Volleyball Opens Season At Cavalier Classic

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The 2023 Rutgers volleyball season gets underway this weekend as the Scarlet Knights travel to Charlottesville, Virginia for the Cavalier Classic.
 

Rutgers opens up tournament action on Friday with North Carolina A&T at 4:30 p.m. while host Virginia meets Rider at 7 p.m.. Friday’s losing teams will meet up on Saturday at noon, while the winners will close out tournament action at 2:30 p.m.
 

Friday, August 25

• Rutgers vs. North Carolina A&T – 4:30 p.m.
• Rider vs. Virginia – 7 p.m.

Saturday, August 26

• Game 1 Loss vs. Game 2 Loss – Noon
• Game 1 Win vs. Game 2 Win – 2:30 p.m.

• Rutgers returns nine letterwinners and welcomes six newcomers to the court for the 2023 campaign.
• Eighty-four percent of last year’s attack is back including redshirt sophomore Alissa Kinkella who recorded a team-leading 2.76 k/s and sophomore Taylor Humphrey who as a rookie collected 2.54 k/s. Kinkela totaled 301 kills in 2022 marking the ninth-most by a Scarlet Knight in a rally-era season. Humphrey also had another notable record book entry as she tied for most kills in a rally-era three set match with 18 kills against the College of Charleston.
• Also bolstering the offense are returnees sophomores Lexi Visintine and Bekah Williams. Visintine collected a season-high nine kills against No. 9 Minnesota and registered eight in a sweep of Iowa. Williams, meanwhile, averaged 1.79 k/s including a season-high 11 kills in last year’s season opener versus Fresno State. Newcomers at outside hitter include freshmen Krista Dooley, a JVA Watch list member, and Anna Hartman, a 18 Premiere All-American.
• Fifth-year senior Alyssa Nayar and junior Chelsea Harvey return at setter with RU adding to the roster. Nayar averaged 3.58 assists per set over 78 sets and notched five double-doubles. RU also adds AVCA All-American Watch List member and freshman Georgia Lee at the position.
• Senior middle Krista Grkovic was second on the squad a year ago with 103 total blocks but led the Scarlet Knights with an average of 1.02 per set. She also was tops at the service line racking up 34 aces. Grkovic cracked the top 10 in rally era career blocks with 92 total to date.
• Returning middle blockers also include sophomore Sasha Stotler and the addition of 2021 Volleyballmag.com Fabulous 50 and Penn State…