Volleyball Opens Season at Washburn Invite

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern volleyball is set to open the 2018 season on August 24-25 when it travels to the Washburn Invitational in Topeka, Kan., for a foursome of contests.
 
The Savage Storm open play at 10 a.m. on Aug. 24 with William Jewell, followed by a 4 p.m. matchup with Northwest Missouri that day.
 
Aug. 25 brings Colorado State-Pueblo at 11 a.m., and closes with host Washburn at 5 p.m.
 
SE volleyball will head into the season picked ninth in the Great American Conference Preseason Poll after posting a 13-20 record overall a season ago with an 8-8 mark in league play.
 
The Storm did close out the regular season with wins in eight of its last 11 contests, earning a trip to the GAC Tournament before falling to top-seeded ATU in the first round.
 
Defensively the team also return's the GAC Defensive Player of the year in Caitlin Cosby who earned the league's Defensive Player of the Year honor and first team selection after averaging 5.94 digs per set.
 
The Storm also return their top offensive threat in second team All-GAC pick Abby Jameson who averaged 3.49 kills per set a year ago.
 
In all, SE returns eight players who started at least 10 matches a season ago, and parts way with just one starter.
 
William Jewell is coming off a 10-21 season a year ago, but return their top offensive player in Elizabeth Quinn who averaged 2.46 kills per set.
 
Northwest Missouri State also returns its best offensive player from last season in Maddy Bruder who put up 3.84 kills per set while helping the squad to a 17-15 overall record.
 
Colorado State-Pueblo finished 2017 with a 4-22 record and are led by their top returning defender in PuaLehua Keola who averaged 3.33 digs per set on the year.
 
Washburn enters the 2018 season after an 18-14 mark a season ago and are led by Genna Berg who tallied 2.95 kills per set a season ago.