MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball will officially begin its quest for a 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance on Monday, Aug. 14, when players report for fall camp to begin the 2017 season.
This year's roster, under 14-year head coach
Terry Culhane will include nine returning letter winners and three returning starters from a 2016 team that finished with a 28-6 overall record and an NCAA Central Region runner-up finish last December.
The Mustangs ended the 2016 regular season as NSIC Co-Champions with an 18-2 league record and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Central Region Tournament. SMSU defeated Wayne State, 3-1 followed by a thrilling 3-2 win over Augustana to advance to the Central Region Championship before falling to eventual National Champions, Concordia-St. Paul.
SMSU will return three starters from last year's team, each of whom earned All-NSIC postseason honors. Junior outside hitter,
Taylor Reiss, will likely be among preseason favorites for National Player of the Year after earning NSIC Offensive Player of the Year and first team AVCA All-American recognition as a sophomore. Reiss led the Mustangs and was third in the nation with 577 total kills (4.89 k/set) while also averaging 2.94 digs per set. Reiss finished with a team high 19 double-doubles and ranks third in both kills per set (4.39) and seventh in attack percentage (.314) in school history for her career thus far heading into her junior season.
Also returning is senior setter,
Megan Larson, who also garnered first team AVCA All-American recognition last season. Larson led the nation last season 12.86 assists per set and enters the 2017 season ranked third in assists (4,111) and second in assists per set (10.99) in SMSU history. Larson's 1,517 assists and her 12.86 assists per set in 2016 was good for second all-time in program history.
The Mustangs will also bring back junior outside hitter,
Kaylee Burmeister. Burmeister averaged 2.83 kills per set and 3.03 digs per set last season with 13 double-double performances.
SMSU's efficient offense produced a .312 attacking percentage last season which was second in the NCAA Division II. The Mustangs swept opponents in 19 of their 28 victories and went 11-6 against nationally ranked teams in 2016.
Coming off of a year in which he was recognized as the NSIC Coach of the Year, Culhane will look to replace SMSU's starting libero and its top two blockers from last season. The Mustangs will welcome six new players, including five true freshmen and one transfer on their 2017 roster.
SMSU will again open the new year by traveling for a pair of tournaments. The Mustangs will first travel to Pensacola, Fla., to compete in the West Florida Invitational on Sept. 1-2. SMSU will play North Alabama and Wheeling Jesuit on day one followed by matches against Southern Indiana and West Florida. The following week, SMSU will travel to Denver, Colo., to compete in the Colorado Premier Challenge for a fifth consecutive season.
SMSU will begin NSIC play on Sept. 14 at Augustana, before opening its home schedule on Sept. 16 versus Wayne State.
