Complete Release (PDF)

MARSHALL, MINN.:  The No. 16 ranked Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team is set to leave for Colorado to play in the Colorado-Colorado Springs Tournament on Sept. 5-6.  The Mustangs will play four matches in two days, taking on Mesa State (Colo.) and Colorado-Colorado Springs on Sept. 5 and Minnesota Duluth and Adams State (Colo.) on Sept. 6.

Rocky Mountain high: This is the first time SMSU has participated in the Colorado-Colorado Springs Classic.  The tournament is held in Colorado Springs, Colo., at Colorado-Colorado Springs' 500-seat home court known as “The Lions' Den.”

A familiar face:  SMSU will meet NSIC opponent Minnesota Duluth in the Colorado-Colorado Springs Classic.  The Mustangs have a 8-52 record against the Bulldogs and will play them again on Oct. 31 in Duluth.

Relative strangers: While SMSU is familiar with Minnesota Duluth, the Mustangs are less friendly with their other three opponents at the Classic.  This will be SMSU's fourth meeting with Mesa State College (Colo.), whom the Mustangs have a record of 1-2 against.  The last meeting between the two schools was in 2001.  Host Colorado-Colorado Springs has played the Mustangs once, beating them back in 2001.  SMSU has never played Adams State College.

Killin' it: Outside hitter Laura Hegerle (Dodge Center, Minn.) led the Mustangs in kills in all four matches last weekend at the Nova Southeastern Classic.  Hegerle recorded 56 kills, with her highest output coming against Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras and Dowling (N.Y.) when the senior had 16 kills in each of those matches.  Those numbers are good enough for her to be the second leading hitter in the NSIC.  Her 3.5 kills per set average is second only to Northern State's Kelsey Aden.

He's back: Terry Culhane returns for his fifth year as the head coach of SMSU.  Culhane boasts a 104-36 record as the leader the Mustangs.  He's led his teams to four straight NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the regional semifinals last  year.  Culhane is assisted by Jessica Schumacher (second season), Paul Soupir (fifth season) and Mike Dalager (sixth season).

A tall order returns: Senior middle hitter Kasey Loeslie (Tracy, Minn.) is back from an injury that sidelined her for the 2007 season.  The 6-foot 1-inch Loeslie was a 2006 All-NSIC honorable mention pick.  Loeslie returned in style, recording 41 kills and 14 blocks at the Nova Southeastern Classic last weekend.

Freshmen phenoms: SMSU welcomes several new faces to the team for the 2008 campaign.  Seven freshmen dot the Mustang roster for the upcoming season.  Five of them saw significant time on the court last weekend at the Nova Southeastern Classic.

National news:  The Mustangs are ranked No. 16 in the latest CBS College Sports/AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll released Sept. 1.  The Mustangs fell four spots from No. 12 the previous week.

How they rank: Minnesota Duluth is the only ranked opponent SMSU will meet at the Colorado-Colorado Springs Classic.  The Bulldogs are No. 8 in the latest CBS College Sports/AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll

Road warriors:  The Mustangs are on the road for the first 13 matches of 2008.  This includes three tournaments to open the season.  After the Nova Southeastern Classic, SMSU travels to Colorado Springs, Colo., for the Colorado-Colorado Springs Classic followed by the Concordia Classic in St. Paul, Minn.