THE GAMES: The University of Minnesota Duluth will open its inaugural season in the North Central Conference on Friday, Aug. 27 and Sat., Aug. 28 at the Northern Michigan Tournament in Marquette, Mich.

2004 Northern Michigan Tournament

Friday, Aug. 27

UMD vs. Northern Michigan, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 28

UMD vs. Bemidji State, 4:00 p.m.

THE COMPETITION: Each game this weekend will be the first action for both opponents for the 2004 season. The Bulldogs are 17-14 all-time against NMU and 72-3 when playing BSU. The last time that UMD matched up against the Wildcats was in 2002 when they defeated NMU 3-1. The Bulldogs and the Beavers last met on Nov. 8, 2003 for the conclusion of their pair of games in NSIC action. UMD defeated BSU in both matches 3-1, and 3-0.

THE COACH: Jim Boos is entering his third season as the Bulldogs head coach. He has complied a 55-8 record in his first two campaigns. Last season he compiled a 13-3 record in the NSIC, in UMDs last year in the conference. He has directed the Bulldogs to two NCAA Division II appearances, the programs sixth and seventh all-time. For his efforts, Boos was named the 2003 NSIC Coach of the Year.

NEW COACHES: The Bulldogs will have two new faces on the bench helping Boos to guide the Bulldogs in their first season in the NCC. Christyn May is replacing Jodi Raser as the assistant coach for UMD after spending the past three seasons as a volunteer assistant coach for the Bulldogs. May came to UMD after spending four seasons at her alma mater, the University of Nebraska-Omaha in either a student assistant, graduate assistant, or volunteer assistant coaching capacity. This past spring, she served as the head coach for the Esko (Minn.) 17’s Junior Olympic volleyball team.

Also joining the team is student assistant coach Steve Novacek. Novacek has spent the past two seasons as an assistant or head coach for the ninth grade, JV, and Varsity volleyball teams at Duluth East High School. He has also been part of the UMD Men's Club for the past five years, taking on the presidents job for the past three.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: In the AVCA Pre-Season poll released on Aug. 10, 2004 the Bulldogs were ranked at No. 17 in the country, earning the same spot as the last AVCA poll from a season ago. NMU was ranked No. 14 in the poll, falling three spots from last season.

BULLDOG BITS: The Bulldogs are returning nine letterwinners from a season ago, including four starters...seniors Greta Iisakka, Callie Zwettler, and Michaela Wuebben are this years captains...Zwettler was named the 2003 NSIC Player of the Year, while Chelsea Meierotto was named the 2003 NSIC Defensive Specialist of the Year...Iisakka became the 18th Bulldog to earn an All-Regional selection, making the second team, while Zwettler was named to the AVCA All-American second team...the Bulldogs have been picked to finish first in the NCC in just their first season...UMD has four rookies joining the team this season; Danielle Beckstrand, Katie Gangelhoff, Crystal Hoffrogge, and Kari Wolford..Wuebben is not expected to play this weekend after injuring her ankle in preseason practice...in tournament play a season ago UMD was 7-1...their only loss was to North Dakota State, 3-2...in the past 10 seasons the Bulldogs are 8-2 in season openers, with their last loss coming in 2001 against NMU.