Live Stats (vs Oshkosh, Birmingham-Southern and Emory) | Live Stats (vs Saint Mary's)

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Preseason is over for the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team, and CSB is on the road for the first two weekends of the season. CSB officially starts 2016 Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2-3, at the Emory Tournament in Atlanta. After its trip down south, CSB is in Stevens Point, Wis., for a tournament before playing its first home game of the year Sept. 14.
 
The Schedule
CSB kicks off its season at 1 p.m. CDT Friday against Saint Mary's (Ind.) in the first game of the Emory Tournament. Saint Benedict hits the court again at 3:30 against UW-Oshkosh. Saturday morning, CSB starts its day at 10 a.m. against Birmingham-Southern, and wraps up its weekend at 3 p.m. against host-school Emory.
 
About the Opponents
Friday also marks the first game of the year for Saint Mary's, which finished 15-13 overall and 7-9 in its conference in 2015. UW-Oshkosh went 26-9 overall in 2015 and finished as the WIAC's co-champion. The Titans return 13 letter winners, including Nerissa Vogt, who finished third in Division III with 169 blocks.
 
Birmingham-Southern finished 25-6 overall and 11-3 in the conference in 2015, including a 9-1 record at home and at neutral sites. The Panthers, who finished the year ranked 25^th in the nation and made it to the NCAA Regional Semifinals, return seniors Laura Van Peursem and Caroline Hyde, who combined for 441 kills and 181 blocks.
 
Emory is ranked fourth in Division III after finishing 2015 34-4 overall and advancing all the way to the national finals. That marked Emory's 20^th straight trip to nationals. The Eagles return three All-Americans, including Jessica Holler, who led all of Division III with a .421 hitting percentage.
 
Who to Watch
Back to lead CSB is junior setter Megan Pekarek, who led the MIAC in assists and assists per set last season. She earned All-MIAC and All-Region honors. Lauren Mathews and Meghan Koop are back to lead CSB's hitters, and sophomore Liz Schultz looks for more time at the net this season. Sophomore Megan Barta and first year Haley LaValle will likely split time at libero this weekend.
 
The Storyline
CSB only lost two seniors two graduation in May, so the team looks to pick up right where it left off at the national tournament in November. The Emory Tournament should give Saint Benedict a better picture of where it sits early in the year after taking on several nationally ranked teams.