Gametracker vs. Northern Illinois
Gametracker vs. Northern Iowa
Gametracker vs. Iowa State
Gametracker vs. Cincinnati
INDIANAPOLIS – In less than 24 hours, the IUPUI volleyball team will hit the floor for the first time this season when it takes on preseason Mid-American Conference favorite Northern Illinois in its first match of the 2011 Northern Illinois Invitational in DeKalb, Ill. The Jaguars, who are coming off an 8-22 campaign last year, had an extremely productive preseason camp and are looking forward to the challenge that awaits them at Victor E. Court on the Northern Illinois campus this weekend.
The Jags open the season against the Huskies at 1 p.m., before rounding out the first day of the tournament against the No. 14 team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Poll, the Northern Iowa Panthers. The match between Northern Iowa and IUPUI is set to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the Jaguars round out the tournament on Saturday, Aug. 27, against a pair of NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago in No. 18 Iowa State (11 a.m. ET) and Cincinnati (6 p.m. ET).
ABOUT THE JAGUARS
Seven returners and five newcomers make up the 2011 edition of the IUPUI volleyball team. The Jags welcome back second-team All-Summit League selection Shari Bernhardt, who has posted over 500 digs in each of the last two seasons and ranked among the Top 50 in the nation in that category.
IUPUI also brings back three experienced outside hitters in Kalyse Reimbold, Lindsey Weber, and Moriah Fair, while also returning its hitting percentage leader from last year, Bethany Fogler, and Kortni Wright.
With a year of game action under her belt and having the spring season to work further with her hitters, sophomore Alexis Meeks is poised to build upon her All-Freshman Team season from a year ago.
Add in five talented newcomers in Meredith Farkas, Kelsey Hoefer, Beth Howard, Ellyn Jones, and Corinne Owens, which give the Jags depth across the board.
(Click here to read volleyball’s summer feature story)
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
The 2011 favorite to win the MAC West Division and the MAC Tournament Championship welcome back a majority of their team back from a 28-7 season a year ago, which included a trip to the MAC Tournament Championship game.
Leading the way for the Huskies is the reigning MAC Freshman and Player of the Year, Lauren Wicinski, who ranked fourth in the nation in aces (71) and sixth in kills (4.82 per set). For her superb season, she was named NIU's second honorable mention American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American. This summer, she represented the U.S. at the 2011 European Global Challenge and helped her team go 6-1 and appears to be the key to the Huskies attack.
NIU also returns All-MAC setter Kristin Hoffman and two-time All-MAC selection Allison McGlaughlin.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS
UNI is tabbed No. 14 in the nation in the AVCA preseason poll and returns five starters from the team that finished 30-3 overall, 18-0 in the MVC and ranked No. 14 in 2010. The Panthers were a unanimous favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference, as voted on by the league coaches in the 2011 preseason poll.
Seniors Michelle Burow and Bre Payton were each named to the MVC preseason all-conference team and the duo helped UNI make its fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament and 16th appearance in the program's history last season.
Payton and Burow were named to 2010 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America teams. Payton earned second-team honors while Burow garnered honorable mention honors, making a formidable duo in the front row.
ABOUT THE CYCLONES
Iowa State returns five of its starters from last season's 20-9 squad, including All-America honorable mention Jamie Straube, a unanimous selection for the 2011 All-Big 12 preseason team. Junior setter Alison Landwehr was also named to the all-conference preseason team and redshirt freshman Hannah Willms picked up the nod for the top newcomer.
Iowa State has made five straight NCAA Tournament appearances and was picked to finish second in the Big 12 behind Texas.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS
The reigning 2010 Big East regular-season champions return an experienced group of veterans, but must deal with the departure of the 2010 Big East Player of the Year and AVCA All-American Stephanie Niemer and four-year starting setter Annie Fesl. However, UC welcomes back first-team all-conference selection Jordanne Scott, who led the Bearcats with a .333 hitting percentage.
Senior Missy Harpenau is the Bearcats' top returning digger, posting 298 digs, 2.66 digs per set, last season. Harpenau also posted 180 kills. Junior Becca Refenes led UC in blocks last season with 146 total blocks at 1.18 blocks per set.
