IUP Athletics Preview: October 9-15, 2023 - Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics (2024)

Athletics 10/9/2023 5:10:00 PM Josh Hill, Director of Strategic Communications and Ideation

INDIANA, Pa. –Here's an overview of the week ahead for IUP Athletics.

Full Composite Schedule|Live Coverage

MEN'S GOLF
October 9-10
at Post Invitational – Watertown Golf Course

IUP has one final event in the fall slate before the conference championships, taking part in the two-day Post Invitational on October 9-10. The Crimson Hawks have competed in a challenging fall schedule thus far across different states. Alex Swinnerton, the reigning PSAC Men's Golf Freshman of the Year, leads IUP with an even-par average of 71.18 through 11 rounds.

IUP will have the following lineup for the Post Invitational: Alex Swinnerton, Shaun Fedor, Guillermo Salazar, John Olsen, Aidan LeBlanc, Cameron GeRue (individual) and Jon Vinge (individual).

WOMEN'S TENNIS
October 8-10
at PSAC Individual Championships – Bloomsburg, Pa.

October 12-16
at ITA Cup – Rome, Ga.

After a successful opening day of the PSAC Individual Championships, the IUP women's tennis program closes out the fall portion of the schedule with a busy week ahead. Going 10-0 during Sunday's round, IUP placed two doubles pairings in the semifinals and three singles competitors in the quarterfinals.

Ming Deewajee and Dani Ramos were selected to the ITA Cup as a doubles pairing, having a chance to compete for an individual national title.

WOMEN'S SOCCER (4-4-1, 3-4-1 PSAC)
Wednesday, October 11
vs. Clarion – South Campus Field – 4:00 p.m. – Live Video – Live Stats

Saturday, October 14
at #22 Mercyhurst – 1:00 p.m. – Live Video – Live Stats

IUP caps off a three-game homestand this week against Clarion before visiting 20th-ranked and division leading Mercyhurst over the weekend. The Crimson Hawks secured a 1-0 shutout victory of D'Youville to round out the nonconference portion of the schedule in a Homecoming victory.

Hannah Scardina scored in both matchups last week for IUP, including the game-winner against D'Youville on October 7. It marks an important week ahead for IUP for potential postseason positioning, sitting fifth in the PSAC West and one spot out of a conference tournament spot entering the week.

M/W SWIMMING & DIVING
Wednesday, October 11
at Shippensburg – 5:00 p.m. – Live Video

Friday, October 13
PSAC Fall Invitational – 1:00 p.m.
PSAC Fall Sprint Frenzy – 5:00 p.m.
Clarion Fall Diving Invitational – 5:00 p.m.

Following weeks of preseason work and conditioning, the IUP swimming & diving teams will officially open the 2023-24 season this week. In a busy opening week of the campaign, the Crimson Hawks visit Shippensburg on October 11 for a dual meet before competing in a pair of events at the Keystone Aquatics Center on October 11.

Head coach Chris Villa's women's squad looks to write the next chapter in the program following the graduation of cornerstones Paige Mikesell and Rachel Johnson. The women's team features eight seniors on the roster and graduate student Amber Baldani. Rachel Blackburn, Jordyn Burkey, Parker Fanella and Olivia Santee were all among the key contributors on last year's squad.

For the IUP men, senior Athanasios Diamantidis returns for his senior season and second year with the Crimson Hawks after qualifying for the NCAA National Championships in 2022-23. Luke Mikesell, Julien Dampenon, Blake Hendricks and others bring no shortage of experience into their senior seasons for the Hawks.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL (13-7, 3-3 PSAC)
Friday, October 13
vs. Seton Hill – 6:00 p.m. – KCAC – Diversity & Inclusion Game – Live Video – Live Stats

Saturday, October 14
vs. Slippery Rock – 6:00 p.m. – KCAC – Bring A Friend Game – Live Video – Live Stats

IUP looks to right the ship as it returns home this week, facing off against Seton Hill (October 13) and Slippery Rock (October 14) at the KCAC. The Crimson Hawks had a tough Erie roadtrip last weekend, dropping divisional games to Gannon in five sets and Edinboro in four sets.

IUP continues to lead NCAA DII in total team blocks (202.0) and enter the week 13th nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.129). Lauren Valentic surpassed 100 total blocks on the season and leads NCAA DII with 105 total blocks on the 2023 campaign for the Hawks. Bailey Flowerdew ranks eighth in the PSAC in aces (28) and sixth in digs (283).

FOOTBALL (3-3, 1-2 PSAC)
Saturday, October 14
vs. Edinboro – 2:00 p.m. – Miller Stadium – Live Video – Live Stats – Live Audio – Tickets

Facing adversity at the midway point of the football season, IUP is back home for a second consecutive week, welcoming Edinboro to Miller Stadium at 2:00 p.m. Coming off consecutive losses to PSAC West powers Slippery Rock and Cal U, IUP looks to put together a push over the stretch run in 2023. A full comprehensive preview with game notes and other fan information will be posted to IUPAthletics.com later in the week.

Working in some different offensive personnel in the second half, IUP fell to rival Cal U by a 30-20 score in the 14th Annual Coal Bowl. Drew DiNunzio-Biss racked up a Coal Bowl record 17.0 total tackles, continuing what has been an outstanding season along the IUP defense.

FIELD HOCKEY (6-4, 3-2 PSAC)
Saturday, October 14
at #4 West Chester – 4:00 p.m. – Live Video – Live Stats

IUP continues running through the gauntlet that is the PSAC in field hockey, taking on another top-10 opponent this weekend with a road trip across the state to West Chester on October 14. The Hawks split a pair of conference games last week, handling Mercyhurst with a 5-1 road win on October 4 before falling in a 2-0 decision to ninth-ranked Bloomsburg on October 7.

Mia Gerick registered her first collegiate goal with a slick top-shelf tally at Mercyhurst last week, while Jess Davidson moved into a tie for 10th in IUP history with 22 career goals. Davidson boasts 47 career points, three shy of the 50-point milestone in less than two seasons. IUP enters the week in fifth place in the PSAC standings, among the top six seeds that qualify for the conference tournament as it stands today.