WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University volleyball team opens the 2023 season on the road in Michigan's Upper Peninsula between Thursday, Aug. 31, and Saturday, Sept. 2.
WSU will play four matches over that time, first at Michigan Tech University in Houghton, Mich., and three more contests as a part of the U.P. Open at Northern Michigan University. After opening the season against the Huskies, WSU will face Hillsdale College, Lake Superior State, and Northwood University in Marquette, Mich.
Winona State heads into 2023 looking to build confidence and cohesion with a roster that includes several essential returners and some new talent.
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
- Live stats and live video are available at the links above. Please note live stream matches require a paywall.
- The Thursday, Aug. 31 contest vs. Michigan Tech will occur at the SDC Gym in Houghton, Michigan.
- Matches on Friday, Sept. 1, and Saturday, Sept. 2, will be in Vandament Arena and the NMU PEIF practice gym in Marquette, Mich.
WINONA STATE STORYLINES
- Winona State enters the season picked ninth in the 2023 NSIC Volleyball Coaches Poll.
- WSU narrowly missed out on an NSIC postseason bid last fall, finishing ninth with a 12-15 overall mark and 8-12 NSIC record.
- The Warriors will play their first eight matches on the road before opening at home in NSIC play against the University of Sioux Falls on Thursday, Sept. 14.
- WSU will feature seniors Rylee Vaughn, Lydia Lange, Sidney Paulson, and Taylor Pagel this season.
- Sidney Paulson was selected as 2023 WSU's Player to Watch by the NSIC.
- Two seasons ago, the Warriors qualified for the 2021 NSIC Tournament and the 2021 NCAA Division II postseason, finishing 28-5 overall and 17-3 in league play.
- Winona State features five freshmen: Sophia Armstrong, Ashlyn Steding, Quinn Robak, Kenna Kornely and Jayda Berg. WSU also added transfer Leah Mach, a junior from Emporia State University.
- Head coach Joe Getzin heads into 2023 with a 355-334 (.515) career record accrued over 24 seasons.
- In his tenth year at Winona State, Getzin had previous stops at Embry Riddle (AZ), Portland and Ole Miss.
- Heading into 2023, Getzin is No. 1 all-time at Winona State in winning percentage (.682) and second all-time in seasons at the school (9), wins (161), and matches coached (236).
- WSU returns assistant coaches Kristine Fisch, Jackie Kiecker, and Mara Quam to the Warrior sideline this fall.
Michigan Tech Huskies STORYLINES
- The 2023 MTU – WSU matchup is the first time in program history the two teams have played.
- Michigan Tech was selected fourth in the 2023 GLIAC Coaches Poll.
- MTU was 20-10 overall last season and 11-7 in conference play.
- The Huskies were 5-1 in their final six matches of 2022.
- Michigan Tech features seven freshmen and an NCAA Division 1 transfer this season.
- Matt Jennings enters his 11th season as head coach at MTU.
Hillsdale College Chargers STORYLINES
- WSU and Hillsdale College have played twice since 2018, with each squad winning once.
- Hillsdale has had six straight 20-plus win seasons.
- HC has qualified for five consecutive NCAA Division II postseasons.
- The Chargers were picked to win the North Division of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
- HC returns junior libero Alli Wiese, who earned All-American honors for the first time in 2022. Weise became the first Hillsdale player in the rally-scoring era to surpass 700 digs in a season.
- Head coach Chris Gravel is in his 28th season at Hillsdale College.
Lake Superior State STORYLINES
- WSU has beaten LSSU twice since 2010; the Warriors won 3-1 in Marquette in 2010 and 3-0 in Big Rapids, Mich. in 2016.
- The Lakers went 5-25 overall in 2022, 4-14 in GLIAC play.
- LSSU was selected for 8th in the GLIAC Coaches Poll.
- Lake Superior State features five international players, one each hailing from Serbia, Russia and Brazil, and two Canadians.
- Zac Rambo enters his second season leading the Lakers.
- Rambo served in the United States Air Force before his college coaching career.
Northwood University STORYLINES
- The 2023 match marks the first-ever contest between Northwood and Winona State.
- Northwood was 16-16 overall and 10-8 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
- NU went 2-2 in their final four matches of 2022.
- NU's Sydney Hasenfratz, was named the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Freshman of the Year.
- David Shumaker has been the head coach at Northwood since 2015.
WARRIOR NOTABLES:
- Earlier this summer, Winona State earned its 17th consecutive AVCA Team Academic Award.
- WSU put together a season-best five-match winning streak between Sept. 23 and Oct. 4 last season.
- Jaci Winchell was eighth in the NSIC in assists per set in 2022 at 10.10 AVG/S.
- Head coach Joe Getzin coached assistant coach Jackie Kiecker when Kiecker was a student-athlete at Ole Miss.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit:
www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and
@WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words:
Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
