Rock to host IUP, journey to Pitt-Johnstown

GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed recreation applications for all sports activities. This web page will function the “Digital Game Program” for this week’s recreation. To navigate to all gameday data for any SRU residence occasions this yr, merely go to rockathletics.com/gameday or scan the QR code on the “Gameday Info” posters hanging in every facility.
 

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball group returns to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competitors this weekend for a pair of matches.
 
THE SCHEDULE
The Rock opens the weekend by internet hosting IUP 6 p.m. Friday at Morrow Field House earlier than touring to Pitt-Johnstown Saturday for a excessive midday showdown.
 
WATCH ON YOUR TV – “ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK” APPS
• Fans can watch each of this weekend’s matches on-demand free of charge on the Rock Athletics Digital Network, created and operated by the SRU athletic communication workplace.
 
• Search for Rock Athletics Digital Network within the app shops on Amazon Fire TV, Apple RV, Roku and Android TV units. The streaming internet participant linked above can even combine with Chrome Cast units to permit viewers to solid the sport to these units.
 
MATCH 13 DETAILS
Opponent: Indiana University (Pa.)
Date: Friday – 6 p.m.
Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Venue: Morrow Field House
Watch: Link
Live Stats: Link
All-Time Series: SRU leads 65-51
Last Played: Nov. 28, 2025 (IUP gained 3-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY
While The Rock holds a 65-51 document over the Crimson Hawks all-time, SRU has not defeated IUP since 2022 as Indiana has gained the final seven matches within the collection. A yr in the past, IUP earned two 3-0 victories over The Rock.
 
MATCH 14 DETAILS
Opponent: Pitt-Johnstown
Date: Saturday – 2 p.m.
Location: Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Venue: The Sports Center
Watch: Link
Live Stats: Link
All-Time Series: UPJ leads 13-10
Last Played: Nov. 7, 2025 (UPJ gained 3-1)
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Rock and Mountain Cats have evenly cut up their final eight matchups with UPJ holding a slim 13-10 lead within the all-time collection thanks partially to a season-sweep in 2025. SRU has misplaced simply as soon as to UPJ at Morrow Field House since 2022.

SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER

Roster: Link

Stats: Link

Overall: 5-7

PSAC West: 0-1

PSAC West Standings: t-Fifth

Home Record: 2-2

Away Record: 1-2

Neutral Site Record: 2-3

Streak: L3

Last 5 Matches: 2-3

Head Coach: Dylan Lasher | 2nd season at SRU (15-24) | sixth total (60-85)

 

LAST TIME OUT (Box Score)

In what was its subsequent to final non-conference match of the common season, Slippery Rock went on the street Tuesday to Daemen University, shedding in three units (25-23, 25-19, 25-14).

 

ROCK LEADERS

ATTACK: Marley Annis (117 kills / .159), Ava Haynes (81 kills, .153)

ASSISTS: Paityn Krause (193 / 5.22 per set), Abby Kolcum (90 / 4.09 per set)

ACES: Ellie Friedrichs (17), Leah Schreckengost (11)

DIGS: Kara Pasquale (172 / 4.53 per set)

BLOCKS: Victoria Nalbach (21), Emry Rumbaugh (14)

 

ROCK SINGLE-MATCH LEADERS

KILLS: Marley Annis – 18 at Lake Erie

ASSISTS: Paityn Krause – 26 at Lake Erie

ACES: Ellie Friedrichs – 5 at Lake Erie

DIGS: Kara Pasquale – 25 (2x)

BLOCKS: Victoria Nalbach – 5 (2x)

 

ROCK TEAM SINGLE-MATCH LEADERS

KILLS: 56 at Lake Erie

ATTACK %: .286 vs. Post

ASSISTS: 56 at Lake Erie

ACES: 11 at Lake Erie

DIGS: 73 at Lake Erie

BLOCKS: 8 at Lake Erie

 

 HOW THE ROCK STACKS UP (PSAC Team rankings)

• Attack %: fifteenth (.143)

• Opponent Attack %: sixteenth (.212)

• Kills Per Set: thirteenth (11.3)

• Opponent Kills Per Set: fifteenth (12.6)

• Aces Per Set: sixteenth (1.4)

• Opponent Aces Per Set: 1st (1.1)

• Digs Per Set: ninth (15.3)

• Blocks Per Set: fifteenth (1.4)

• Opponent Blocks Per Set: sixteenth (2.2)

 

SRU AMONG THE PSAC’S BEST (Individual rankings)

Aces Per Set: Ellie Friedrichs (0.55) – 4th

Kills Per Set: Marley Annis (3.16) – eighth

Digs Per Set: Kara Pasquale (4.53) – sixth

Assists Per Set: Paityn Krause (5.22) – thirteenth

 

SHUTTING DOWN THE SERVE

Slippery Rock has been distinctive over its first 13 matches of limiting its opponents’ serving success. Entering the IUP match, SRU leads the PSAC in each aces per set allowed (1.11) and whole aces allowed (42).

 

Not solely is Slippery Rock statistically the most effective group within the PSAC at serve reception, however it is usually the most effective in complete Atlantic Region.

 

Aces Per Set Allowed (Atlantic Region)

(Minimum 35 units performed)

1. Slippery Rock: 1.11

2. Clarion: 1.24

3. IUP: 1.27

t-4. Concord: 1.28

t-4. Edinboro: 1.28

 

Total Aces Allowed (Atlantic Region)

(Minimum 35 units performed)

1. Slippery Rock: 42

2. Pitt-Johnstown: 52

4. IUP: 56

5. Seton Hill: 57

6. Wheeling: 59

 

THREE-PRONGED ATTACK

As Slippery Rock nears the midway mark of its season, the group’s assault has centered across the trio of Marley Annis, Ava Haynes and Emry Rumbaugh.

 

• A starter in 11 of 12 matches performed, Annis is having a career-year offensively with 117 kills on a .159 assault share: the best share amongst SRU’s outdoors hitters. Annis’ 3.16 kills per set ranks eight within the PSAC.

 

• Haynes enters the weekend second on The Rock in kills with 81 (2.13 kps / .153), simply 5 away from matching her complete output from a season in the past.

 

• After reaching the six-kill threshold simply as soon as in her first 5 matches of the season, Rumbaugh has produced six or extra kills in 5 of her final seven outings.

 

• Slippery Rock is 5-2 on the yr when both Annis, Haynes or Rumbaugh reaches a double-digit kill whole, however 0-5 when they’re held below 10 kills.

 

KRAUSE CLOSING IN ON 1,000 ASSISTS

Paityn Krause is on the cusp of carrying out one thing that solely 13 different athletes at The Rock have achieved. Krause heads into the IUP match needing simply 24 assists to grow to be the 14th athlete in program historical past to compile 1,000 profession assists.

 

Krause has began 11 of SRU’s 12 matches this season on the way in which to totaling 193 assists (5.22 per set) along with rating third on the group in each aces (7) and digs (61).

 

LOEFFLER MAKES 1^ST START

Freshman setter Emily Loeffler made her first collegiate begin in Daemen match. Loeffler completed the competition matching her season-high totals in each assists (16) and digs (5). She has seen an uptick in enjoying time of late 56 of her 78 assists on the yr coming over SRU’s final 4 matches. Loeffler is one among 4 Rock rookies who’ve made begins this season.

 

• Chloe Shirk has began seven consecutive matches en path to establishing herself as one among SRU’s greatest choices inside alongside veteran Victoria Nalbach. In her first 11 collegiate matches, Shirk has tallied 13 blocks and 24 kills on a .250 assault share.

 

• Ellie Friedrichs has appeared in 11 matches and been a spot starter thus far in 2026. She leads The Rock with 17 aces and her 0.55 aces per set rank fourth within the PSAC. She has additionally made 60 digs, one in again of Krause for third on the group.

 

• Ryan Cameron is the fourth Rock rookie to have began a match this season with the looks coming in opposition to Saginaw Valley State.

 

• Additionally, fellow freshman Bailey Espana has performed in 5 of The Rock’s final six units over two matches in opposition to Clarion and Daemen. Espana served one ace versus Clarion and made eight digs within the Daemen match.

 

NALBACH LEADS THE WAY INSIDE

Senior Victoria Nalbach begins the weekend main The Rock in blocks with 21 (6 solo / 15 assisted / 0.64 per set) all of the whereas delivering 45 kills on an ultra-efficient .246 assault share.

 

Nalbach, who’s eight blocks shy of 100 for her profession, is on tempo for her first 100-kill season offensively whereas additionally trending in the direction of matching her earlier career-high block output from a season in the past.

 

DIG IT

Libero Kara Pasquale has recorded a team-high 172 digs thus far this season and at present ranks sixth within the PSAC in digs per set (4.53).

 

DEMING EFFECTIVE OFF THE BENCH

Reserve reverse Hayden Deming has been efficient off the bench for The Rock in two of her final three appearances. Against Bloomsburg and Clarion, the sophomore netted a pair of five-kill matches on respective assault percentages of .286 and .400.

 

MIX & MATCH

Slippery Rock has used 9 totally different beginning lineups in its 12 matches this season.

                 

GET THE 1ST, GET THE WIN

Slippery Rock has taken the primary set in all of 5 of its victories this season, however have dropped the opener in its seven losses.

 

EFFICIENCY IS KEY

SRU has recorded a .232 assault share in its 5 wins this season, however has compiled a hitting share of simply .074 in its 5 losses. Conversely, opponents have hit solely.118 in The Rock’s 5 wins whereas boasting a .285 assault share in SRU losses.

 

UPCOMING MILESTONES

• Paityn Krause: 24 assists from 1,000

• Paityn Krause: 9 digs from 400

• Paityn Krause: 7 aces from 50

• Kara Pasquale: 159 digs from 1,000

• Marley Annis: 50 kills from 300

• Marley Annis: 100 digs from 400

• Emry Rumbaugh: 56 kills from 300

• Emry Rumbaugh: 27 blocks from 100

• Ava Haynes: 33 kills from 200

• Ava Haynes: 14 digs from 100

• Ava Haynes: 5 blocks from 50

• Victoria Nalbach: 44 kills from 200

• Victoria Nalbach: 8 blocks from 100

• Gwen McCarthy: 40 kills from 200

• Kaitlyn Danszczak: 28 kills from 200

• Kaitlyn Danszczak: 8 blocks from 50

• Abby Kolcum: 8 assists from 100

• Emily Loeffler: 22 assists from 100

• Addison Jones: 7 blocks from 50

 

NEXT FIVE MATCHES

Oct. 2 (6 p.m.) vs. Edinboro

Oct. 3 (1 p.m.) vs. Gannon

Oct. 9 (6 p.m.) at Seton Hill

Oct. 10 (6 p.m.) at California (Pa.)

Oct. 13 (Noon) vs. D’Youville

 

RECORDS WATCH

Assists (12-16)

12. Sarah Cybulski (2001-02): 1,300

13. Stephanie Kluge (1999-02): 1,171

14. Paityn Krause (Active): 976

15. Alexandra Fleagle (2010-13): 885

16. Michele Shatto (1994-97): 822

 

Digs (17-20)

17. Kaylee Smith (2008-11): 1,284

18. Andrea Hoover (1995-98): 1,194

19. Lindsay Weber (2002-05): 1,169

20. Layna Heilman-Houser (2002-05): 1,163

NR. Kara Pasquale (Active): 823  

 

IUP PRIMER

Roster: Link

Stats: Link

Overall: 9-3

PSAC West: 1-0

PSAC West Standings: t-1st

Home Record: 4-0

Away Record: 3-1

Neutral Site Record: 2-2

Streak: W8

Last 5 Matches: 5-0

Head Coach: Avery Moore | 2nd season at IUP (31-12) | third total (55-22)

 

IUP LEADERS

ATTACK: Delaney Concannon (121 kills / .196), Jessica Neiman (112 kills, .221)

ASSISTS: Ellie Rauch (210 / 5.00 per set), Maddie Zechman (181 / 5.48 per set)

ACES: Zechman (27), Charlotte Potvin (20)

DIGS: Brooke Kessler (143 / 3.25 per set)

BLOCKS: Potvin (36), Sammy Stephens (33)

 

 HOW IUP STACKS UP (PSAC Team rankings)

• Attack %: third (.230)

• Opponent Attack %: seventh (.149)

• Kills Per Set: 2nd (13.43)

• Opponent Kills Per Set: Fifth (10.3)

• Aces Per Set: third (2.45)

• Opponent Aces Per Set: third (1.27)

• Digs Per Set: eleventh (14.5)

• Blocks Per Set: sixth (1.8)

• Opponent Blocks Per Set: 14th (1.99)

 

IUP AMONG THE PSAC’S BEST (Individual rankings)

Aces Per Set: Maddie Zechman (0.82) – 1st

Attack %: Charlotte Potvin (.337) – Fifth

Assists Per Set: Maddie Zechman (5.48) – tenth

 

SCOUTING THE CRIMSON HAWKS

• The Crimson Hawks come to Morrow Field House within the midst of an eight-match profitable streak that included a conference-opening victory over Seton Hill. IUP has dropped simply three units throughout its profitable streak.

 

• Slippery Rock’s stout serve reception can be put to the take a look at in opposition to an IUP group that ranks twelfth within the nation in aces per set (2.45) and twentieth in whole aces (106). Five Crimson Hawks have already got 10 or extra aces, together with Maddie Zechman’s PSAC-high 27.

 

• Offensively, IUP ranks second within the PSAC in kills per set (13.43) and third in assault share (.230). Three Indiana athletes have already got over 100 kills in Delaney Concannon (121 / 2.88 / .196), Jessica Neiman (112 / 2.67 / .221) and Sammy Stephens (105 / 2.39 / .291).

 

• Defensively, Stephens and Charlotte Potvin are IUP’s major blockers with 69 mixed rejections. Libero Brooke Kessler tops Indiana with 143 digs (3.25 per set).  

 

• In two matches in opposition to SRU final season, Neiman had 28 kills, Concannon added 23 kills and Potvin got here up with seven whole blocks.

 

RECENT IUP RESULTS

Sept. 18: Seton Hill (W, 3-0)

Sept. 11: Millersville (W, 3-0)

Sept. 11: Shepherd (W, 3-0)

Sept. 5: Daemen (W, 3-1)

Sept. 5: Lake Erie (W, 3-0)

 

PITT-JOHNSTOWN PRIMER

Roster: Link

Stats: Link

Overall: 7-3

PSAC West: 1-0

PSAC West Standings: t-1st

Home Record: 0-0

Away Record: 3-1

Neutral Site Record: 4-2

Streak: W1

Last 5 Matches: 4-1

Head Coach: Justin Haupt | sixth season at UPJ (97-63)

 

UPJ LEADERS

ATTACK: Caroline Knight (105 kills / .202), Ellie Zuro Cirino (96 kills, .184)

ASSISTS: Arielis Valle Villegas (173 / 5.58 per set), Abigail Berry (172 / 5.38 per set)

ACES: Berry (19)

DIGS: Avery Koontz (137 / 4.15 per set)

BLOCKS: Kiara Harmon (36), Dannika Susko (30)

 

 HOW UPJ STACKS UP (PSAC Team rankings)

• Attack %: Fifth (.218)

• Opponent Attack %: third (.126)

• Kills Per Set: ninth (12.73)

• Opponent Kills Per Set: Fifth (10.82)

• Aces Per Set: ninth (1.97)

• Opponent Aces Per Set: tenth (1.58)

• Digs Per Set: eighth (15.39)

• Blocks Per Set: 2nd (2.27)

• Opponent Blocks Per Set: seventh (1.74)

 

UPJ AMONG THE PSAC’S BEST (Individual rankings)

Blocks Per Set: Kiara Harmon (1.13) – 2nd

Attack %: Kiara Harmon (.359) – third

Kills Per Set: Caroline Knight (3.18) – seventh

Assists Per Set: Arielis Valle Villegas (5.58) – eighth

Digs Per Set: Avery Koontz (4.15) – ninth

Kills Per Set: Ellie Zuro Cirino (2.91) – eleventh

 

UP NEXT

Slippery Rock hosts Edinboro 6 p.m. Friday at Morrow Field House.

To keep updated with all that occurs at The Rock, observe our official Athletic Communication accounts on ‘X’ (previously Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).