Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College volleyball team will close out the invitational portion of its schedule on Friday and Saturday at the WNY Invitational co-hosted by Canisius University and Niagara University.
 
The Dolphins take on Valparaiso University on Friday at 12:00 p.m. at Canisius University and then take on the Golden Griffins at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, the Dolphins will head over to Niagara University to take on the Purple Eagles at 2:00 p.m. Valparaiso is off to a 5-4 start to the season, Canisius is 0-8 and Niagara is 0-6.
 
Fourth year opposite/outside hitter Branwyn Lupton (Napanee, Ontario/Napanee District Secondary School) leads the team offensively with 34 kills (1.70/set). Third year outside hitter Jazmin Rodriguez (Madera, Calif./Madera) ranks second on the team with 1.50 kills per set (24 total). First year Katie Barbour (Durham, N.C./Cardinal Gibbons) and third year Skylar Jehlen (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) have split the setting duties with 114 (4.56/set) and 43 assists (2.26/set) respectively, while Barbour leads the team in hitting percentage (.163) and has 11 blocks. Fourth year libero Haley Buescher (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) leads the team defensively with 39 digs (2.44/set), while first year Aubrey Kimball (Greensboro, N.C./Cornerstone Charter Academy) has 37 digs (2.18/set) and third year outside hitter Nina Salas (Austin, Texas/McNeil) has 36 digs to go with 19 kills.
 
The Dolphins are facing Valparaiso for the first time.

Valpo opened its season at the Chattanooga Classic and registered wins over UAB, Chattanooga and Tennessee State. During its Popcorn Classic, the Beacons fell to Cincinnati and Michigan around a win over Oakland. At the Cleveland State/Akron Invite last weekend, Valpo defeated Cleveland State in between losses to Coppin State and Akron.

Ava Helming and Jordyn Gove are powering the offense with 139 kills (3.97/set, .243 hitting percentage) and 132 kills (3.77/set, .276 hitting percentage), respectively, while Helming has 21 blocks and Gove has 90 digs (2.57/set). Olivia Wagner directs the offense with 215 assists (7.17/set) and has also contributed 33 digs (1.10/set), while Mara Thomas has 117 assists (4.18/set) and 53 digs (1.89/set). Rylee Bumgardner leads the squad defensively with 100 digs (3.13/set) along with 11 service aces.

Le Moyne is taking on Canisius for the ninth time overall and the third time as Division I foes. The Golden Griffins have posted 3-0 wins each of the last two years.
 
Canisius began its season at the Youngstown State Invitational and was swept by Duquesne and the host Penguins around a 3-2 loss to Mercyhurst. The Golden Griffins fell to Buffalo, Dartmouth, UMBC and Dartmouth again the following weekend during the Canisius/Buffalo Invitational. They were swept by Syracuse last Sunday at the Flower City Volleyball Invite.

Emma Isroff leads the Golden Griffins with 70 kills (2.50/set) on a .253 hitting percentage and has 12 blocks. Julia Lenik has 52 kills (2.17/set) and 37 digs (1.54/set) to rank second in both categories. Kenslie Warmbrodt is dishing out 5.0 assists per set and has 140 total to go with 12 service aces, while Anna Rich has 90 assists (3.21/set). Brenda Reynaga leads the team defensively with 129 digs.
 
The Dolphins are taking on Niagara for the fourth time and for the third straight year. The Purple Eagles recorded wins in 1991 and 2024, while the Dolphins won last year's meeting, 3-2.
 
The Purple Eagles went 0-3 at the Herd Classic to open the season with losses to Marshall, Ohio and Bucknell. Last weekend, they fell to Kent State, Columbia and Mercyhurst at the Mercyhurst Invitational.
 
Payton Lee leads the offense with 49 kills (2.45/set) on a .212 hitting percentage. Karlotta Kattai is second on the team with 37 kills (2.18/set) and has 27 digs (1.59/set). Paisley Ka'ahanui (95 assists, 4.75/set) and Noel Perkins (65 assists, 3.25/set) have split the setting duties, while Ka'ahanui has 30 digs (1.50/set). Ashley Moreland leads the defense with 47 digs (2.47/set)