WVU Mountaineer Sports: Basketball | Football | News |WVU Volleyball Opens Season with Invitational

The West Virginia University volleyball team opens its 2011 season with the WVU Volleyball Mountaineer Invitational on Aug. 26-28 at the WVU Coliseum.

The Mountaineers begin competition on Friday with matches against New Hampshire at 1 p.m., and Valparaiso at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the team will face Ohio State at 7 p.m. The match is a designated "Dollar Day," with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Cola products available for one dollar each. Competition continues Sunday with matches against Towson and Roberts Morris at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.

"We are excited for our home opener this weekend. We've got a great field to play against," coach Jill Kramer says.  "I think New Hampshire is going to be a great team for us to open with and then we go on to Valparaiso who has a ton of returners. They had a really good season last year so it should be a great match to watch.

"Then we get to play Ohio State who is ranked 21st in the country right now. I think that is going to be a great match for our girls to get on the court and get after it and compete. Our last matches are with Towson and Robert Morris- both in our region and they are important wins to get on the board. I expect all five teams to bring their best. The girls have been training hard and I think we are definitely up for the challenge."

Kramer's roster features nine returnees and six newcomers, including seniors Kylie Armbruster, Michelle Kopecky, Abby Monson, Kari Post and Serinna Russo- all leaders for the 2011 season.

New Hampshire was picked to finish fifth in the America East preseason poll and is led by seniors Lauren Laquerre and Amy Keding. Co-captain Laquerre and 2010 America East all-conference selection Keding finished first and second, respectively, on the team last year in kills.

Valparaiso returns 11 letterwinners from the 2010 squad that won 27 games and looks to go for its 10th consecutive season with 20-plus wins. Junior Taylor Root leads the team defensively after finishing the 2010 season as the Division I leader in digs per set and earning American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) honorable mention All-America accolades.

The Buckeyes come into the season ranked 21st by the AVCA and are led by seniors Kelli Barhorst and Sarah Mignin. Ohio State finished 19th in last year's final rankings after defeating 13th-ranked Dayton to make it to the NCAA regional semifinal.

Towson returns a young team that looks to improve on its 2010 record of 16-15 under second-year coach Bruce Atkinson. Sophomore Katy Buck was named preseason all-Colonial Athletic Association honorable mention after leading the team in kills (294) and finishing second in digs (296) in 2010.

The Colonials, chosen to finish second in the Northeast Conference preseason poll, enter 2011 after losing five seniors to graduation. Middle blocker Hannah Veith is the lone senior and will lead the team after earning all-NEC first-team honors last season and breaking the single-season school record for total blocks with 154.

The Mountaineers hold an overall combined record of 24-7 over this weekend's competition in the all-time series. WVU is 0-1 against New Hampshire, 2-0 over Valparaiso, 0-2 against Ohio State, 6-1 over Towson and 16-3 against Robert Morris.

WVU Mountaineer Invitational Schedule

August 26 Ohio State vs. Valparaiso, 10:30 a.m.

WVU vs. New Hampshire, 1 p.m.

Ohio State vs. New Hampshire, 5 p.m.

WVU vs. Valparaiso, 7:30 p.m.

August 27 Towson vs. New Hampshire. 9:30 a.m.

Valparaiso vs. Robert Morris Noon

Ohio State vs. Towson, 2:30 p.m.

Valparaiso vs. New Hampshire, 5 p.m.

WVU vs. Ohio State, 7:30 p.m.

August 28 WVU vs. Towson, 1 p.m.

Robert Morris vs. Towson, 4 p.m.

WVU vs. Robert Morris, 7 p.m.