Match Notes (PDF) | Schedule | Give
SEATTLE --- The Seattle U volleyball team will travel to the Mile High City to open the 2019 campaign as it takes Southern Miss, San Francisco and Denver in the Denver Classic. The Redhawks begin play on Friday against the Golden Eagles at 2 p.m. Pacific Time, before returning Saturday to face the Dons at 9 a.m. and the host Pioneers at 6 p.m.
The Redhawks are coming off their sixth-consecutive WAC Tournament appearance after closing the 2018 regular season with back-to-back wins. Last season's squad put up some of their best team numbers in a decade including the 1,373 kills, third-most; and second-most kills per set (12.26) and assists (1,293). Defensively meanwhile, the Redhawks' 1,670 digs and 14.91 digs per set were both program-highs since 2008, while its 243 blocks was sixth-best.
The Weekend Schedule
Friday, Aug. 30
2 p.m. (PT) | Seattle U vs. Southern Miss | Live Stats
Saturday, Aug. 31
9 a.m. (PT) | Seattle U vs. San Francisco | Live Stats
6 p.m. (PT) | Seattle U at Denver | Live Stats
The Opposition
Southern Miss | First every meeting between the two schools in volleyball. The Golden Eagles were 17-15 last season and 7-7 in Conference USA play as they qualified for the CUSA Tournament.
San Francisco | Saturday's match will be the fourth meeting since 2008 with the Dons controlling the series, 3-0. The Dons were 16-16 last season with a 11-6 mark in WCC action.
Denver | This will be the third-ever meeting with the host Pioneers and first meeting since splitting a home-and-home in 2012. Denver went 15-0 in the Summit League en route to a 27-3 season mark and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament before finishing 2018 ranked among the NCAA RPI Top 40.
Returning Cast
Seattle U returns eight letterwinners from last season including upperclassmen; Aly Borje-Bonkowski, Rachel Stark and Tijana Milojevic. Borje Bonkowski is the lone senior on the 2019 outfit and will look to contribute on the backline. A redshirt-junior, Stark returns after leading the Redhawks with 254 kills in 2018 and was among team leaders in kills per set (4th/2.31), digs (3rd/249) and aces (2nd/28). Milojevic topped both digs and ace lists last season, as the now junior libero posted 493 and 31, respectively.
August Heat
Since moving to the NCAA Division I ranks in 2008, Seattle U is 18-12 in the month of August. During that stretch, the Redhawks are 8-3 in season openers and 5-1 under the direction of head coach James Finley. The Redhawks have never dropped more than three matches in the first month of the season since evaluating to the Division I ranks.