Women's Volleyball 8/24/2012 2:35:00 PM Tyler Madsen, Truman Athletics

Volleyball Week 1 Notes: Days Inn Invitational

Weekly Schedule:
2012 Days Inn Bulldog Invitational
Friday, Aug. 31 – vs. McKendree (Ill.); 11:00 am; KIRKSVILLE
Friday, Aug. 31 – vs. #7 Minnesota- Duluth; 7:30 pm; KIRKSVILLE
Saturday, Sept. 1 – vs. Winona (Minn.) State; 1:15 pm; KIRKSVILLE
Saturday, Sept. 1 – vs. Missouri-St. Louis; 7:30 pm; KIRKSVILLE

Live Stats | Tournament Website

FULL NOTES (PDF)

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - - The 40^th edition of Truman State University volleyball gets underway for the 2012 season as the inaugural Days Inn Bulldog Invitational kicks off on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Pershing Arena. The two-day event features six programs from four states and will pit the Bulldogs in four regional matches on the first weekend of the regular season.

The Bulldogs face McKendree (Ill.) to open the weekend on Friday at 11:00 am before taking on the nation's seventh-ranked team, Minnesota-Duluth, at 7:30 pm. Then, on Saturday, Truman tackles Winona (Minn.) State at 1:15 pm before closing the event at 7:30 pm against Missouri-St. Louis. The matches against UMD and WSU denote true in-region matches as part of the newly-realigned Central region, consisting of teams from the MIAA, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and the Great American Conference (GAC). Truman's matches against MCK and UMSL also count as in-region matches since both programs are either in-state or within a bordering state.

Truman returns five starters from last season's team, including three-time AVCA all-American Megan Sharpe (Sr., MB). Also returning are all-MIAA recipients Emily Briseno (Sr., MB), Abby Moser (So., L) and Allie Brak (So., OH).

Ben Briney begins his fourth season as the Bulldog head coach with a career record of 69-35.

Season Preview:

Following the Bulldogs:
Full coverage of Truman volleyball is available online at TrumanBulldogs.com, including results, upcoming match information and weekly updates.

When available, links to free online live stats are added to the Bulldog volleyball schedule page as well as the top of each weekly update.

Keep up with the Bulldogs by tracking in-match updates (when available). Follow Truman Athletics on Twitter (@TrumanAthletics). Also be sure to sign up for Text Caster and Newsletter updates on the TrumanBulldogs.com homepage.

Days Inn Bulldog Invitational:
For the first time in program history, the Bulldog volleyball program will host a regular season tournament in Pershing Arena. Truman will be joined by GLVC programs McKendree and Missouri-St. Louis, NSIC programs Minnesota-Duluth and Winona State, and GLIAC school Ashland for the two-day event.

Before 6:00 pm, tickets will cost $5 for adults, $3 for children (K-12) and seniors, and are free for Truman students, faculty/staff, and children (Pre-K). After 6:00 pm, tickets cost $3 for adults, $2 for children (K-12) and seniors), and remain free for Truman students, faculty/staff, and children (Pre-K).

The tournament schedule and other key information can be found by accessing the tournament website (www.TrumanBulldogs.com/DaysInnVB).

Checking Out the Competition:
McKendree “Bearcats” (10-25, Independent in 2011)
Competing as first-year members of the GLVC in 2012, McKendree was picked seventh of eight in the GLVC east division in the preseason league coaches' poll. It will be a new-look Bearcat squad this season, as MCK has just five letterwinners returning to go with an influx of recruits.

Sophomore Hilary Richter (1.56 kills/set, 0.79 blocks/set) is the top returner after ranking fourth on the squad last season in kills/set. Maggie Mueller, the team's No. 2 setter last season, is the top returner in that category for a Bearcat squad that hit .171 last season.

Lisa Orlet is in her first season as the Bearcat head coach. Friday's meeting marks the eighth time the two programs have met, with Truman holding a 5-2 lead in the all-time series. The last meeting came on Sept. 28, 1990, with Truman winning 2-0.

#7 Minnesota-Duluth “Bulldogs” (28-4, 18-2 NSIC in 2011)
High expectations were once again set on UMD in 2012, as the traditionally-strong Bulldogs were pegged 7^th in the AVCA top-25 preseason coaches' poll as well as a No. 2 ranking in the NSIC coaches' poll. UMD faces McKendree before facing Truman on Friday night.

The Bulldogs return two of their top three offensive weapons from a team that hit .243 and averaged nearly 15 kills/set in 2011, as OH Kate Lange (4.81 k/s, 3.30 d/s) and MB Kalli Lochner (2.55 k/s, 0.88 b/s) pace the UMD attack. Duluth will be in search of a new setter this season, while Julie Rainey (5.40 d/s) returns in the libero position.

Jim Boos is in his 10^th season at the helm of the UMD program, having compiled a 269-52 record. Truman is 4-2 all-time against Duluth and won a five-setter the last time the teams met (Aug. 25, 2007).

Winona State “Warriors” (15-15, 9-11 NSIC in 2011)
The WSU Warriors bring an eighth-place preseason NSIC poll prediction to Kirksville for the opening weekend and will face Ashland and Missouri-St. Louis on day one before facing Truman to start day two.

The Warriors return all four of their top hitters from last season's squad, led by OH Bekah Saugen (3.10 k/s, 3.39 d/s) and MB Kathy Lohff (2.71 k/s, 0.79 b/s). Junior Kayla Uhlenhake returns to handle the setting duties for a WSU squad that hit .185 as a team last year.

Dave Simon is in his fourth season at the helm in Winona. Saturday's showdown will mark the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Warriors.

Missouri-St. Louis “Tritons” (19-10, 13-5 GLVC in 2011)
The Bulldogs and Tritons wrap up the 2012 Invitational on Saturday night, as UMSL enters looking to replace the loss of three of its top four hitters from last season. The Tritons play Winona State and Ashland on Friday before taking on Duluth and Truman on Saturday.

OH Chelsea Burkle (2.61 k/s, 1.69 d/s) is the top returner offensively, while Anna McNulty returns at the setter spot. UMSL hit .213 as a team last season.

Ryan Young is in his second season at the helm of the UMSL program. The Bulldogs and Tritons have an extensive history, as Truman leads the all-time series 28-26. The last meeting between the squads came on Sept. 19, 2007 – a 3-0 sweep by Truman in Kirksville.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs travel to Nebraska-Kearney for a two-day, four-match weekend on Sept. 7-8. Truman will face four more regional matches, starting with St. Cloud (Minn.) State and Maryville (Mo.) on Friday (Sept. 7) before taking on Northern (S.D.) State and Minnesota State on Saturday (Sept. 8).

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