No. 25 Marquette Hosts Marquette Invitational

MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University volleyball team is set for the 2018 homeopener and will host the Marquette Invitational Sept 7-9 at the Al McGuire Center. The 25^th-ranked Golden Eagles (5-1) will open the tournament on Friday against No. 10 USC before taking on No. 3 BYU on Saturday and undefeated Syracuse on Sunday.

Marquette is coming off a great weekend in St. Louis, where they swept all three of their opponents to win the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic. Jenna Rosenthal earned MVP honors and Allie Barber and Anna Haak were named to the all-tournament team.

WHERE TO WATCH/FOLLOW THE ACTION
WATCH LIVE: vs. USC (https://gomarquette.com/watch/?Live=6&type=Live)
vs. BYU (https://gomarquette.com/watch/?Live=26&type=Live)
vs. Syracuse (https://gomarquette.com/watch/?Live=26&type=Live)

LIVE STATS: (https://gomarquette.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary)

PROMOTIONS
Friday vs. USC

Pre Season Clinic Vouchers picked up at our scrimmage can be used as a ticket for one of the first 3 games.
Free Pizza to first 100 students

Saturday vs. BYU

Team Roster Night
Fanny Pack Giveaway to first 250 students

Sunday vs. Syracuse

Free Kids Club Parent Admission (every Kids Club member can get 2 tickets for their parents)

OPPONENTS

USC (5-1): USC has taken down notable opponents such as No. 13 Creighton, No. 4 Florida and No. 5 Kentucky thus far. For the third straight week, they will be facing ranked opponents in their tough non-conference schedule. All-American OH Khalia Lanier leading the offense (3.91 kps). She is joined by sophomore Brooke Botkin (4.43 kps) and junior transfer Emily Baptista (2.70 kps). Senior Victoria Garrick leads the defense with (5.00 dps).

The last meeting between the Trojans and the Golden Eagles was the 2016 opener (Aug. 26) resulting in a 3-1 Marquette win in Los Angeles. The all-time series is tied, 1-1.

BYU (5-0): Last week, the Cougars won the BYU Nike Invitational with wins against West Virginia, No. 1 Stanford and Wichita State. Roni Jones-Perry was named the tournament MVP and was named AVCA Player of the Week. BYU is 2-0 all-time against Marquette, having last won a five-set matchup in 2013.

This is the first meeting between Marquette and BYU

Syracuse (2-0): The Orange are a perfect 2-0 to start the 2018 season, with wins over New Hampshire and Connecticut. Syracuse was picked to finish ninth in the ACC this year. In their comeback victory against UConn, the Orange were led by four players with double-digit kills. Polina Shemanova notched 18 kills and was named Tournament MVP. Marquette is 6-4 all-time against the Orange.

Former BIG EAST foes meet up for the first time since conference realignment. Marquette owns a 6-4 record all-time against Syracuse.

WHAT THE TEAM IS SAYING:
"We are excited to be at home with three really good opponents coming in. I know two are ranked, but Syracuse is leading the nation in blocking and they are really physical at the net so we're certainly going to have our hands full with all of them."

"Hopefully we play well. We've been relatively consistent in a lot of our victories. We've been able to get through them in 3-0 and so if we can play consistent, you just got to get to three first."

On playing at home…
"I like our environment. I love our band. I think they're great. I hope we get a great student section. Friday night usually we're targeting the students and so hopefully we get a good turnout."

- Ryan Theis (Head Coach)

STORYLINES:

Marquette enters the AVCA Coaches Poll at No. 25 this week after being the unofficial 26^th team for the first to weeks of the season. The Golden Eagles are ranked for the first time since the 2013 campaign.
Redshirt senior Jenna Rosenthal was selected to the BIG EAST weekly honor roll after helping lead Marquette to three straight-set victories at SLU last weekend. Rosenthal averaged 1.44 blocks per set and totaled 2.78 kills per frame, while hitting at a .488 clip.
Marquette leads the BIG EAST with 14.47 assists per game as junior Lauren Speckman and sophomore Sarah Rose have teamed up for setting duties this season. Speckman is handing out 7.74 assists per set, while Rose tallies 5.26 per contest.
The Golden Eagles also lead the league in kills with 15.47 per contest, paced by 4.42 per frame from Barber, which leads the BIG EAST.
Rosenthal boasts a stellar .440 hitting percentage through the six games of the season, helping propel the Golden Eagles to a .291 average combined, which is tops in the league.
Head coach Ryan Theis enters the weekend with a 96-41 record at Marquette, needing just four more victories to reach the 100 milestone.
This is the 43^rd season of Marquette volleyball and the program is 748-691-5 all-time.
The Golden Eagles were picked to win the BIG EAST, earning six first-place votes. This is the first time MU has been selected to win the league.
Allie Barber was tabbed as BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, while Jenna Rosenthal and Hope Werch were selected to the preseason squad.
Marquette plays a tough non-conference schedule and will face four ranked opponents; No. 8 BYU, No. 9 Wisconsin, No. 10 USC, No. 16 Baylor and two receiving votes; Western Kentucky and LSU. BIG EAST foe Creighton is currently ranked No. 13 and the Golden Eagles will face the Bluejays in the BIG EAST weekend opener on Sept. 23.