For the complete release, please click on the associated link.
CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University women's volleyball will begin its 2012 season this weekend at the Utah State Invitational sponsored by Gossner Fooods. The Thunderbirds will open the tournament with the University of Utah on Friday and then face Portland and Utah State on Saturday.
“It is exciting to open the season,” head coach Debby Baker said. “All three teams are good teams and it will be great to finally play somebody other than ourselves.”
Utah and Utah State will mark the first of five times that Southern Utah will face an in-state opponent this season. SUU and Utah have not met on the volleyball court since the program's return in 2008, but will look to repeat its 3-2 victory over Utah State last season.
“Playing against in-state opponents is especially important,” Baker said. “There is always extra motivation to win those matches and it will be great to face them to open the season.”
Southern Utah returns a deep squad in 2011, returning all but one starter. The group of returners include the top five attacking options for the Thunderbirds last season, including Ana Mailoto (515 kills), Kylie Schofield (286 kills), Cashaana Renfro (243 kills), Alissa Youart (164 kills) and Hailey Moore (148). In addition, Gabi Mirand returns as the team's setter to direct the offense with which she racked up 1030 assists in 2011.
Live stats for each game will be available online at www.suutbirds.com with a video stream also available for the game against Utah State on Saturday afternoon at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Coming into 2012 with Guns Blazing
Southern Utah University will enter the 2012 season with all five of its top hitters from 2011. Headlining the group is Analaine Mailoto, a three-time first-team all-conference honoree, with 515 kills (4.15 per set) last season and 1,447 kills for her career.
The group is rounded out by Kylie Schofield (286 kills), Cashaana Renfro (243 kills, 2009 Summit League all-tournament team), Alissa Youart (164 kills, 2009 Summit League all-freshmen team) and Hailey Moore (148 kills).
New Year, New Libero
Southern Utah University will enter its fourth season of women's volleyball in 2012, since the program's return in 2008, and will do so with its fourth different starting libero.
Sky's the Limit
Southern Utah University will begin its inaugural year in the Big Sky Conference in 2012 after having competed in the Summit League since the 1997-98 season.
Strong in Season Openers
Southern Utah University is 2-1 in season openers since the program's return in 2008. The Thunderbirds captured a 3-0 victory over Delaware State in 2009, a 3-0 victory over Murray State in 2010 before finally suffering a 3-1 defeat last season to Drake in the 2011 opener.
Beehive State Battle
Southern Utah University will face four of five in-state opponents this season, facing Utah and Utah State during the opening weekend, Utah Valley in the 2012 home opener and Weber State twice as part of Big Sky Conference play.
Picked Ninth
Southern Utah University has been picked ninth in the 2012 Big Sky coaches' poll.
|
1
|
Northern Colorado |
99 (9) |
| 2 |
Portland State |
88 (1) |
| 3 |
Eastern Washington |
71 |
| 4 |
North Dakota |
70 (1) |
| 5 |
Montana |
62 |
| 6 |
Sacramento State |
61 |
| 7 |
Idaho State |
48 |
| 8 |
Northern Arizona |
33 |
| 9 |
Southern Utah |
30 |
| 10 |
Weber State |
24 |
| 11 |
Montana State |
19 |
Good Gene Pool
Southern Utah University's libero this season, Anna Burgess, is the fourth member of her family to play Division I athletics, joining brothers Amos (baseball, SUU), Sam (basketball, BYU) and Billy (baseball, Utah Valley).
First in the 1,000-Kill Club
Analaine Pelaez-Mailoto is the first Thunderbird, since the return of the volleyball program in 2008, to eclipse the 1,000-kill mark. She currently has 1,447 kills for her career.
Scouting Utah
Utah will enter the weekend after an 11-20 season in 2011 where the Utes finished with a 6-16 mark in Pac 12 play. The Utes return three of its top attackers from last season in Chelsey Schofield (310 kills), Morgan Odale (305 kills) and Erin Redd (260 kills). Redd also led the team with 147 blocks last year.
Scouting Portland
Portland will enter the weekend having finished the 2011 season with an overall record of 8-21, including a 2-14 league record in the West Coast Conference. The Pilots have been picked eighth in the 2012 WCC preseason coaches' poll, but return its top attacker from 2011 in Ariel Usher who led the team with 303 kills (2.73 per set). The Pilots also return a starting setter, Monica Jordan (986 assists), and starting libero, Katie Mardesich (385 digs).
Scouting Utah State
Utah State will enter the weekend after a 12-17 season in 2011, including a 7-7 mark in Western Athletic Conference play. The Aggies return five starters, but will be without its leading attacker from 2011 in Liz McArthur who led the team with 406 kills (3.72 per set). USU does return its starting setter in Paige Neves who totaled 874 assists last season, averaging 8.83 per set.
