SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team opens its 2017 season at the Country Inn & Suites Invitational in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on September 1 and 2 against William Jewell College, the University of Sioux Falls, Fort Hays State University, and the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. First serve is scheduled for 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on both days, respectively.

William Jewell is a part of the Great Lakes Valley Conference in the West Division and are slated to finish fifth. The Cardinals finished 12-20 overall and 5-13 in the conference.

Senior Alix Weigel returns for the Cardinals on the offense. In 119 sets played, Weigel tallied 633 assists, averaging 5.32 assists per set. Joining Weigel, junior Paige Cunningham played in 30 matches, making 26 starts. Cunningham totaled 294 kills with a 2.75 kill per set average to own a .238 kill percentage.

On the defense, junior Olivia Tolberd returns after playing in 119 sets last season. Tolberd registered 630 digs with a 5.29 dig per set average. Senior Madeline Johnson joins Tolberd on the defense. In 119 sets, Johnson recorded 101 blocks with a 0.85 per set average.

The University of Sioux Falls finished seventh in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a conference record of 13-7 and were 19-10 overall. The Cougars are slated to finish seventh, according to the NSIC preseason poll.

Junior Bria Barfnecht was picked as the player to watch for the Cougars. Barfnecht played in 29 matches making seven starts. In those 29 matches, Barfnecht tallied 248 kills with a 2.36 kill per set average. Joining Barfnecht on offense is junior Makenna Rockemann. Rockemann made 28 starts in 29 matches and tallied 402 kills and notched a .204 hitting percentage.

On the defense, senior Janelle Lam returns. Lam played in 105 sets and totaled 188 digs with a 1.79 per set average. Working alongside Lam is junior Lexi Scott. Scott recorded 102 blocks with a 0.97 per set average. Of those 102 blocks, Scott made 16 of them solo and had 86 block assists.

Fort Hays State University finished fourth in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association with an 11-7 MIAA record and 25-9 overall. The Tigers were picked to finish sixth this season.

Junior Sydney Dixon is the top returner for the offense. In 31 matches played, Dixon notched 173 kills with a 1.84 kill per set average and a .172 hitting percentage.
On the defense, junior Kailey Klibbe played in 90 sets and recorded 314 digs. Joining Klibbe on defense is senior Callie Christensen. Christensen is the only starter returning for the Tigers. Christensen played in 119 sets and tallied 149 blocks with a 1.25 blocks per set average.

The University of Arkansas- Fort Smith is slated to win the Heartland Conference title for the seventh-consecutive season. The Lions have won the last five regular-season titles, and five of the last six conference tournament titles. UAFS won the conference after putting up a 24-6 overall record and going undefeated in the conference at 14-0.

Sophomore Anna Demmer returns for the offense. Demmer finished fifth on the team with 101 kills and a 1.71 per set average. Demmer played in 24 matches making one start. Sophomore Eliza Piccirillo joins Demmer on offense. Piccirillo appeared in 17 matches with eight starts. Piccirillo landed in second on the team for assists with 229.

Piccirillo plays defensively as well as setting. She averaged 2.77 digs per set and totaled 108 digs. Piccirillo and Demmer have big shoes to fill as the Lions lost all seven of their main starters.

Black Hills State finished 8-18 overall and 6-12 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The preseason poll was released on Monday, and the Yellow Jackets were picked to finish 10^th.

Sophomore Laurel Lech finished second on the team last year, behind Brynn Eckhardt, for assists with 174 and a 2.85 average in 15 matches played. Junior Ellise Lech joins her sister on the offense. Ellise recorded 197 kills to lead the team.

On defense, senior Sydney Ederhoff returns as a defensive specialist for the Green and Gold to fill the void of Lacy Stevens. Ederhoff notched 206 digs with a 1.96 per set average in 105 sets played. Joining Ederhoff, senior Cheyenne Palu comes back as the top blocker. Palu recorded 153 blocks with a 1.46 per set average, landing her sixth and fourth nationally, respectively. Palu earned RMAC Player of the Week honors on October 24 registering 17 blocks in the Yellow Jackets upset of No. 24 Colorado Mesa.

Colorado School of Mines was picked as the RMAC favorite after finishing 25-7 overall and 15-3 in conference. The Orediggers won the RMAC tournament championship title before falling in the NCAA tournament. CMU found two players on the Preseason All-RMAC team in Ellie Monarch and Janice Jin.

Colorado Christian landed three players on the preseason All-RMAC team. Redshirt senior Sophia Proano and junior Kylee Wurster earned Preseason Player and Setter of the Year. Proano led the Cougars with 509 kills and a 3.61 per set average. Wurster finished fourth in the conference for assists with 10.87 per set.

The Cougars finished in sixth last season with a 27-11 overall and 12-6 in the RMAC. As voted by the coaches, CCU is slated to finish fifth.

Colorado Mesa ended in fifth last season with a 12-6 conference record and 18-10 overall. The Mavericks are slated to finish third, according to the preseason poll.

CMU found three players on the preseason All-RMAC team. Junior Taylor Woods landed preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Woods averaged 4.71 digs per set and totaled 504 in 107 sets.

Following the weekend, the Green and Gold head to Texas for the Hilltopper Classic hosted at St. Edwards University on September 8 and 9. Conference play begins on September 15 where BHSU will open at Fort Lewis College.