Keweenaw Classic Tournament Page

The University of Minnesota Duluth opens its 2014 campaign with four matchces in three days at the Michigan Technical University Keewenaw Classic beginning with a match against a long-time rival receiving votes in the initial American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll.

Head coach Jim Boos returns 13 of 15 letterwinners from a season ago, including three All-Americans as the team prepares for a busy weekend, beginning Thursday evening with No. 3 UMD's annual match-up with Northern Michigan University, followed by neutral-site matches against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Lake Superior State University before taking on the home-Huskies of Michigan Tech.

QUICK HITS
• The Bulldogs are 77-28 all-time against their four opponents this week, good for a .733 win percentage.
• UMD's offense will have a different look in 2014 as five outside hitters battle for time replacing unanimous NCAA II Player of the Year Kate Lange, but the Bulldogs do return three AVCA All-Americans in senior libero Julie Rainey, junior setter Ashley Hinsch, and junior middle blocker Monica Turner.
• UMD welcomes three newcomers in freshman outside hitter Megan Norby, defensive specialist Kelly Madison, and Sarah Heesacker. Additionally, freshman middle blocker Allison Olley will begin her Bulldog career after a redshirt season in 2013.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS (Thursday Sept. 4, 7:00 p.m. EST) - Live Stats | Live Video
• Northern Michigan (RV) finished the 2013 season with a 23-10 overall record and 15-3 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), good for second in the league's North division. In his eighth season, head coach Dominic Yoder's Wildcats were tagged with a third-place prediction in the conference's coaches poll.
• NMU graduated its top three attackers from a season ago, and four of the top six. Returning is sophomore rightside hitter Alex Larsen, who collected 226 kills and 76 total blocks a season ago.
• Also graduating was the team's starting setter, and duties will fall on a new addition as the team adds a pair of freshmen and Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College junior transfer Stacy Kalsbeek.
• On the defensive end, junior libero Alex Berger returns after leading the team with 449 digs and 48 service aces in 2013. Sophomore middle hitter Bridget Bussell returns after a freshman campaign that saw her knock down 88 blocks on the year.
• UMD is 24-15 all-time against the Wildcats, but 7-1 under the guidance of Coach Boos. The Bulldogs knocked off Northern Michigan in straight sets last season on Oct. 8, 2013.

SCOUTING THE RANGERS (Friday, Sept. 5, 5:30 p.m. EST)
• Wisconsin-Parkside finished its 2013 campaign with an 18-13 record, including an 8-10 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). Head coach Christine Paciero's Rangers were slotted to finish sixth in the East division by GLVC head coaches in her fourth season at Parkside.
• The Rangers graduated their top three attackers from a season ago and have just one senior in outside hitter Lisa Gregerson. Her 171 kills were top amongst returners, with sophomore Rebecca Romebke second with 135 in her first season. Sophomore setter Lauren Hickson collected 7.87 assists per set a season ago.
• Defensively, Parkside graduated its libero and will rely on junior Jessi Mainczyk or sophomore Victoria Walsh to take the reins. Junior middle blocker Jeni Heller finished second on the team with 72 blocks a year ago to go with 127 kills.
• UMD knocked off Wisconsin-Parkside in straight sets last season at the Rangers' home tournament extended its all-time record to 11-1 against UWP.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS (Saturday, Sept. 6 - 3:00 p.m. EST) - Live Stats
• Lake Superior State stumbled to a 4-21 record a season ago, 2-16 in the GLIAC. Jennifer Constantino is looking to turn the team around in her second season.
• The Lakers graduated their top attacker, but return sophomore outside hitter Jen Marren and junior middle blocker Sydne McMullen, who finished second and fourth in kills, respectively. The team also graduated its starting setter, and will look to freshman Madison Castle to step into that role right away.
• Senior Meghan Drobish returns to shore up the Lakers defensively at the libero position. The team didn't collect many blocks a season ago, just 1.29 per set and will rely on freshman and sophomore classes to regain that edge in 2014.
• UMD is 16-5 all-time against the Lakers, last knocking off LSSU in straight sets on Aug. 28, 2009.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES (Saturday, Sept. 6 - 7:00 p.m. EST) - Live Stats | Live Video
• The hosts of Michigan Tech will close out the tournament against the Bulldogs, having finished 2013 with a 10-20 record (6-12 GLIAC). In his third season, Matt Jennings and the Huskies were picked for a seventh place finish in the GLIAC North Division.
• The Huskies were led by young players a year ago, and sophomore outside hitter Kendall Ward and junior middle blocker Sylvie Rokosh return to anchor the offense for a team without any seniors. Tech did graduate its starting setter and will look to junior Rosie Aumann or sophomore Rachel Pohlod to step into that role.
• Junior defensive specialist Jacqueline Aird returns after serving as the team's libero a season ago, but will be challenged by junior Sarah Rasmussen for the role as well. At the net, it will be Rokosh and Ward returning as two of the top four blockers from 2013.
• UMD knocked off the Huskies in straight sets at home a season ago on Sept. 17, 2013 to improve its all-time record against MTU to 26-7.

BULLDOG 'BYTE
"The whole point is to challenge your team, and understand that you may not always come out on the positive end ... The best way to learn is by being tested." - Coach Boos, on facing tough early-season competition.