ABOUT THE MATCHES

• The Marauders enter the homestand on the outside looking in at the PSAC East playoff picture but remain within striking distance heading into the final two weeks of the season. Millersville enters the week at 5-5 in PSAC East play, sitting one game behind the East Stroudsburg, Shippensburg, and West Chester who have all gone 6-4 in conference action. The lone team that has been able to separate from the pack is Shepherd at 8-2. Kutztown is also 5-5 and fighting with the Marauders to leapfrog their way into the final spot.
• Wednesdays non-conference match against Chestnut Hill was cancelled after the publishing of this article
• Millersville will control its own destiny, as the Marauders play ESU and Kutztown this weekend on their home turf. Next week the team takes on Shippensburg and Shepherd on the road as the final four PSAC East matches of the season are all against other contending programs. With six teams fighting for four spots, the regular season looks to be heading towards a tight finish as ’Ville looks to continue its late season push towards its first post season appearance since 2019.
• The team will honor its seven seniors prior to the final home match of the regular season on Saturday as Becca Dalstad, Laurel Samko, Kylie Airesman, Rose Vail, Rylee Thomas, Emily Hoffman, and Katie Thompson will all be recognized for their contributions to the program.

SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS

• The Marauders enter the week at 15-10 overall and have won three straight matches to remain in the PSAC playoff picture. The team has played its best ball at home, going 8-4 from Pucillo Gymnasium.
• Rose Vail has been on a tear of late, recording double digit kills in each of the past six matches. Her 244 kills leads the team while her 49 blocks rank second. Her 269.5 points ranks 13th in the conference.
• Rylee Thomas has continued to be a force at the net, recording a team high 73 blocks while totaling four or more blocks in each of the past three matches. Her blocking total is good for eighth in the conference.
• Kylie Airesman reached 200 kills on the season in the win at Lock Haven, reaching the milestone for the second time in her career. She sits 35 kills off a new career high with five matches remaining on the schedule.
• In a tight race for the team lead in aces, Emily Hoffman has emerged as the team leader with 37. The redshirt senior is coming off a three-ace performance at Lock Haven. In total, the Marauders have recorded 197 aces this season, sitting just five behind IUP for the PSAC lead.
• Emma Ludwig ranks fifth in the PSAC in assists with 723. She has totaled 30 or more assists in three straight matches, including a season high 50 against Dominican (NY) last Wednesday to start the teams three match win streak.
• Standout libero Becca Dalstad ranks third in the PSAC in digs with 415. She has now recorded double-digit digs in nine straight matches and in 22 of the teams 25 matches this season.

SCOUTING THE KUTZTOWN GOLDEN BEARS (FRI. 7 P.M.)

• The Golden Bears (11-10, 5-5 PSAC) fell in both their conference matchups last week, allowing the Marauders to close the gap in the standings with their pair of wins. Kutztown is also just 5-6 on the road. 
• The Marauders swept the Golden Bears earlier this month on the road. The match was far closer than the 3-0 final would indicate, as two of the sets went into overtime. Rylee Thomas recorded a season high six blocks while Rose Vail tallied 18 kills to lead the Marauders to the win.
• Adrianna Derstine (331) and Sadie Doss (318) rank first and second in the PSAC in kills as they are the only two athletes to reach 300 kills on the season. The duo rank first and second in points with 374.5 and 370.5, respectively. Doss is also third in the conference in aces with 44.
• Grace Ingram (58) leads the team in blocks while Derstine (42) ranks second.
• Lexi Morrow is the primary setter for the team, recording 691 assists on the year. 

SCOUTING THE EAST STROUDSBURG WARRIORS (SAT. 2 P.M.) 

• The Marauders were swept by the Warriors in their matchup earlier this month. At the time, ESU was the top team in the PSAC East standings but the Warriors (12-11, 6-4 PSAC) have lost their last three matches to fall back into the crowded field fighting for a playoff spot.
• The Warriors will head to Pucillo following a Friday night matchup at West Chester.
• ESU uses a two-setter offense, with Sydney Lewellin (364) Makaela McComas (267) and Taylor Haan (156) all recording over 100 assists on the season.
• Kaylee LoPresto leads the team with 216 kills.
• Makayla Baca leads the team in digs with 399, raking fourth in the PSAC behind Dalstad.
• Anna Coulter ranks seven in the conference in blocks with 75, she leads the PSAC in solo blocks with 29. Coulter is also 14th in hitting percentage at .273.

THE LAST TIME OUT

• Millersville: The Marauders defeated Lock Haven 3-1 to move to .500 in PSAC East action. Vail led the team in kills with 15 while Dalstad recorded 27 digs and Ludwig picked up 36 assists. The full recap can be found here.
• Kutztown: The Raiders moved to 2-1 in PSAC East play after their five-set win against East Stroudsburg. A full recap can be found here. 
• East Stroudsburg:  The are coming off a pair of five set losses to Shepherd and Shippensburg last weekend. The Warriors have now dropped three straight PSAC matches, each of which have went five sets. ESU takes on West Chester Friday night before facing the Marauders on Saturday.

SERIES HISTORY

• The Marauders are 36-25 all time vs Kutztown, having earned a 3-0 sweep in the first matchup of the season.
• Millersville is 44-23 all time against ESU, having dropped the first matchup of the season series 3-0 last month.