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MARSHALL, Minn. - The No. 8-ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team will kick off the 2009 season on Friday when the Mustangs travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., for the Augustana/SpringHill Suites Invite.  SMSU will play four matches in two days at Augie's Elmen Center.

Match times:  SMSU will square off with a quartet of opponents in a 48-hour time span, the first meeting coming against Missouri Western State on Friday at 9 a.m.  The Mustangs continue Friday with a 5 p.m. contest with Chadron State (Neb.).  On Saturday, SMSU squares off with Regis (Colo.) at 11 a.m. and conference neighbor Northern State at 3 p.m.

She can dish it: Senior setter Sara Graf (Mount Pleasant, Iowa) returns to quarterback the Mustangs in 2009.  Graf, who currently sits at No. 3 in career assists in SMSU history, is looking to build on the 1,360-assist season she put together last year.  Graf set the single-match record by dishing out 73 assists against Minnesota State Moorhead last season.  She is one of two returning all-conference performers back on the court for SMSU this season.

All-American girl:  Sophomore middle blocker Devin Diedrich (Braham, Minn.) compiled an impressive list of accolades last season as a true freshman.  The 6-footer looks to be the anchor of a solid front line for SMSU in 2008.  Diedrich killed 355 balls last year en route to being named All-NSIC honorable selection, NSIC Freshman of the Year, All-Central Region, Central Region Freshman of the Year and AVCA All-America honorable mention.

According to the coaches:  The NSIC's 14 head coaches have tabbed SMSU fifth in their annual preseason poll.  The Mustangs received 125 points in the poll.  Concordia University, St. Paul, national champions for the past two seasons, was selected first for the sixth consecutive season with 169 points and 13 first-place votes.  Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State and Wayne State fell in ahead of SMSU.  MSU received one first-place vote.

National news:  No stranger to the AVCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll, SMSU checked in at No. 8 in this year's preseason ranking.  SMSU found a consistent spot in the poll last season, not missing a single week.  The Mustangs peaked on Oct. 27 when they came in at No. 3--the highest in school history.

Senior momentum:  Three seniors will lead the Mustangs through the 2009 season, all with a wealth of experience.  Graf, Leah Ashburn (Hector, Minn.) and Tory Brouwer (Mayanard, Minn.) hold down the posts as this year's elders.

Newbies:  While SMSU welcomes back eight returners for 2009, the Mustangs have also been introduced to just as many new faces.  Six freshmen and two junior transfers fill out this season's roster.

Mustang territory:  The NCAA has announced that the SMSU volleyball program had the third-highest average home attendance for the 2008 season, drawing 773 fans per match.  This is the second consecutive year SMSU has been in the top-three in the country in average home attendance; the volleyball program was second in 2007 with an average of 709 fans per match.

In the postseason:  SMSU's 16-4 mark in conference play last season got the Mustangs a second-place finish in the final NSIC standings.  SMSU took the No. 2 seed into the Central Region tournament before being eliminated in the semifinals by Minnesota Duluth.  It was the Mustangs' fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance and sixth overall.

Best year ever:  SMSU's 28-6 mark in 2008 was the best winning percentage  (.824) for a Mustang volleyball squad in school history.  The Mustangs' regular season record of 27-5 was also the best regular season record in school history.  And finally, SMSU's 12-match winning streak that stretched from Aug. 30 to Sept. 20 was tied for the longest in school history.  The 2006 team also put together a 12-match winning streak.

The coach:  Terry Culhane returns for his sixth season as the head man of Mustang volleyball, and his name might as well be synonymous with success.  The SMSU alum has yet to encounter a losing season or one that he hasn't made the NCAA Tournament.  Culhane boasts a 129-41 record at SMSU.  He is assisted by Jessica Petersen, Paul Soupir, Mike Dalager, Katie Gangelhoff and Raftyn Rignell.

Stay connected:  Stay connected with SMSU volleyball all season long at www.smsumustangs.com.  The Mustangs are also on Facebook and Twitter; just log onto www.facebook.com/smsumustangs and www.twitter.com/smsumustangs.  For the latest video highlights and new episodes of the Mustang minute check out SMSU's official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/smsuathletics.

We'll do it live!:  Live statistics for all of SMSU's home games can be viewed by logging onto www.smsumustangs.com and following the live stats link on the right side of the volleyball home page.

Let's see it:  All NSIC volleyball matches are video broadcast live and free of charge on the Penn Atlantic Network.  Check out www.northernsun.tv to learn more.