The University of Minnesota Duluth will hit the ground running on its 2015 campaign as the team opens with three of four matches against ranked foes, including defending national champion University of Tampa and the Courtyard by Marriott Volleyball Classic hosted by the No. 1-ranked Spartans.

No. 4 UMD (33-2, 20-0 NSIC) will face regional rival Wayne State (Mich.) University in the opener, followed by No. 9 Wheeling Jesuit University, No. 24 Western Washington University, and the home team while in Tampa, Florida this weekend. The Bulldogs return four of six All-American selections including Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Player of the Year, senior setter Ashley Hinsch. The 2014 NSIC Coach of the Year, Jim Boos, will rely on Hinsch, alongside returning All-American middle blockers Sydnie Mauch (junior) and Monica Turner (senior) and senior outside hitter Mariah Scharf, to lead the offense while the team adapts to life without two-time NSIC Defensive Player of the Year Julie Rainey at the libero position.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS | 9-16, 6-12 GLIAC (2014)
Wayne State return ten letterwinners and five starters to a team chosen for a sixth-place finish in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ... All-GLIAC Second Team  selection Emily Norscia leads the Wildcats' offense from the outside hitter position, averaging 2.83 kills per game ... the Bulldogs are 3-0 all-time against Wayne, defeating the Wildcats on Sept. 13, 2013 in four sets ... head coach Tim Koth returns to the sideline for his season season ... Wayne posted a 3-4 record in non-conference play a season ago and 3-3 mark on neutral courts ... the match-up will be the season opener for both teams.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS | 38-4, 16-0 MOUNT EAST (2014)
No. 9 Wheeling Jesuit reached the NCAA II Quarterfinals a season ago, falling to Tampa, and were unsurprisingly selected a unanimous favorite in the Mountain East Conference ... the Cardinals return MEC Player of the Year junior setter Andrea Thobe and a pair of All-Americans in junior middle blockers Haley Kindall and Emma Schleucher ... UMD defeated WJU in five sets to open the 2013 season, moving its all-tiome record to 3-0 against the Cardinals ... head coach Christy Benner is in her 14th season at the helm of the program and has posted a 420-110 record ... Wheeling Jesuit went 5-2 on neutral courts and 22-4 in non-conference play a season ago ... the match Friday will be the first of two meetings for the Bulldogs and Cardinals in 2015.

SCOUTING THE VIKINGS | 21-7, 14-4 GNAC (2014)
No. 24 Western Washington tied for third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll coming off its fourth NCAA II Tournament appearance in five season ... four starters return for the Vikings, including a pair of All-GNAC First Team selections in senior outside hitter Rachel Roeder and right-side hitter Jennica McPherson ... Western Washington owns the lone victory in the all-time series with UMD, defeating the Bulldogs in four sets on Sept. 13, 2008 ... head coach Diane Flick will run a 6-2 system (in short: uses two setters consistently) in her 16th season, different from many teams that the Bulldogs will face ... the match will begin the action in Tampa on day two for both teams.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS | 34-1, 16-0 SSC (2014)
No. 1 Tampa earned the top spot in the Sunshine State Conference preseason poll, edging No. 17 Florida Southern College...a trio of All-American seniors lead the Spartans, including National Player of the Year Berkley Whaley on the outsid, middle blocker Jessica Wagner, and right-side hitter Marissa Lisenbee ... Tampa held off UMD last season with a 3-1 win on Sept. 13, 2014 at the Colorado Premier Tournament, stretching its record to 4-0 all-time against the Bulldogs ... coach Chris Catanach returns for his 32nd season with the Spartans having led the program for all but its first four seasons ... UMD and UT will close down the tournament on Saturday evening.

OUTSIDE HITS
Despite an undefeated conference season a year ago, the Bulldogs were selected third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll last month ... UMD ranked fourth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Coaches Top 25 poll for NCAA II ... Coach Boos sat down for "A Few Minutes" with us earlier this summer ... a full preview for the season, including video from Hinsch and Turner is available here.

LINKS TO WATCH
Live Video (subscription*)
Live Stats: Match 1 (9:00 a.m.** Friday) ... 2 (3:45 p.m. Friday) ... 3 (11:15 a.m. Saturday) ... 4 (6:00 p.m. Saturday)

The Bulldogs will take the court bright and early on Friday as UMD opens its season against Wayne State at 10:00 a.m. local time in Tampa, Florida.

*Video feed costs are $5 per match.
**All match times listed in Central time.