WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State volleyball team opens the 2016 season on Thursday with high expectations. The team is ranked 21^st in the preseason AVCA poll and were voted fourth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
This marks the first time in school history the team will open up the season ranked in the national poll. The first opponent is Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha at 5 p.m. on Thursday. From there the team will head to Michigan for four matches over the weekend. The #21 Warriors will battle Lake Superior State, West Virginia State, (RV) Grand Valley State and #8 Ferris State.
 
The 2016 season begins with nine matches outside the state of Minnesota and the city of Winona. The first home match will be September 15 against Minnesota State in Talbot Gym.
 
Winona State will welcome back all-conference players Taylor Goar, McKenna Larsen and Danielle Rampart to a squad that has every returner back from a team that reached the NSIC Championship a year ago. Starters Lauren Kudronowicz, Maria Wrage and Maria Fruechte are also back, as is libero Jamie Cairncross.
 
Last year the team averaged 14.47 kills per set, the second most in school history. Their .252 attack percentage was the highest in team history, besting the 2014 mark by .031 percent.
 
Goar averaged 3.76 kills per set last season, ranking fifth in school history. Kudronowicz was eighth all-time, terminating the ball at a .279 clip. Larsen and Cairncross also finished the year with their name etched in the WSU records books. Larsen had 10.69 assists per set, seventh all-time. Cairncross averaged 4.21 digs per set, 14^th all-time in a single season.
 
In 2015 the team had six wins over ranked opponents, including four straight leading up to the NSIC Championship. During that streak the Warriors beat the number four ranked team in the nation twice. Four of the six wins over ranked opponents came against teams ranked in the top-five.
 
Winona will look to take a big step in 2016 and hope it culminates in a trip to the NCAA Tournament.