Kearney, Neb. – The 13th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team returns to some old stomping grounds this weekend when it takes part in the Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Oredigger Volleyball Classic.

The two-day tournament in Golden, Colo., is hosted by Colorado School of Mines, a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). UNK and Mines were league rivals from 1995-2012.

While the Lopers won't face the 'Diggers, they'll see RMAC-member Colorado Mesa Friday night. A tourney website can be found HERE. Live stats will be available for each Loper match.

UNK faces the Edinboro (Pa.) University Fighting Scots Friday at 2:00 p.m. Central and then takes on the CMU Mavericks at 6:30 p.m. Central. On Saturday, the Lopers play the Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles (1:00 p.m.) and the St. Cloud State Huskies (5:30 p.m. Central). Due to the tournament format, start times may be pushed back a bit.

Like Kearney, Edinboro reached the NCAA Tournament last year, finishing with a 31-7 record (18-5 in conference). The Scots are a veteran bunch with nine upperclassmen doting the roster.

Five-eight junior outside Challen Litwiler (3.70 kills and 3.61 digs per set) and 5-10 senior middle Victoria Severo (2.68 kills and 0.78 blocks per set) are the top returners with 5-9 junior Sydney Trathen (9.91 assists) back at setter.

Early last fall, EU fell to MIAA-member NW Missouri State in four close sets. The Lopers swept the Bearcats at home (-19, -17, -22) in November.

Picked to finish second in the RMAC, Mesa also was a 2015 NCAA Tournament. The Mavs went 19-12 and were beaten by Elite 8 qualifier Arkansas-Ft. Smith in the regional semifinals.

Veteran coach Dave Fleming had five players average between 2.36-2.81 kills per set last fall but only six-foot junior middle Hattie Gianinetti (2.36) returns. Senior setter Ali Svorinic (9.11 assists per set) is back with sophomore libero Taylor Woods digging up 5.25 balls last fall.

Eleven years ago in the Health & Sports Center, UNK swept Cal State LA in the National Semifinals in front of 4,331 fans. In 2015, Cal State LA went 19-11 to record its 19th straight winning season.

A 2016 roster with 10 upperclassmen includes six-foot senior middle/outside JamieAnn Bero (3.32 kills and 0.81 blocks per set) and 6-4 junior middle Alma Serna. She earned 2011 All-Freshman Big West Conference honors at Division I Long Beach State.

Finally, the Lopers match against SCSU is a key one as the Huskies are in the Central Region as a member of the NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf.). 

The Huskies went 9-19 in 2015, posting a 5-15 mark in the tough NSIC. They must replace most of their offensive leaders but do have the services of Lincoln East setter Lexie Duch, a transfer from Division I Delaware.

UNK's lone senior, right side Annie Wolfe (Omaha Marian), is coming an All-American season in which she averaged 2.74 kills, 3.19 digs, 0.56 blocks, 0.83 assists and 0.23 aces per set. Over the last three years, Wolfe has played in 354 of a possible 355 sets.

The Lopers return four other starters plus libero Ellie McDonnell (Papillion-LaVista H.S.), a 2015 honorable mention All-MIAA selection. 

Wolfe, McDonnell (4.28) and sophomore Morgan Stute (2.19) helped UNK average 17.05 digs per set, one of the highest totals in the nation last fall. Offensively, Yutan junior outside Kaitlynn Thomas (2.72) and Lincoln junior middle Tara Ziegelbein (2.42) were UNK's other kill leaders besides Wolfe.

Finally, South Dakota sophomore Lindsey Smith (11.26 assists) will run the show. In addition to her passing, she served up 28 aces in 70 sets last season.

UNK hosts the annual New Victorian Inn & Suites/Runza Fall Classic next weekend.