When                              Thursday, August 31- Sunday, September 3, 2023
Where                             Hill Field House | Baltimore, Md.
                                        SECU Arena | Towson, Md.
Times                              Thursday: 6 p.m.
                                        Friday: 7 p.m.
                                        Saturday: 12 p.m. & 7 p.m.
                                        Sunday: 1 p.m.
Team Records               Towson (1-1)
                                        Morgan State (0-3)
                                        FDU (0-3)
                                        Dartmouth (0-0)
                                        Temple (4-0)
                                        Rider (0-2)
Stream                            Morgan State All-Access, FloVolleyball and NBC Sports Washington
Series                             Towson Leads Morgan State 36-2
                                        Towson Leads FDU 7-4
                                        Towson Leads Dartmouth 1-0
                                        Temple Leads Towson 5-3
                                        Towson Leads Rider 18-6
First Serve
The Towson University Tigers volleyball team returns home to host the Towson Invitational this weekend. The Black & Gold start the tournament with Morgan State on Thursday, then host FDU on Friday, followed up by a doubleheader against Dartmouth and Dartmouth on Saturday with a Sunday match against Rider.
 
Scouting the Reigning Tigers
The Black & Gold opened the season splitting two matches against South Carolina last weekend. The Tigers swept the Gamecocks in the first match behind 12 blocks, led by Aayinde Smith's nine total blocks to win the program's first match over an SEC opponent. Towson dropped the next match in four sets, but Irbe Lazda tied a career-high in kills with 17 on a .452 hitting percentage.
 
Towson comes into the season looking for its fifth consecutive CAA title as the Tigers were voted by the opposing coaches to finish first. The Black & Gold bring back 12 players from last year's 29-2 team, including the dynamic duo of Victoria Barrett and Nina Cajic, who both earned All-CAA First Team honors and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) East All-Region honors last season.
 
Barrett accumulated 329 kills to rank first on the team, averaged a team-high 3.05 kills and finished 19 matches with double-digit kills. She had a season-high 16 kills four times, including against Delaware in the CAA Championship. The outside hitter amassed 230 digs to finish second on the squad and finished ten matches with double-digit digs.
 
Cajic amassed a career-high 303 kills to rank second on the team while averaging 2.78 kills per set and finished with double-digit kills in 15 matches. The outside hitter finished 21 matches with a .300 hit percentage or higher, including ten matches with .500 or higher and added a career-high 85 blocks. She led the CAA in hitting percentage with a .374 tally.
 
The Tigers also bring back All-CAA Second Team middle blocker Aayinde Smith who ranked second on the team in total blocks with 129 blocks to rank 14th in program history for single-season blocks. Graduate student Rachel Hess returns as Towson's libero who led the Black & Gold in digs (390) and digs per set (3.64).
 
DEFENSE!
Irbe Lazda was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week after recording a team-high 12 total blocks, including three solo blocks. The Marupe, Latvia native finished with a career-best nine digs in Saturday's match against the Gamecocks. The outside hitter led the Tigers in kills in both matches, totaling ten in Friday's sweep and 17 in the next match, tying a career-best.
 
Last Season Recap
The Tigers had a historic 2022 season that saw the Black & Gold make the NCAA Tournament as an eighth seed. The Tigers had the best start to a season in program history going 18-0, including defeating #7 Pittsburgh in four sets to pick up the first win over a top-ten team in program history. Towson fell to Elon in five sets in their only regular-season loss, then won eight straight matches including two against Hofstra to secure the CAA regular-season title. The Black & Gold defeated Stony Brook in four sets then swept both Northeastern and Delaware to claim their fourth consecutive CAA postseason title. The Tigers were awarded an eighth seed and faced Georgia in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, where they fell in four sets.

Welcome Home!
Zyare Abdul-Rahmin returns home after four seasons at Hofstra where she totaled 571 kills and 146 total blocks. The Baltimore, Maryland native had a stealer season last year, tallying a team-best 308 kills, averaging 2.91 kills per set, while racking up 55 blocks to rank third on the Pride.  She registered double-digit kills in 16 matches, including a career-high 21 kills against Hampton. 
 
Instant Impact
Victoria Barrett had a phenomenal first year at Towson after transferring from New Mexico State. The Stafford, Virginia native led the Tigers in kills (329), kills per set (3.05), points (401.5) and points per set (3.72) last season while ranking second in service aces (31), digs (230) and digs per set (2.13). Barrett earned All-CAA First Team and was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American Honorable Mention, the second Tiger ever to earn the honor.

Welcome to the CAA
Towson and the rest of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) will welcome the Campbell Camels to the conference. The Camels joined the CAA after 12 years in the Big South Conference, where they won the regular season title last year and won the Big South Tournament in 2021.
 
With a Win on Thursday, Towson Would...
- Win its 15th consecutive match against the Bears.
- Win its sixth consecutive match against Morgan State in Baltimore.                                   
 
Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back Champs
- The Tigers remain the reigning champions of the league, winning their fourth-straight CAA title.
-Last year, the Black & Gold defeated CAA newcomers Stony Brook in four sets, then swept Northeastern in the semi-finals and Delaware in the championship match to secure the title.                                                                                                                        
-In 2021, the Tigers swept Delaware and won in five sets against Elon in the CAA Championship.
-Since Towson joined the CAA in 2002, no other team has three-peated as champions.
-The only teams to have won four or more titles in a row were William & Mary seven times (1985-1991) and George Mason five times (1992-1996).
-The Tigers hoisted the league trophy after a perfect 4-0 regular season in the spring of 2021, which included a 2-0 mark in league play. Towson put together a 16-0 CAA campaign in 2019, paired with a 3-1 win over Elon and a sweep of James Madison in the CAA Tournament.
 
League of Their Own
-Over the last seven seasons, Towson has been one of the top teams in the CAA. Since the 2015 campaign, the Tigers have registered a 99-26 record in league play, including a record-setting 16-0 mark in 2019.                            
-The Tigers went 12-4 last year and never got swept. The last time Towson was swept in league play happened against the College of Charleston in 2018.
2022: 13-1 | 2021: 12-4 | 2021 (spring): 2-0 | 2019: 16-0 | 2018: 10-6 | 2017: 12-4 | 2016: 10-6 | 2015: 12-4 | Total: 101-26 (.795)
 
How to Say It: TOWSON
TOWSON is pronounced TOW like towel + Son.
 
IT IS NOT: TOE-son, Townson, Towsond, Townsend, Townsen, Towzen. One N, no Z.
 
We are Towson University, no longer Towson State University (and haven't been since July 1, 1997).
 
Our mascot is Doc The Tiger, named after Donald "Doc" Minnegan, long-time soccer coach and athletics department administrator. Towson became the "Tigers" in 1962 after John Schuerholz (yes, the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame General Manager) pushed for the name change from the "Towson College Knights".

Fresh Faces
Towson brings in eight new faces this year: Julia Lenik, MacKenzie Whyte, Maisie Jesse, Lauren Mullings, Ylenia De Mango (Auburn University at Montgomery), Zyare Abdul-Rahim (Hofstra), Yazmin Frazier (David & Elkins College) and Joie Allen (Frostburg State).
 
Top of the Charts
- Now in his 22nd season as an NCAA volleyball head coach, Coach Don Metil has amassed 448 wins.
- Metil is 448-207 all-time (.684) 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: 218-77
- Metil passed Cathy Cain on the all-time wins list after knocking off #7 Pittsburgh last season on Sept. 10th.
- Don Metil: 218-77 (2013-Pres.) | Cathy Cain: 201-143 (1989-98) | Chris Riley: 144-54 (2000-05)
 
Protect this House
- Since moving into SECU Arena full-time in 2013, Towson has racked up an impressive 95-24 (.798) overall record at home.
- The Tigers have four 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.
- The Tigers finished 2019 with a 12-1 overall mark at SECU Arena, with an 8-0 mark in the CAA.
- Towson went 3-0 in the shortened spring 2020 season.
- The Tigers finished the 2021 season with a 17-4 record at SECU Arena.
- Towson has won 18 straight at home since October 3, 2021.
 
Towson-Morgan State By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record Towson Leads 36-2
at Towson, Towson Leads 17-1
at Morgan State, Towson Leads 11-1
at Neutral Sites, Towson Leads 6-0
at Unknown Sites, Towson Leads 2-0
First Meeting 1976 (Towson 2-0)
Last Meeting Sept. 4, 2022
Towson 3, Morgan State 0
Streak Towson +15
 
Towson-FDU By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record Towson Leads 7-4
at Towson, N/A
at FDU, N/A
at Neutral Sites, Towson Leads 7-4
at Unknown Sites, N/A
First Meeting 1984 (Towson 3-0)
Last Meeting Sept. 17, 2016
Towson 3, FDU 0
Streak Towson +6

Towson-Dartmouth By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record Towson Leads 1-0
at Towson, N/A
at Dartmouth, Towson Leads 1-0
at Neutral Sites, N/A
at Unknown Sites, N/A
Only Meeting 1997
Towson 3, Dartmouth 1
Streak Towson +1
 
Towson-Temple By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record Temple Leads 5-3
at Towson, Towson Leads 1-0
at Temple, Temple Leads 2-1
at Neutral Sites, Temple Leads 3-1
at Unknown Sites, N/A
First Meeting 1980 (Temple 2-0)
Last Meeting Sep. 11, 2021
Towson 3, Temple 0
Streak Towson +2
 
Towson-Rider By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record Towson Leads 18-6
at Towson, Towson Leads 4-2
at Rider, Towson Leads 6-1
at Neutral Sites, Towson Leads 7-4
at Unknown Sites, N/A
First Meeting 1982 (Rider 2-1)
Last Meeting Sept. 11, 1999
Towson 3, Rider 2
Streak Towson +6
 
Scouting the Bears
Morgan State is currently 0-3 after the first weekend of volleyball. The Bears competed in the Hokie Invitational, where they were swept in all three matches against Virginia Tech, Furman and Quinnipiac. Morgan State was voted to finish in seventh place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason poll. Makila Billingsley returns after leading Morgan State in kills, kills per set and points per set last season and is currently leading the team in kills through three matches.
 
Scouting the Knights
FDU comes into the tournament with 0-3 record after competing in the FAU Invitational last weekend. The Knights lost to Kansas City in four sets, then followed up with a four-set loss to Holy Cross. FDU dropped the tournament finale against host FAU 3-1. FDU was predicted to finish third in the Northeastern Conference (NEC) preseason poll and return each of its top four leaders in kills from last season, including NEC Tournament MVP Tatijana Fucka and All-Tournament Team performer Sofia Rampazzo. The Knights made the NCAA Tournament last season after they won the NEC Tournament for the first time in program history. 
 
Scouting the Big Green
Dartmouth starts their 2023 season this weekend after a strong 2022 campaign that saw them finish with a 16-9 record. Kevin Maureen Campbell will be making her coaching debut for the Big Green becoming the fourth coach in program history. Dartmouth returns Ellie Blain, who led the Big Green in kills, kills per set, points per set and services aces, which earned her Second-Team All-Ivy honors. The Big Green also brought back Second-Team All-Ivy middle blocker Bomi Ogunlari, who led the team in total blocks and solo blocks.
 
Scouting the Owls
Temple boasts a 4-0 record so far in the 2023 season after being picked to finish tied for third in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) East preseason poll. The Owls hosted the Hilton Philadelphia Penn's Landing Cherry & White Challenge last weekend, sweeping Iona, LIU and Lehigh. The Owls welcomed Delaware State for a midweek match and won 3-0 against the Hornets. Taylor Davenport leads Temple in kills, kills per set and points per set which earned her AAC Offensive Player of the Week. 
 
Scouting the Broncs
Rider brings in a 0-2 record after competing in the Cavalier Classic last week, where they swept by Virginia and CAA member North Carolina A&T. The Broncs were picked to finish sixth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), receiving one first-place vote. Rider returns All-Rookie MAAC middle blocker Carley McAleavey, who finished the season third in the MAAC with a .304 hitting percentage, totaling 158 kills and adding 44 total blocks.