ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western volleyball team will begin its shot at a third consecutive 20-win season this September when the team opens the 2016 season.

Looking for an unprecedented three straight seasons with 20 or more wins is fourth year head coach Marian Carbin (59-33). Last year, Carbin led her alma mater to a 21-10 season, and gave the program its first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1997-98. Carbin leads a group that includes three returning All-MIAA performers (Rachel Friedrichs, Kayla Ruff and Shellby Taylor) into an always challenging MIAA schedule.

This year the Griffons will open with three non-conference tournaments, including co-hosting an event with Northwest Missouri State. The season begins Sept. 2 at the Washburn Invitational. On Sept. 9, the team debuts at home with four matches in two days as part of the Gold & Green Challenge. The team will then hit the road for eight-straight contests away from St. Joseph, beginning with the GAC-MIAA Crossover in Shawnee, Oklahoma before opening conference play at Missouri Southern on Sept. 23.

The Griffons return home for a pair Sept. 4 and 7, the first of a stretch that will see the team play six of seven matches in the MWSU Fieldhouse. The regular season concludes Nov. 12 when Missouri Western hosts Lindenwood for Senior Night.

Tickets for the 2016 season will go on sale in August.

2016 VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
WASHBURN INVITATIONAL
Sept. 2, 11 a.m. vs. Mary
Sept. 2, 4 p.m. vs. Drury
Sept. 3, 9:30 a.m. vs. Quincy
Sept. 3, 1:30 p.m. vs. Midwestern State
GOLD & GREEN CHALLENGE
Sept. 9, 10 a.m. vs. Oklahoma Baptist
Sept. 9, 6 p.m. vs. Missouri S&T
Sept. 10, 9 a.m. vs. East Central
Sept. 10, 6 p.m. vs. Minnesota State
GAC-MIAA CROSSOVER
Sept. 16, 12 p.m. vs. Southeastern Oklahoma
Sept. 16, 4 p.m. vs. Southern Nazarene
Sept. 17, 9 a.m. vs. Northwestern Oklahoma
Sept. 17, 5 p.m. vs. Southwestern Oklahoma
Sept. 23, 7 p.m. at Missouri Southern
Sept. 24, 7 p.m. at Southwest Baptist
Sept. 30, 7 p.m. at Central Oklahoma
Oct. 1, 4 p.m. at Pittsburg State
Oct. 4, 7 p.m. vs. Northwest Missouri State
Oct. 7, 6 p.m. vs. Central Missouri
Oct. 8, 6 p.m. at Lindenwood
Oct. 14, 7 p.m. vs. Emporia State
Oct. 15, 7 p.m. vs. Washburn
Oct. 21, 7 p.m. vs. Missouri Southern
Oct. 22, 3 p.m. vs. Southwest Baptist
Oct. 25, 7 p.m. at Truman State
Oct. 28, 6 p.m. at Emporia State
Oct. 29, 6 p.m. at Washburn
Nov. 4, 7 p.m. vs. Fort Hays State
Nov. 5, 6 p.m. vs. Nebraska-Kearney
Nov. 8, 7 p.m. at Northwest Missouri
Nov. 11, 6 p.m. at Central Missouri
Nov. 12, 3 p.m. vs. Lindenwood

— MWSU Athletics —