START IT UP: The Seattle University volleyball program begins its 11th season of competition this weekend by co-hosting the Invitational at Seattle with the University of Washington. On Friday night, Aug. 28, SeattleU will host San Diego State at the Connolly Center while the Huskies welcome San Jose State to the Bank of America Arena. All four teams will compete at the Connolly Center Saturday afternoon, starting with the intracity matchup between the Huskies and Redhawks at 11 a.m., followed by San Diego State facing San Jose State at approximately 1 p.m. The tournament concludes Saturday night at 7 p.m. when Seattle University hosts San Jose State at the Connolly Center and Washington faces San Diego State at the Bank of America Arena.
THE NEW KIDS: Three newcomers join the Seattle University volleyball team for the 2009 season. Sophomore Karina Miastkowska transferred in from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where she led the team with 85 total blocks and also contributed 171 kills and 25 service aces during her freshman campaign. Freshman Kelly Biette is expected to see action right away in the middle after helping Holy Family High School win back-to-back Colorado state titles. Fellow first-year player Sarah Lewicki, a co-captain of the St. Francis High School varsity team in California, will back up Jamie Mellies at the setter position.
SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE: The Aztecs are coming off a 9-17 season, which included a 6-10 record within the Mountain West Conference. San Diego State returns four starters, led by preseason all-conference selection Lauren Salisbury, a middle hitter who posted 276 kills and a .344 hitting percentage in 2008. The Aztecs also welcome back setter Lauren Van Orden, outside hitter Kyley Sexton, and middle hitter Bailee Hellwig. Deitre Collins-Parker takes over as head coach after five years at Cornell and eight seasons at UNLV, compiling a 162-191 record (.459).
SCOUTING WASHINGTON: The Huskies reached the Elite Eight of the 2008 NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament and led Nebraska, but could not close the deal as the Huskers earned the victory and the berth into the Final Four. Washington finished the 2008 season with a 27-5 record, including a 15-3 record in the Pac-10, good enough for a second-place finish in the conference behind only Stanford. Washington, the favorite to win the Pac-10 title this season, is ranked fourth in both the AVCA and Volleyball Magazine preseason polls. Five starters are back for the Huskies in 2009, led by setter Jenna Hagglund, outside hitter Becky Perry, and libero Tamari Miyashiro, Volleyball Magazine's National Defensive Player of the Year. Jim McLaughlin enters his ninth season at the helm of the Husky volleyball program, posting a 421-172 record during his time as coach of the USC men, Kansas State women, and Washington women.
SCOUTING SAN JOSE STATE: The Spartans posted a 13-18 record in 2008, including a 7-9 record in the Western Athletic Conference that placed them in a tie for fifth place in the league. The 2009 roster is made up of six returners and eight newcomers. Outside hitter Brianna Amian was named second team All-WAC last year after posting 274 kills, 176 digs, and 57 blocks. Returning libero Kristal Tsukano earned 380 digs last season. Head coach Oscar Crespo enters his third season as head coach of the Spartan volleyball team. A 1990 graduate of San Jose State, Crespo has accumulated a 27-33 record so far in two seasons at the helm.