Kearney, Neb. – Some of the nation's best Division II volleyball teams head to Metro State & Regis Universities this weekend in Denver for the annual Colorado Premier Challenge.

The U.S. Air Force Academy first hosted the tournament when the Falcons were a D2 member. Every September, almost half of the AVCA Top 25 teams head to Colorado for a two-day tournament with each school getting to play four matches.

RMAC-member Metro State (now Metro State University) has setup a tournament web page HERE. That includes schedules, parking, ticketing, live stat and America One links.

On Friday the 13th, the 3rd-ranked Lopers face the 11th-ranked Angelo State University Belles (4-0) at 1:00 p.m. Central and then renew an old RMAC rivalry with an 8:00 p.m. Central title at MSU (3-1). Both matches will be held in Metro's Auraria Events Center.

The schedule for Saturday will be posted late Friday night after all the first day's action is completed.

Under sixth-year head coach Chuck Waddington, ASU has become a mainstay in the AVCA poll. A member of the Lone Star Conference, they won 29 matches in 2012, falling to longtime national power and LSC rival West Texas  A & M in the NCAA South Central Regional finals.

Two years ago, they posted a 4-1 mark vs. the MIAA, falling to Washburn in five sets.

Beating RMAC members Colorado Mesa and CSU-Pueblo last weekend at home, Angelo is paced by 5-10 senior middle Maddie Huth (3.81 kills per set & .317 attack pct.) and 6-0 senior outside Leah McWilliams (3.36 digs & 3.07 kills ps).

Angelo is 2-0 all-time vs. UNK but the two haven't met in volleyball since 1991.

The Lopers and Metro played many donnybrooks over the years as the premier volleyball programs in the RMAC. UNK holds a 34-17 series edge and beat the 'Runners three times during the 2011 campaign.  

Head coach Debbie Hendricks, with nearly 500 career college wins under her belt, has a roster that includes seven freshmen. Last weekend in Oregon, left coast power Western Washington handed Metro a 3-0 setback.

Wichita State transfer Alysa Heath (3.81 kills ps and .355 attack pct.), a 5-11 senior outside, and South Carolina transfer Kylie Haun (2.75 kills & 2.12 digs ps), a 5-8 sophomore outside, pace the blue and red.

On the Loper side of the net, senior outside Ashley Leitner has returned to her 2011 All-RMAC form as she is smashing home over four kills per set and hitting nearly .350.

Leading UNK in kills in all five matches this fall, she is joined on the outside by true frosh Kinslie TeKolste (2.67 kills & 3.33 digs ps) and in the middle be senior Ellie Pesavento (2.14 kills & 0.71 blocks ps).

Pesavento is closing in on the 1,000 career kill mark, something only 21 other Lopers have done.

UNK hosts Fort Hays State Tuesday night to start MIAA play.