DENVER, Colo. – The No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (2-2) heads to the Colorado Premier Challenge this weekend for its second tournament of the season. SMSU opens the tournament in pool play against Colorado Christian (2-3) on Friday afternoon at 12 p.m. and Saint Leo (2-2) at 7 p.m., both at the Regis Fieldhouse.
After pool play on Friday, the tournament begins bracket play on Saturday. There are four pools of competition including six other top-25 ranked teams.
The Mustangs enter the tournament 2-2 after the West Florida Invitational last weekend.
Taylor Reiss was named MVP of the all-tournament team after leading the tournament in kills (87).
Emma Thomssen was also named to the all-tournament team dishing out 181 assists.
Southwest Minnesota State entered the season ranked No. 2 in the preseason AVCA poll. Earlier this week, the Mustangs dropped to No. 8. The poll is led by fellow NSIC competition, No. 1 Minnesota Duluth and No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul.
This is the Mustangs tenth appearance in the Colorado Premier Challenge. SMSU won the tournament last season and have an overall record of 27-9 in tournament history. Besides their first-place finish last season, the Mustangs also have three second place finishes, and two third place finishes.
Opponents at a glance
COLORADO CHRISTIAN – The Cougars finished fourth in the conference last season and were slated in the preseason poll to finish fourth again. Colorado Christian ended the 2017 season 18-11. The Cougars, members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), have two athletes, Hope Baldrica and Kylee Wurster who were named to the preseason All-RMAC Team. Wurster was also named RMAC Preseason Setter of the Year.
Series History
SMSU and Colorado Christian have only played once in 1995. The Cougars won the match 3-1.
SAINT LEO – Saint Leo finished 23-7 last season and ended fourth in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) preseason poll. The Lions return four top-five kill leaders and blockers from last season. Ashley Quero led the Lions last season with 305 kills. Saint Leo also welcomes six new names to the 2018 roster.
Series History
The series began on Sept. 5, 2015, the teams only match thus far. The Mustangs won in four (25-20, 25-16, 23-25, 28-26).
The outcome of pool play on Friday will affect match times and location for Saturday's play. Information on the bracket play can be found on the tournament website.
