Press Release

Sept. 1, 2011

Volleyball Preview

MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State volleyball team begins the 2011 season this weekend at the Nebraska-Omaha Volleyball Showcase.  The Bearcats will play a pair of games both Friday and Saturday at the tournament. 

Matches 1-4: NWMSU (0-0, 0-0 MIAA) at Nebraska-Omaha Showcase

When: Sept. 2-3

Where: Omaha, Neb.

TV/Radio: none

Internet Video and Audio: none

Live Stats: Nebraska-Omaha

Breakdown

Series: First Meeting

Last Game: Season opener for all teams

Story Lines

Tournament Schedule

Sept. 2	Teams
10:30a.m.	Northern State vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State
10:30 a.m.	Nebraska-Kearney vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith
12:30 p.m.	Nebraska Omaha vs. Winona State
12:30 p.m.	Minnesota State Moorhead vs. Northwest Missouri State
2:30 p.m.	Augustana vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State
2:30 p.m.	---
4:30 p.m.	Nebraska-Kearney vs. Winona State
4:30 p.m.	Northern State vs. Northwest Missouri State
6:30 p.m.	Nebraska Omaha vs. Minnesota State Moorhead
6:30 p.m.	Augustana vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith
Sept. 3	Teams
10 a.m.	Augustana vs. Northwest Missouri State
10 a.m.	Southeastern Oklahoma State vs. Winona State
Noon	Nebraska Omaha vs. Northern State
Noon	Minnesota State Moorhead vs. Arkansas-Fort State
2 p.m.	Winona State vs. Northwest Missouri State
2 p.m.	Augustana vs. Nebraska-Kearney
4 p.m.	Northern State vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith
4 p.m.	Minnesota State Moorhead vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State
6:30 p.m.	Nebraska Omaha vs. Nebraska-Kearney

Top Returners

The Bearcats begin the 2011 season hoping to surpass the success of their 2010 season in which they finished 15-15 overall and 11-9 in the MIAA. Northwest also earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth with the returning leadership of 2010 standouts Laira Akin and Alex Hanna. During the 2010 season Hanna led Northwest in kills with 352 and Akin ranked first in assists with 1,097.

New Faces

The Bearcats bring in a large freshmen recruiting class this season which consisted of seven players.  The freshmen are listed below:

Brooke Bartosh	Elkhorn, Neb. (Elkhorn HS)
Bailey Vance	Papillion, Neb. (Papillion South HS)
Kelsie Kuhn	Gretna, Neb. (Gretna HS)
Gabby Kuhl	Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Pius X)
Lindsey Schlake	Cortland, Neb. (Beatrice HS)
Abby Graves	Holland, Iowa (Grundy Center HS)
Kirsten Hudgens	Papillion, Neb. (Papillion South HS

Up Next

The Bearcats will continue their season opening road swing as they travel to Bolivar for the 2011 Southwest Baptist Purple Bash September 9-10.