DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team begins its 2015 season on Tuesday when it travels to St. Paul to face the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Hamline University.
 
Where:
Hutton Arena – St. Paul, Minn.
 
When:
Tuesday
vs. UW-River Falls – 5 p.m.
at Hamline – 7 p.m.
 
Watch: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/hamline/
 
Live Stats: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/hamline/
 
Social Media:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SaintsVball
Instagram: www.instagram.com/csssaintsvball
 
St. Scholastica Saints
2014 Stats
2014 Record: 16-14, 10-4 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
 
 Key Returners:
-Kortney Morrin (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (Northern State)) – Outside Hitter – The 2014 UMAC Player of the Year … A two-time First Team All-UMAC selection … Has led the team in kills in each of the last two seasons … Led the UMAC in 2014 in points and kills per set.
-Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) – Defensive Specialist - A two-time Honorable Mention All-UMAC selection … Led the team in digs and serve receptions … Fifth in the conference in digs and digs per set.
-Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) – Right Side – Honorable mention All-UMAC choice in 2014 … Finished second on the team in kills.
-Christaia Houser (Esko, Minn./Homeschool) – Middle Blocker – Led the team in blocks last season as a freshman … Was fifth in UMAC in block assist (26) and total blocks (29) in conference matches.
 
Key Losses:
-Erika Birkeland (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) – Setter – A three-time honorable mention All-UMAC choice …  Led the UMAC with 25 service aces in conference play and finished fifth in the league with 5.97 assists per set … Recorded 2,441 assists in her four years, which ranked fourth in program history.
-Jen Hortness (Little Falls, Minn./Little Falls HS) – Outside Hitter – A student-assistant on this year's staff … Recorded 136 kills last season.
 
Success in Season Openers: CSS has won five straight season opening matches, four of which by sweeps.
 
Did You Know: Kortney Morrin (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (Northern State))'s UMAC Player of the Year award last season was the only time in any sport that a player received such accolade and was not part of the UMAC regular season championship team.
 
Coach Moore: Head Coach Dana Moore enters her 19 season leading the Saints … Under Moore, the Saints have finished in the top half of the UMAC every year … CSS has won at least 10 league matches seven of the last eight seasons.
 
New Schedule Format: This year's UMAC schedule will feature just a single round-robin format where the Saints will only play eight conference matches … There will be a UMAC preview tournament prior to the start of conference play and CSS will be Northwestern where the top four teams from last season, along with newcomer UW-Superior, will be in attendance.
 
Approaching Milestones: The CSS volleyball program is nine wins shy of 700 all time … Kariana DeYoung (Deer River, Minn./Deer River HS) is nine blocks shy of 100 for her career.
 

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Top 5 Matches to Watch
9/4 – vs. Augsburg
The Auggies have been picked to win the MIAC this season and was a NCAA Tournament team a season ago … Ranked No. 20 in AVCA preseason poll.
9/15 – vs. UW-Eau Claire
Home opener for the Saints … The Blugolds are picked to finish fourth in the WIAC this season and return five starters.
10/7 – at UW-Superior
The first conference battle between Bridge Rivals takes place at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.
10/21 – at Saint Benedict
St. Ben's has been picked to finish fourth in the MIAC this season … The Blazers have made four straight NCAA Tournaments
10/24 – vs. Northwestern
Northwestern has made five straight NCAA Tournaments and have won the UMAC Tournament the past three seasons.

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UMAC Preseason Poll
1. 64 Points – University of Northwestern (8 First Place Votes)
2. 53 Points – College of St. Scholastica (1)
3. 51 Points – University of Minnesota-Morris
4. 44 Points – University of Wisconsin-Superior
5. 35 Points – Martin Luther College
6. 30 Points – Bethany Lutheran College
7. 17 Points – North Central University
8. 16 Points – Crown College
9. 14 Points – Northland College

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Upcoming Opponents 
UW-River Falls Falcons
The Falcons have been picked to finish sixth in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) this season … River Falls was 13-20 last season and lost only one starter from the 2014 squad … The Falcons return honorable mention All-WIAC selections Brianna Muetzel and Lexi Pingel … Muetzel was second on the team in kills and digs last season … Pingel led the team in digs in 2014.
Hamline Pipers
The Pipers have been picked to finish ninth in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) this season … Hamline was 13-10 a season ago, its second consecutive winning season … Hamline started last season on an eight-match winning streak … Michelle Mattke returns on the outside after being the only player to record over 100 kills last season … The Pipers also return setter Amelia Jensen.
 
Series Histories:
-UW-River Falls leads 7-6-1
-Hamline leads 8-7
 
Last Meetings: UW-River Falls swept the Saints in Eau Claire during the 2013 season … CSS has not beaten the Falcons since the 2010 season in St. Peter, Minnesota … Hamline swept CSS in St. Paul in 2013 … The Saints won the previous meeting in 2011 by sweep in Northfield, Minnesota.
 
Looking Ahead: The Saints will be back in St. Paul on September 4 and 5 at the University of Northwestern Labor Day Tournament.