KANSAS CITY, MO. - The Warriors started off their season on a high note, knocking off No. 15 Palm Beach Atlantic 3-2 and beating Central Washington in four sets. Winona State went 2-1 in the Concordia-St. Paul Tournament with the only loss coming to No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul in a tightly contested match. WSU will look to carry their momentum into the Rockhurst Invitational as the Warriors will play four matches in two days. On Friday, the Warriors will take on Pittsburg State at noon and McKendree at 5 p.m. In the Saturday matches, Winona State will take on Christian Brothers at 9:30 a.m. and Henderson State at 2:30 p.m.

A FIRST UNDER GETZIN: Winona State won their first match versus a ranked opponent during the Joe Getzin era. The Warriors knocked off No. 15 Palm Beach Atlantic 3-2 at the Concordia-St. Paul Tournament. WSU won the first two sets and finished off the Sailfish 15-5 in the final set to come away with the victory. It was Winona State's first win against a ranked opponent since the Warriors defeated No. 15 Wayne State on Oct. 19, 2013 in McCown Gymnasium.

BALANCED ATTACK: In the Warriors' season opening victory against Central Washington, five Warriors recorded double digit kills. Sophomore Danielle Rampart led the way with 19 kills, followed by sophomore Taylor Goar with 13, sophomore transfer Maria Fruechte with 11, and sophomores Lauren Kudronowicz and McKenna Larsen with 10.
 
TRIPLE DOUBLE: Larsen recorded her first career triple double against No. 15 Palm Beach Atlantic. The sophomore setter recorded 12 kills and 11 digs to go with her 44 assists. Her 12 kills is the most she's recorded in a single match since tallying 13 against Wisconsin-Parkside last season, her first match in her Winona State career.

HANGING WITH THE GOLDEN BEARS: Despite a 3-1 loss, the Warriors gave No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul a challenging match. Winona State didn't lose a single set by more than four points. Winona State had a lead late in two of the lost sets and held a 14-13 lead in the fourth set before the Golden Bears pulled away. The Warriors will play the Golden Bears again on Sept. 19 as they will host Concordia-St. Paul in McCown Gymnasium in an NSIC conference match.
 
INSTANT IMPACT: Fruechte in her first tournament with the Warriors left a strong first impression. The sophomore outside hitter that transferred in from Iowa State recorded double-digit kills in all three matches. Fruechte tallied 32 kills and was also strong on the defensive end, recording eight block assists, five of which came against No. 15 Palm Beach Atlantic.

SERVING UP THE RECORD BOOK: With six service aces against Concordia-St. Paul, Goar recorded the eighth-most service aces in a single match in Winona State program history. Goar tallied 10 service aces for the entire tournament, picking up where she left off last season after recording a team-high 32 service aces as a freshman. Goar currently leads all NSIC players in service aces per game with 0.77.
MORE GOAR: On top of her strong performance on the back line, Goar made her mark at the net as well. Through the first three matches, Goar currently leads the Warrior attack with 43 kills, just one ahead of Rampart with 42. Goar recorded a team-high 16 kills against No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul while tallying a .308 attack percentage. Goar was second on the team last season in kills with 294.
 
NATIONAL RESPECT: With wins over No. 15 Palm Beach Atlantic and Central Washington, the Warriors are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll. It is the first time under head coach Joe Getzin that Winona State has been listed in the AVCA poll.
 
A LOOK AT THE GORILLAS: Pittsburg State is coming off a 0-4 start to the season after losing every match at the Washburn Invitational. PSU dropped a 3-0 match to Augustana to open the tournament before losing 3-1 to South Dakota School Of Mines. On the following day of the tourney, the Gorillas dropped a 3-0 match to Drury and ended the day with a 3-1 loss to Black Hills State. Pittsburg State is coming off a 10-20 season and finished ninth in the Mid American Intercollegiate Athletics Association, as they are picked to finish ninth again this season. Pittsburg State attack is led by junior Maggie Highberger with 33 kills through their first four matches and senior Lexi Fulgum with 29 kills.
 
A LOOK AT THE BEARCATS: McKendree is coming off a strong showing at the Ferris State Invitational, going 3-1 at the meet. The Bearcats won a 3-0 match against Mercyhurst to open the tournament and ended the day with a 3-0 win over Metro State. On the following day, the Bearcats dropped a 3-0 match to host institution Ferris State, but ended the day with a 3-1 win over California (Penn.). McKendree is coming off a 20-14 season and made the NCAA Tournament, losing in the first round of the Midwest Regional 3-0 to Truman State. This season, the Bearcats are predicted to finish third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division and fifth overall. Junior middle blocker Sophie Fairman and sophomore outside hitter Arela Williams lead the McKendree attack, each tallying 38 kills through the first four matches of the season.
 
A LOOK AT THE LADY BUCS: Christian Brothers got their 2015 season started off with a 1-1 home split, hosting the Christian Brothers Invitational. The Lady Bucs dropped their home opener against Lindenwood 3-0, but picked up a 3-2 win against Bellarmine later in the day, winning a tightly contested fifth set 16-14. Christian Brothers is coming off a 16-15 season and finished fifth in the Gulf South Conference. This season, the Lady Bucs are picked to finish fifth again this season. The Lady Bucs offensive threat includes senior outside hitter Alexis Gillis, who has 41 kills through two matches this season.  
 
A LOOK AT THE REDDIES: Henderson State is 1-4 to open up the 2015 season. The Reddies went 0-4 in the Maryville Tournament, dropping a 3-2 match to Texas A&M-Kingsville to open the tournament and then lost in straight sets to Maryville (Mo.) 3-0. On the next day, Henderson State opened up with a straight-set 3-0 loss to Central Oklahoma and ended the tournament with a 3-0 loss to Southern Wesleyan. The Reddies picked up their first win of the season in a home match against Central Baptist College 3-0. Henderson State is coming off a 4-27 season and finished 10th in the Great American Conference, predicted to finish 12th this season in the GAC. HSU's offensive attack is led by junior Jessie Jacoby with 71 kills through five matches this season.