WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — William & Mary volleyball will begin its 2025 home campaign this weekend as they play host to the Tribe Invitational. The four-team tournament will welcome East Carolina, Liberty, and Norfolk State to Kaplan Arena.
The action gets underway for the Tribe on Friday at 7 p.m. when it hosts East Carolina in the home opener. On Saturday, W&M will face a doubleheader beginning with Norfolk State at 11 a.m. followed by Liberty at 5:30 p.m.
Both Saturday contests will be streamed on FloCollege, with live stats available for all games along with live updates on social media from @WMTribeVB.
CLEAR BAG POLICY AND METAL DETECTORS
Furthering its commitment to a first class and secure environment at home athletic events, William & Mary will implement the use of walk-through metal detectors at the entrances to athletic venues (both ticketed and non-ticketed events) beginning in the fall of 2025. This enhanced security method mirrors standard practice at most major professional and intercollegiate athletic events throughout the country and compliments the Clear Bag Policy already in place. Fans will proceed through metal detectors prior to having their tickets scanned or entering a venue for non-tickets events. Entrants will not need to remove items such as belts, cell phones, coins, jackets, jewelry, watches, wallets, shoes or other small objects. If additional screening is necessary, security staff will ask the individual to proceed to a secondary screening area, where they will be asked to divest themselves of certain items and pass through again until clear.
PROMOTIONS
Friday's contest against ECU is the Hidden Opponent Match. The Hidden Opponent is a non-profit organization that advocates for student-athlete mental health through education and support.
BUSINESS TRIP TO BALTIMORE
William & Mary won two of its three matches at the UMBC Tournament over the weekend, taking down Old Dominion 3-0 before upending host-school UMBC 3-1 to sweep a Friday doubleheader. The Tribe narrowly lost to Maryland 3-1 on Saturday in a match that saw three sets go past 25 points.
EXTRA STUFFING
The Tribe leads the nation in blocks per set at 3.89, while ranking fifth in total blocks with 74.0. W&M's 19 total blocks against Maryland was the program's second-most ever in the current scoring era, trailing their 21 at American on Sep. 13, 2009. It was also tied for second-most in a four-set match this season in Division I.
Overall, the Tribe's 74.0 blocks are — by a wide margin — the most through its first five games of a season since single-game statistics date back to 2001 (58.5 in 2004).
EVERYBODY LOVES RYANN
Ryann Love has been the Tribe's leader in the middle, posting an average of 1.94 blocks per set which ranks fourth in the nation and tops in the CAA. The senior captain racked up 11 total blocks against Maryland, the most by a Tribe player since Shaylin O'Connell had 12 on Oct. 13, 2009 at American.
FEED KAT
Katherine Arnason's 19 kills against the Terrapins marked a new career-high for the Minnesota native. It was also the most against a Power Four opponent since Lindsay Kretch had 20 on Sep. 18, 2010, coincidentally also against Maryland.
LEADING THE PACK
In addition to blocks, W&M also leads the CAA in aces per set (2.00) and is second in opponent hitting percentage (.155).
ACING THE TEST
Olivia Esposito ranks third in the CAA and top-100 nationally in service aces with 11. Her six service aces vs. Old Dominion was tied for the second-most ever in the current scoring era (since 2008).
DOUBLES UP
Freshman Shylah Swope has three double-doubles in her first five career matches. She reached the 20-assist plateau against Maryland, tallying 21 helpers with 11 digs.
DUG BY AVERY
Avery Horejsi is sixth in the CAA and top-100 in Division I in digs per set with a 4.11 average.
SIZING UP THE COMPETITION
East Carolina comes in with a perfect 6-0 record. Four of those wins have been sweeps, and the Pirates have lost just two sets all season.
Norfolk State is searching for their first win in eight tries. Liberty is 5-1 with notable wins over Buffalo and Rutgers. The Flames' lone loss was a 3-2 setback to an undefeated West Virginia squad.
