DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica volleyball team will begin its 2012 campaign on the East Coast as it participates in the 43rd annual Oneonta State (N.Y.) Invitational starting on Friday against Houghton College (N.Y.) at 2 p.m. eastern time.
Game Day Media:
Tournament Web site
The tournament consists of 12 teams: Oneonta State, SUNYIT, Emmanuel College (Mass.), Hunter College (N.Y.), SUNY-Plattsburgh, SUNY Potsdam, Houghton College, Hartwick College (N.Y.), Union College (N.Y.), St. Lawrence University (N.Y.), St. Scholastica and Lewis & Clark College (Ore.).
Tournament Guidelines:
The tournament consists of 12 teams in pools of four for Friday and will be re-pooled to three pools of four for Saturday's play. The winner of the Championship pool will be the overall winner of the tournament. If a tie occurs, head-to-head, game record percentage, points percentage of games won, and if still tied, then it's just going to have to be a coin flip.
Friday's matches for CSS:
vs. Houghton – 2 p.m. (ET)
vs. St. Lawrence – 6 p.m. (ET)
About the Saints
2011 Record: 27-7, 13-1 UMAC
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Head coach Dana Moore, in her 16th season, enters the weekend needing just two wins to record 300 victories at CSS.
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The Saints have never played any of the other 11 teams participating in the invitational.
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CSS is received five votes in the preseason AVCA top 25 poll.
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The Saints are coming off their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in the 2011 where it advanced to the second round before falling to eventual regional champion University of St. Thomas.
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The Saints shared the UMAC regular season title with Northwestern College, but defeated the Eagles in the UMAC Tournament championship
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CSS has been picked to finish second in the league this season, behind Northwestern, according to the preseason coaches poll.
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The Saints return honorable mention AVCA All-American hitter and 2011 UMAC Player of the Year Anna Zyvoloski (Sauk Rapids, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS (Minn.-Duluth)).
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CSS also returns honorable mention all-conference selection in senior Taylor Tyllia (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS).
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In the middle senior Megan Windschitl (Sartell, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS) is back along with junior Caitlin McKernon (Coon Rapids, Minn./Fridley HS).
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The Saints will have to replace defensive specialist Nikki Hughes (Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern HS), all-conference setter Sarah Kurtovich (Andover, Minn./Andover HS) and all-region hitter Paige Hardy (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS).
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Look for sophomore Erika Birkeland (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) to the Saints setter early. Birkeland saw a lot of action early as a freshman.
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Freshman Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) is expected to take over at defensive specialist.
About the Highlanders
2011 Record: 6-26, 1-8 AMC
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The Highlanders are making the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division III this season and also switching conference from the American Mideast Conference to the Empire 8.
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Houghton returns nearly its entire roster from a year ago led by senior captains Lindsay Burgher and Rebecca Dennee.
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Dennee was an All-AMC second team selection a year ago.
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The Highlanders also welcome back honorable mention all-conference selection in sophomore Laurel Wroblicky
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Freshman outside hitter Hattie Burgher is expected to make an instant impact.
About the St. Lawrence Saints
2011 Record: 19-17, 7-6 LL
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The Saints are coached by former Northland College coach Shelly Roiger. Roiger coach the LumberJills from 2005-08.
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Coach Roiger does not have a single senior on her roster this season and six of her 10 members are freshmen.
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The Saints do not have a single hitter returning from last season.
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St. Lawrence welcomes back a pair of setters in junior Anna Kassab and sophomore Jenna Street. Both combined for 1,100 assist last season.
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Also returning is junior defensive specialist Katie Prue, who record 300 digs a season ago and 57 service aces.
Notes on Other Invitational Teams
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The host, Oneonta State, returns five starters, including first team All-SUNYAC hitter Kacy Boburka.
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Emmanuel College is coming off a 21-win season, its highest total since 2006.
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Hartwick College welcomes in first-year head coach James Clar.
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Lewis & Clark is making the farthest trip to New York and returns setter Leia Matsunaga, who holds the program record for assists.
