Volleyball | 8/25/2008 3:15:20 AM
The Western Oregon University volleyball team will be looking to build off last season's success as it starts the season at the Otter Classic, hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay, at Seaside, Calif.
The Wolves posted a 16-10 record in 2007 including a second place finish in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (13-5) and a trip to the NCAA Pacific Region tournament. WOU returns five starters including three All-GNAC performers in Kayla Mainer (first team), Stacey Bennett (second team) and Amy Herron (honorable mention).
WOU will be entering a new era of its history this weekend as Brad Saindon will become the sixth head coach to patrol the sidelines for the Wolves. Saindon joins Western Oregon after five seasons as the head coach of Arizona State. He has also coached at the University of Colorado and Regis College. He has a 302-226 career coaching record.
"Things have been going great so far. We are further along than I could have ever expected and I couldn't be happier," said Saindon. "We lost only one player from last year's team and it always helps to have so many returning players. We have been working hard everyday and morale continues to be good. This could be a very good team and a very special year for Western Oregon volleyball."
Wayne State Preview:
The Wolves will open their season against the Wayne State Warriors, Friday, Aug. 29, at 3:30 p.m., at the Otter Classic in Seaside, Calif.
Wayne State was 10-15 last season including a 5-12 record in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference but the Warriors return four starters and eight letterwinners. Wayne State was picked to finish fifth in the south division of the GLIAC in the 2008 pre-season coaches' poll.
Western Oregon won the only match between the schools 3-2, during the 2003 season.
Cal State Monterey Bay Preview:
Western Oregon will be forced to face the host, Cal State Monterey Bay, in the night cap, Friday, Aug. 29, at 8:00 p.m.
The Otters were picked to finish seventh in the California Collegiate Athletic Association pre-season coaches' poll after losing five starters from last year's team that went 12-19.
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
North Dakota Preview:
WOU will face the North Dakota Fighting Sioux in the third game of the season beginning at 10:45 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 30.
The Fighting Sioux are coming off a down year in which they finished 6-23 with a 0-12 mark in the NCAA Division II North Central Conference and a 1-6 record on neutral courts. However, UND returns six starters and nine letterwinner from last season's team.
This will be the first meeting between Western Oregon and North Dakota.
Humboldt State Preview:
In the final game of the weekend the Wolves will match up with the Humboldt State Lumberjacks, Saturday, Aug. 30, at 5:45 p.m.
Last season, HSU finished 10-16 with a 6-12 record in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. This year the Lumberjacks return four starters and eight letterwinners but where still selected to finish eighth in the pre-season CCAA coaches' poll.
Western Oregon holds the all-time series lead over Humboldt State 16-7 but the Lumberjacks have won the previous two meetings between the schools including a 3-2 victory last season at the Sonoma State tournament.
