Towson volleyball struggles early but closes strong, downs Rider in straight sets
By Jake Shindel, Deputy Sports Editor
No one utilizes home-court advantage like Towson volleyball (6-1). Since 2019, head coach Don Metil’s Tigers are 52-2 at home.
In the Towson Invitational, which included a game at Morgan State this year, the team has been even more dominant than its home record suggests. Towson’s last loss in its home tournament was in September 2019, a loss to Coastal Carolina. Since then, the Tigers have won 14 straight games.
The 2023 Towson Invitational ended Sunday, with the Tigers knocking off Rider University (1-4) in straight sets. The win gives Towson its third-straight undefeated home tournament.
“We’ve traveled some different places during that streak. Whether it was going to Texas or South Carolina last week, [SECU Arena] is a very special venue that people don’t realize,” Metil said. “The quality of our resources here, and I think we all take pride and appreciation every time we walk into the arena, of just what we have. We look forward to playing here, and hopefully, being on TV… will get the word out that volleyball is a pretty fun sport to watch.”
Towson was down 6-0 in the first set before Metil called a timeout.
“There’s teams that we know are going to be brand names and good teams; we bring out some mental energy and some focus. Then there’s teams that they don’t think they need to bring that same execution from. We knew that [setter Ryley Frye] was going to be a very, very good serve, and we just weren’t ready for it.”
The Tigers made it 7-1, part of an 8-0 run to make it 8-7. The team did not look back, winning set one and the next two.
Sophomore libero Sydney Stewart has earned some starts this season, a position held by graduate student Rachel Hess last year. Metil said Stewart’s serve receive numbers in preseason practices earned her the job.
“[Stewart] did very well last night against Temple, almost averaged seven digs per set,” Metil said.
Hess has formed a new role on the team while also providing veteran leadership.
“[Hess] comes into the gym every day and is continuing to work on her craft,” Metil said. “I do believe there will be a time and a place where she may be back in that shirt. And if not, she has a new role, and she’s embraced it. She does what’s needed for the team.”
Next weekend, Towson travels to compete in the Washington State Invitational, where they will face two top-20 teams in BYU and Washington State and a game against UC Irvine.
“We just have to have a better scouting report,” Metil said. “Playing five matches in four days is really tough on this staff to pump out the information to consistently have something that our [players] can have something to go off of. We’ll probably be a little more prepared for those teams than we need to be because they are top-20 teams.”
