MARSHALL, Minn. - The second ranked Southwest Minnesota State University women's volleyball team will open its 2018 season this weekend as the Mustangs travel to Pensacola, Fla., to compete in four matches as a part of the West Florida Invitational. 
 
The Mustangs first match takes place on Friday taking on No. 5 Western Washington in their season opener at 2 p.m., followed by a match against No. 15 West Florida at 7 p.m. SMSU will then play No. 7 Regis at 2 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a contest versus No. 24 Wheeling Jesuit at 7 p.m. to conclude the nonconference invitational. 
 
SMSU Quick Hits
• The Mustangs begin the season ranked 2nd in the first AVCA Preseason poll of the year. This marks the program's 10th consecutive season beginning the year ranked in the Top 10. 
• Mustangs return 10 letter winners on the 2018 roster. 
• Taylor Reiss was named the conference's 2018 Preseason Player of the Year. 
• Mustangs return three All-Conference award winners. Taylor Reiss and Kaylee Burmeister were named NSIC First Team All-Conference and Sarina Smith was named NSIC Second Team All-Conference. 
• SMSU has won its season opener the past three years. 
 
Western Washington: Match Preview (Fri., Aug. 24 @ 2 p.m. CST) 
Series History
• SMSU has one both meetings between the two schools back in 1998 and 2001. 
• Mustangs won the first series 3-1 and the second encounter 3-2. 
Western Washington Notes
• Western Washington named the unanimous favorite by the?Great Northwest Atlantic Conference to defend their conference title.
• The Vikings led their conference and ranked 14th in Division II with 14.25 kills per set, while also ranking national in blocks per set (3rd, 2.75), digs (4th, 20.39), and hitting pct. (18th, .249).
• They return 6 starters including Abby Phelps, 2017 GNAC?Player of the Year and All-American ranked 12th in Division II.

West Florida: Match Preview ?(Fri., Aug. 24 @ 7 p.m. CST)
Series History
• SMSU leads the series 5-1. West Florida's victory was the first of the team's encounters in 2009. 
• Mustangs won the last match last season, 3-1 (25-23, 26-24, 20-25, 25-22).
West Florida Notes
• Agronouts ranked No. 15 in AVCA Preseason Poll.
• UWF was 30-7 in the 2017 season and advanced to the NCAA South Regional Championship match for the third time in program history.
• Agros return eight letterwinners from the 2017 roster.
 
Regis (Colo.):  Match Preview ?(Sat., Aug. 25 @ 2 p.m. CST)
Series History
• SMSU is undefeated in the series having won all seven matches. 
• The teams last played in 2015. 
Regis Notes
• Regis is favored to finish first in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). 
• Nikki Kennedy was named Preseason and Defensive Player of The Year and reigns as the RMAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Wheeling Jesuit:  Match Preview (Sat., Aug. 25 @ 7 p.m. CST)
Series History
• Each school has a win and loss in the series to tie at 1-1. 
• The Cardinals won the first showdown on Sept. 5, 2014 in five games (2-3).
• Mustangs won the last match up on Sept. 1, 2017 (3-1) with final scores of: 25-23, 25-19, 21-25, 25-21. 
Wheeling Jesuit Notes
• Wheeling Jesuit was voted favored to win the Mountain East Conference. 
• Stephanie Sylvester returns All-American honors as well as All-MEC Libero of the year, Audrey Francis, Mall-MEC and MEC Freshman of the Year, Cassie Meyer, and All-MEC Honorable Mention Makenna Babb

Following the West Florida Invitational, the Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team will continue play at the Colorado Premier Challenge on Fri., Aug. 31, in Denver, Colo. at Regis University.