 hours of community service in the 2018-19 academic season.
- Towson ranked #1 nationally for community service and won the 2018 National Championship for Community Service through the Helper Helper NCAA Team Works Competition.
- Towson had a 97% participation rate, attended 118 community service opportunities and volunteered with 19 organizations.
- Towson won the 2018 Volunteer of the Year Award from Susan G. Komen of Maryland.