Redbirds Open 2012 Season at Ball State Tournament

Aug. 23, 2012

NORMAL, Ill. -The Illinois State volleyball team will open the 2012 season at the Ball State Tournament this weekend, Aug. 24-25, hosted by Ball State in Muncie, Ind. The Redbirds will open against Virginia Commonwealth Friday at 3:30 p.m. (CST). On Saturday, ISU will face Gardner-Webb at 12:30 p.m. (CST) and Ball State at 6 p.m. (CST).

Under the helm of fifth-year head coach Melissa Myers, Illinois State was picked fifth in the 2012 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, after finishing the 2011 season with an overall record of 18-14 and 9-9 conference mark and advanced to the semi-finals in the 2011 MVC Conference Tournament. The Redbirds return five starters, including juniors LeighAnn Hranka and Shannon McGlaughlin and sophomore Emily Schneider, who all earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 2011. ISU welcomes back an experienced fountain of youth, including 10 student-athletes that saw court time during the 2011 season with the addition of two newcomers.

"The team is looking forward to seeing an opponent this weekend," Myers said. "It's been a lengthy preseason and it'll be good for us to see where we stand and what things we need to continue to focus on as we prepare for future matches."

Virginia Commonwealth finished the 2011 season with an overall record of 17-17 and reached the Colonial Athletic Association Championship match for the fourth time since 2005. The Rams will compete for the first time as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference during the 2012 season. VCU Returns seven letterwinners from the 2011 squad, including sophomore setter Cecilia Aragao,who was named CAA All-Rookie and to the CAA All-Tournament Team. Seniors Jasmine Waters,who set a VCU single season record with 157 blocks last year also returns, as does Kristin Boyd, who was a All-CAA Second Team selection. The Rams have also added five newcomers to the 2012 roster.
 
Gardner-Webb returns four starters and eight letterwinners with the addition of nine newcomers to the 2012 roster. To help fill the shoes of three-time Big South All-Conference Second-Team selection Laura Wilcox, the Runnin' Bulldogs will look to a the trio of seniors in Carolina Solano, Dominique Bray and Molly Rhyne to help lead a young Gardner-Webb team. The Runnin' Bulldogs compiled a record-tying five conference wins last season in the Big South and produced 10 wins overall. Gardner-Webb finished with an overall record of 10-20 and 5-9 record in conference play.

Ball State finished the 2011 season with a 25-8 overall record, including a 12-4 mark in league play. BSU advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2002 season by earning an at-large bid, after finishing the regular season ranked 34th in the NCAA RPI rankings. The Cardinals return four starters and nine letterwinners from last season's team, with the addition of four freshmen and a senior transfer from Maryland. Top returners for Ball State include, a pair of First Team All-MAC honorees in senior outside hitter Kara Bates and junior defensive specialist Catie Fredrich.

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