DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team will open its 2014 season in Southern California on Friday when it takes part in the Pacific Coast Classic.
 
Where:
Friday's matches in Claremont at the Linde Activities Center – Harvey Mudd College). Saturday's matches at the University of La Verne Sports Pavilion.
 
When:
Friday
Chapman (Calif.) – 9 a.m. (PT)
#19 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps – 11 a.m. (PT)
Saturday
Occidental (Calif.) – 9 a.m. (PT)
La Verne (Calif.) – 11 a.m. (PT)

Live Stats: Chapman match (http://portal.stretchinternet.com/chapman/)

Watch: Saturday's Matches (http://portal.stretchinternet.com/laverne/)
 
Social Media:
Twitter: twitter.com/SaintsVball
Instagram: instagram.com/csssaintsvball
 
St. Scholastica Saints
Roster | 2013 Stats
2013 Record: 13-16, 8-6 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
 
 
The St. Scholastica volleyball team has been picked to finish third in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) this season … The Saints return all but two players from last year's squad that finished outside the top three of the conference standings for first time under head coach Dana Moore.
 
Who's Back: The Saints return five of six starters and a total of 15 players from last year's squad … Leading the returnees is 2013 First Team All-UMAC selection and junior outside hitter Kortney Morrin (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (Northern State)) … Morrin led the team in kills and digs last season … Senior setter and two-time honorable mention All-UMAC choice Erika Birkeland (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) also returns … Birkeland finished third in the conference with 7.13 assists per set. 2013 Honorable mention All-UMAC selection libero Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) as well as middle blockers Kariana DeYoung (Deer River, Minn./Deer River HS) and Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) … Gloria Ohaju (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Central HS), who missed the latter half of last season due to injury also returns. Ohaju led the team with 50 total blocks.
 
Newcomers: The Saints brought in two talented newcomers in former Esko High School teammates Amanda Belden (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) and Christaia Houser (Esko, Minn./Homeschool) … Belden was named the Area's Player of the Year … Houser was a two-time first team all-conference selection.
 
Second Straight Trip to the Pacific Time Zone: The Saints played four matches in Spokane, Washington last season, going 1-3 on the trip … The Saints are 1-7 in their previous two trips to the West Coast.
 
Success in Season Openers: CSS has won four straight season opening matches, three of which by sweeps.
 
Top 5 Matches to Watch
8/29 – at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
CSS' second match of the season … The Athenas made the NCAA Tournament last season and are coming off a 25-7 record.
9/6 – vs. Saint Benedict
Home opener for the Saints … The Blazers went 27-4 last season before falling in the second round of NCAA Tournament.
9/9 – at UW-Superior
The final non-conference Bridge Battle before UW-Superior joins the UMAC in 2015.
9/27 – vs. Northwestern
The three-time UMAC regular season champion and preseason favorite Eagles visit Reif Gymnasium.
10/31 – vs. Minnesota Morris
This Halloween night showdown could have major postseason seeding implications … The Cougars shared the 2013 regular season title with Northwestern.
 
UMAC Preseason Poll
1. 46 Points – University of Northwestern (4 First Place Votes)
2. 44 Points – University of Minnesota Morris (3)
3. 38 Points – College of St. Scholastica (1)
4. 32 Points – Martin Luther College
5. 25 Points – Bethany Lutheran College
6. 16 Points – Northland College
7. 12 Points – North Central University
8. 11 Points – Crown College
 
Opponents this Weekend
Chapman University Panthers
The Panthers finished fourth in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) last season with a 17-12 record … Chapman will be led by senior middle blocker Val Geiger, who was named a third team AVCA All-American last season … Geiger set a Chapman record with 489 kills and a .366 hitting percentage in 28 matches (109 sets) … The Panthers will have to replace senior setter Corrine Ostrovsky, who was an honorable mention AVCA All-Region choice last season.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas
The Athenas are coming off their best season in program history with a 25-7 record and a NCAA Tournament berth … C-M-S is ranked 19^th in the preseason AVCA Division III poll … The Athenas were knocked out of the second round of last year's tournament by Colorado College … Senior libero Megan Coleman returns after she was named an honorable mention AVCA All-American … Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Kerkhof was named to All-Tournament team of the Atlanta Regional as a freshman.
Occidental College Tigers
The Tigers placed fifth in the SCIAC standings last season with an overall record of 17-10 … Occidental will have to replace libero Madyson Cassidy, who was an AVCA honorable mention All-West Region performer … Another departure for the Tigers was middle blocker Stephanie Gann, who was a First Team All-SCIAC performer … Occidental features only one senior and three juniors on this year's roster.
University of La Verne Leopards
The Leos finished 8-23 last season, but return their top two outside hitters Brittany Yaxley and Ashlyn Cross … Yaxley was a second team All-SCIAC performer in 2013 … Setter Tiffany Mancuso and libero Anna Suarez also return.