INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – For the second straight weekend (RV) Winona State University is on the road for a quartet of matches at the University of Indianapolis Invitational. And, for the second straight weekend the Warriors will face off against two nationally-ranked teams that reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
Winona State opens against the host Indianapolis Greyhounds on Friday morning with a match at 10:30 a.m. (CT). The Warriors then face off against No. 17 Colorado School of Mines at 4:30 p.m. Saturday morning features a contest against No. 12 Wheeling Jesuit at 9 a.m., and WSU concludes the trip with a 3 p.m. match opposite Harding University.
The Warriors are in the midst of a 15-game stretch to begin the 2018 season which features nine teams ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA Poll.
Sophomore Megan Flom leads Winona State through four matches with 33 kills. Freshmen Cori Meyers (30) and Paige Christopher (25) are next. New starting setter Bre Maloney was named to the Ferris State All-Tournament Team last weekend after averaging over 22 assists/match and totaling 21 kills, 21 digs and three service aces. Senior Taylor Goar recorded a team-high 42 digs last weekend, followed by Sarah Suits (34). Freshman Madison Rizner and senior Sophie Wilker share the team lead with nine blocks apiece.
Indianapolis got off to a strong start last season before finishing the year 13-19. The Greyhounds are 3-1 this season. Indy has won the lone meeting against Winona State in program history dating back to 2005.
Colorado School of Mines went 25-6 last season and won the RMAC regular season title. The Orediggers advanced to the NCAA South Central Regional for the third straight year and were eliminated in the semifinals. The Orediggers are off to a 4-0 start this season including a five-set win over Sioux Falls.
Wheeling Jesuit posted a 33-6 record in 2017 including a perfect 16-0 record in the Mountain East Conference en route to the regular season and postseason championships. The Cardinals then reached the finals of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament. Wheeling Jesuit is 3-1 this year with three wins over Top 25 opponents and a three-set loss to then-No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State.
Harding will pose another tough challenge for Winona State after a 27-6 season in 2017. The Bisons went 13-3 in the GAC and lost a five-set match in the conference tournament championship to nationally-ranked Arkansas Tech. Harding is 3-1 this year with their lone loss coming in straight sets to No. 18 Tarleton State.
Live stats and video coverage will be available for all four Winona State matches this weekend.
Following the tournament, the Warriors return home to open their conference slate against Minnesota State Mankato on Thursday, September 6 in Winona at McCown Gymnasium.
