ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western volleyball team will travel to Springfield, Illinois for the UIS Capital Classic to begin the 2018 season on Friday. The Griffons will look to continue last year’s success, returning four of six starters from last year’s MIAA Regular Season Championship team. The Griffons also bring back five 2017 All-MIAA selections in Stephanie Doak, Lauren Murphy, Shellby Taylor, Rachel Losch, and Ali Tauchen. Tauchen was also named MIAA Freshman of the Year.
After winning MIAA Coach of the Year in 2017, head coach Marian Carbin will likely use the four matches in Springfield to fill out the two remaining starting spots left by graduating seniors Kayla Ruff and Amanda Dalbey. Carbin may fill those spots with returners from last year’s team or could look to some freshmen to fill the roles.
All four teams Missouri Western will face this weekend finished with winning records in 2017.
Cedarville University Preview
The Yellow Jackets will be coming to Springfield after finishing 2017 with an overall record of 17-16, going 12-5 in the G-MAC. The Yellow Jackets’ opening match against Missouri Western will be the debut of Greg Smith as Cedarville’s head coach. Smith comes to Cedarville with more than 20 years of experience at the NCAA Division I level, most recently as the head coach at the University of Toledo.
McKendree University Preview
McKendree comes to the Capital Classic after being picked fourth in the 2018 GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Bearcats finished with an impressive conference record of 16-2 in 2017. Coaching her fifth season for the Bearcats is Nickie Sanlin. Sanlin will look to replace 2017 AVCA All-Americans Amanda Geiger and Arela Williams after both players graduated last spring.
University of Illinois Springfield Preview
The hosting Prairie Stars finished third in the GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll, one spot ahead of McKendree. UIS enters 2018 coming off its best season in program history. Returning for the Prairie Stars this season are 2017 All-GLVC performers Alyssa Hasler and Taylor Bauer. Hasler averaged 1.42 blocks per set in 2017, the third-most in NCAA Division II.
Walsh University (Ohio) Preview
The Cavaliers will bring back all six starters and the libero from last year’s team. Walsh advanced to the G-MAC conference semifinals in 2017, finishing with an overall record of 21-11. Other teams around the conference have high expectations for the Cavaliers, picking Walsh to finish first in the 2018 Great Midwest Preseason Coaches Poll.
UIS Capital Classic – Springfield, Ill.
Match 1 vs. Cedarville University – Friday, Aug. 24 at 9:00 a.m.
Match 2 vs. McKendree University – Friday, Aug. 24 at 3:30 p.m.
Match 3 vs. University of Illinois Springfield – Saturday, Aug. 25 at 1:00 p.m.
Match 4 vs. Walsh University (Ohio) – Saturday, Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
— MWSU Athletics —