SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Winona State University volleyball team embarks on its 2019 campaign this weekend with four matches at the University of Illinois Springfield's Capital Classic. It marks the first of 10 matches, including one more tournament, to open the season on the road for the Warriors.
Links for video and live stats for each match can be found, here.
Opponents/Matchups
University of Southern Indiana: Winona State opens play with the Screaming Eagles Friday morning at 9 a.m. Southern Indiana went 10-19 (2-16 GLVC) last season. The Warriors own a 3-0 all-time record against Southern Indiana, including a pair of wins in 2016 in early-season action.
University of Illinois Springfield: The Warriors and host Prairie Stars lock up twice over the weekend – first on Friday night at 7 p.m. and again on Saturday at 3 p.m. to conclude the tournament. Illinois Springfield is receiving votes in the Week 1 AVCA Top 25 Poll after posting a 25-8 mark (15-3 GLVC) a year ago. The Prairie Stars won their first GLVC regular season title in 2018 before advancing to the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament. Winona State won the only previous matchup between the two teams, 3-1, in 2012.
University of Charleston: The Golden Eagles will travel from Charleston, WV to square off with the Warriors on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. UC went 18-17 (11-5 MEC) last season, finishing third in the regular season standings before falling in the conference championship match to Wheeling Jesuit. Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between the Golden Eagles and Warriors.
WSU Preview
Winona State posted a 13-15 record (10-10 NSIC) a year ago with a young team forced into action due to veteran injuries. However, that youthful squad posted a .500 or better record in the challenging NSIC for the fifth straight season under head coach Joe Getzin. That experience should pay dividends in 2019 as Getzin has been pleased with this group's preseason work ahead of the opener.
Alexis Bass is the lone senior on this year's team and is flanked by five juniors. Bre Maloney will hold down the setter position for the second straight season on a full-time basis and will feed offensive weapons such as Megan Flom and Kate Masberg. Flom burst onto the scene in 2018, leading the team in kills (266), kills/set (2.89) and ranked 20th in the NSIC in blocks/set.
In the back row, libero Becca Pagel has been a starter since her rookie campaign, and will be digging balls alongside Sarah Suits and redshirt sophomore Eliza Dahly.
Sophomore Cori Meyers made 23 starts in 2018 and ranked third on the team in kills (199) and fourth in digs (220). Fellow second-year player Madison Rizner led WSU in total blocks (87), solo blocks (14), and proved to be an effective offensive threat by ranking fourth in kills (160).
Following this weekend, Winona State travels to UW-Parkside for another quartet of matches on September 13-14. The Warriors then open NSIC action at St. Cloud State (Sept. 20) and Minnesota Duluth (Sept. 21) before finally playing on their home court on Friday, September 27 in McCown Gymnasium.
