Weber State University Athletics
Friday, August 25
Ogden
12:30 PM
Weber State University
vs
Utah Tech
Photo by: Robert Casey
GAME NOTES: Wildcat Volleyball Starts Season with Home Tournament
8/22/2023 1:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Weber State Wildcat Invitational
Friday, August 25 | 12:30 PM vs Utah Tech
Friday, August 25 | 7:30 PM vs Manhattan
Saturday, August 26 | 3:30 PM vs St. Mary's
Ogden, UT | Swenson Gym
TV Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: https://weberstatesports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/media
Tickets: https://weber.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=VB&linkID=weber-multi&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=
Weber State volleyball opens its season with its annual Wildcat Invitational this weekend. This season, the Wildcats will host Utah Tech, Manhattan, and St. Mary's.
After being picked second in the Big Sky Conference preseason polls, hopes are high for the Wildcats as they start their new campaign.
RIBBON CUTTING
• Weber State will be holding a ceremonial ribbon cutting prior to the Friday afternoon match against Utah Tech. The Wildcats will be celebrating the installation of their brand-new state-of-the-art floor that was recently installed.
THE MATCHES
• Weber State once again opens its season with the annual Wildcat Invitational. The Wildcats will be hosting Manhattan, St. Mary's, and Utah Tech.
• WSU opens the tournament by playing Utah Tech. The Trailblazers finished last season with an 11-12 (5-9) record, going 4-5 away from St. George. Tech picked up wins against two Big Sky foes in Northern Arizona and Idaho State.
• The 'Cats will face Manhattan for just the second time in school history - the first time since 2015 in a match that Weber State swept. The Jaspers went 1-28 last season with their lone win coming against St. Peter's. Manhattan added eight new players to this season's squad.
• Weber State owns a 5-1 record over St. Mary's and this will be the first time the two teams have met up since 2011. The Gaels finished the 2022 campaign with a 9-17 record, but had two separate winning streaks of three matches.
QUICK HITS
• For the fourth consecutive season, Weber State finished in at least second place in the Big Sky Conference and made its fourth postseason appearance in a row. The Wildcats return all-conference performers Dani Richins and Makayla Sorensen from last season's squad.
• Dani Richins is Weber State's lone two-time All-American. She was the recipient of the 2021 Big Sky Conference MVP award, and is a four-time First Team All-Big Sky performer. She is on the verge of breaking several school records including most career aces, most matches played in a career, most career attacks, and most kills in the rally-scoring era.
• Makayla Sorensen enters her senior year on pace to become the school's all-time leader in digs. Sorensen has been a major reason why the Wildcats held opponents to a low hitting percentages in 2022 (.165).
• Brielle Rueckert led the Wildcats and the Big Sky Conference in hitting percentage in 2022 by hitting a staggering .362.
• The 2022 Wildcat defense led the Big Sky Conference in opponent hitting percentage (.165), digging (16.22/set), blocking (2.71/set) and opponent service aces (1.23/set)
DOMINANT DEFENSE
• At 2.71 blocks per set, the Wildcat front line ranked ninth best in the country in blocking last season.
• The 2022 Wildcats ranked 17th in the nation for opponent hitting percentage, and held their foes to a paltry .165.
• Weber State's back line was impressive last season and averaged 16.22 digs per set - the most in the Big Sky Conference and 34th in the country.
NEW FACES
• Weber State's recruiting class was heavy on pin hitting, as the Wildcats brought in two new outside hitters in Ioana Asiata and Ali Wiest, as well as Rylee Parkinson who plays opposite.
• The 'Cats also brought in two transfers. Stacia Barker, a middle blocker from Evanston, WY, joins the team following a redshirt season at Montana State. Outside hitter Mia Peterson, a native of Pleasant Grove, UT, comes to Ogden following a pair of seasons at New Mexico State.
• After redshirting last season, Rose Moore, a 6'1" setter from Lehi, UT is eligible to play. She was a 2021 high school All-American and played on the same club team as Ashley Gneiting, Saane Katoa, Brielle Rueckert, and Jayda Tupea.
TICKETS
Season and single match tickets are on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the Weber State ticket office at 801-626-8500.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow Weber State volleyball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to stay up to date with everything happening with the Wildcats.
Friday, August 25 | 12:30 PM vs Utah Tech
Friday, August 25 | 7:30 PM vs Manhattan
Saturday, August 26 | 3:30 PM vs St. Mary's
Ogden, UT | Swenson Gym
TV Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: https://weberstatesports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/media
Tickets: https://weber.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=VB&linkID=weber-multi&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=
Weber State volleyball opens its season with its annual Wildcat Invitational this weekend. This season, the Wildcats will host Utah Tech, Manhattan, and St. Mary's.
After being picked second in the Big Sky Conference preseason polls, hopes are high for the Wildcats as they start their new campaign.
RIBBON CUTTING
• Weber State will be holding a ceremonial ribbon cutting prior to the Friday afternoon match against Utah Tech. The Wildcats will be celebrating the installation of their brand-new state-of-the-art floor that was recently installed.
THE MATCHES
• Weber State once again opens its season with the annual Wildcat Invitational. The Wildcats will be hosting Manhattan, St. Mary's, and Utah Tech.
• WSU opens the tournament by playing Utah Tech. The Trailblazers finished last season with an 11-12 (5-9) record, going 4-5 away from St. George. Tech picked up wins against two Big Sky foes in Northern Arizona and Idaho State.
• The 'Cats will face Manhattan for just the second time in school history - the first time since 2015 in a match that Weber State swept. The Jaspers went 1-28 last season with their lone win coming against St. Peter's. Manhattan added eight new players to this season's squad.
• Weber State owns a 5-1 record over St. Mary's and this will be the first time the two teams have met up since 2011. The Gaels finished the 2022 campaign with a 9-17 record, but had two separate winning streaks of three matches.
QUICK HITS
• For the fourth consecutive season, Weber State finished in at least second place in the Big Sky Conference and made its fourth postseason appearance in a row. The Wildcats return all-conference performers Dani Richins and Makayla Sorensen from last season's squad.
• Dani Richins is Weber State's lone two-time All-American. She was the recipient of the 2021 Big Sky Conference MVP award, and is a four-time First Team All-Big Sky performer. She is on the verge of breaking several school records including most career aces, most matches played in a career, most career attacks, and most kills in the rally-scoring era.
• Makayla Sorensen enters her senior year on pace to become the school's all-time leader in digs. Sorensen has been a major reason why the Wildcats held opponents to a low hitting percentages in 2022 (.165).
• Brielle Rueckert led the Wildcats and the Big Sky Conference in hitting percentage in 2022 by hitting a staggering .362.
• The 2022 Wildcat defense led the Big Sky Conference in opponent hitting percentage (.165), digging (16.22/set), blocking (2.71/set) and opponent service aces (1.23/set)
DOMINANT DEFENSE
• At 2.71 blocks per set, the Wildcat front line ranked ninth best in the country in blocking last season.
• The 2022 Wildcats ranked 17th in the nation for opponent hitting percentage, and held their foes to a paltry .165.
• Weber State's back line was impressive last season and averaged 16.22 digs per set - the most in the Big Sky Conference and 34th in the country.
NEW FACES
• Weber State's recruiting class was heavy on pin hitting, as the Wildcats brought in two new outside hitters in Ioana Asiata and Ali Wiest, as well as Rylee Parkinson who plays opposite.
• The 'Cats also brought in two transfers. Stacia Barker, a middle blocker from Evanston, WY, joins the team following a redshirt season at Montana State. Outside hitter Mia Peterson, a native of Pleasant Grove, UT, comes to Ogden following a pair of seasons at New Mexico State.
• After redshirting last season, Rose Moore, a 6'1" setter from Lehi, UT is eligible to play. She was a 2021 high school All-American and played on the same club team as Ashley Gneiting, Saane Katoa, Brielle Rueckert, and Jayda Tupea.
TICKETS
Season and single match tickets are on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the Weber State ticket office at 801-626-8500.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow Weber State volleyball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to stay up to date with everything happening with the Wildcats.
Players Mentioned
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