Trailblazer Volleyball Opens 2021 Season at Boise State Invitational

DSU to play three matches in two days in Boise

2021 DIXIE STATE VOLLEYBALL
(0-0, 0-0 WAC)

MATCHES 1-3 - BOISE STATE INVITATIONAL
Friday, Aug. 27 - at Boise State - 12 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 27 - vs. Montana State - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 28 - vs. Long Beach State - 12 p.m.
Bronco Gym; Boise, Idaho

OPENING SERVE: Dixie State women's volleyball is set to open its official fall 2021 season with a total of three matches in two days at the Boise State Invitational in Boise, Idaho.

The Trailblazers will tip off the schedule with two matches on Friday, beginning with a matchup against invitational-host Boise State at Noon, followed by a clash with Montana State in the nightcap at 5:30 p.m. DSU will close the weekend on Saturday with a single match vs. Long Beach State at Noon.

Live video coverage will be provided for all three matches by Boise State via the Mountain West Network, while live stat information can be found at DixieStateAthletics.com.

ALL-TIME IN SEASON OPENERS: Over its 15-year NCAA era, Dixie State is 6-9 all-time in season openers. The Trailblazers will open the season with a true road match for the fourth time in 2021, and currently hold a 1-2 mark in true road openers. DSU posted a 3-0 sweep of Southern Utah in Cedar City in last year's season opener to claim its first NCAA-era victory in a true road opener.

ON THE ROAD: Since joining the NCAA in 2006, Dixie State has recorded an 87-80 (.521) record in true-road games and has logged a winning record on the road nine times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019). Additionally, the Trailblazers have posted a 34-43 (.441) record in neutral-site games.

KNOW YOUR FOE: The weekend's matches mark a trio of firsts for Dixie State, as the Trailblazers have never matched up against any of their three opponents on the volleyball court.

Boise State played a 15-game Mountain West Conference schedule during the spring, posting a 10-5 record to claim second place in the conference. The Broncos, who were picked to finish second in the recent MWC Coaches Poll, return five starters and the libero. Three BSU players were selected to the Preseason All-MWC team, including senior middle blocker Jessica Donahue, junior outside hitter Lauren Ohlinger, and senior setter Danielle Boss.

Montana State also posted a 10-5 mark in the spring, including a 10-4 record in conference play to finish in third in the Big Sky Conference. The 10-4 conference record represents the team's best league finish since 2004. The Bobcats, who return all but two players, were tabbed to finish in fourth in the 2021 Big Sky Coaches Poll.

Long Beach State returns to the volleyball court for the first time in nearly two years after the Big West Conference canceled the 2020 fall sports season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After tying for fourth place during the 2019 season, LBSU was picked to finish in the same spot in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll. Long Beach State returns eight letterwinners from the 2019 season, including All-Big West selections junior outside hitter Kashauna Williams and sophomore outside hitter Katie Kennedy.

LET'S RUN IT BACK: After posting a 9-8 overall record in its first season as an NCAA Division I member, Dixie State is ready to pick up where it left off in year two.

The Trailblazers return 13 players from the Spring 2021 season, including five starters. Senior outside hitter Megan Treanor (First Team All-WAC, 171 kills, 168 assists, 127 digs, 34 blocks, 25 service aces) headlines the returners and was named to the Preseason All-WAC team.

DSU returns three others who posted at least 100 kills in the spring, including junior outside hitter Whittnee Nihipali (149 kills), junior middle blocker Lauolive Tonga (116 kills), and freshman Kate Hardy (WAC All-Freshman team, 103 kills). Despite playing in only nine matches in the spring, senior setter Jordyn Nelson returns as DSU's spring leader in assists (249). Defensively, Hardy posted a team-high 52 blocks in the spring, while Tonga added 42.

A NEW ERA: For the first time since 2012, the Trailblazers will open the season with a new head coach. After two seasons serving as an assistant coach, Camilla Hafoka begins her first season as the new head coach of the Dixie State Volleyball program.

During her time on the Trailblazer sidelines, Coach Hafoka helped lead Dixie State to a 29-16 overall record. In her first season as an assistant coach, Dixie State played to a 20-8 overall record in the program's final year of NCAA Division II competition.This past spring, Hafoka helped guide DSU to a 9-8 overall mark in its debut NCAA Division I season, which included an 8-8 mark (t-4th) in its first season in the Western Athletic Conference.

Whitnee Tupe returns for her eighth season as a DSU assistant coach, while Julia Smith (Texas A&M, 2002) joins the staff after coaching last season at Snow College. Former DSU player To'a Faleao also joins the staff as a volunteer assistant coach, and Riley Lyman (BYU, 2020) will serve as Director of Volleyball Operations to round out the staff.

YEAR TWO IN THE WAC: The Trailblazers enter their second season as a member of the WAC in 2021. DSU recorded an 8-8 mark in WAC play in the spring to finish in a fourth-place tie with Tarleton State.

With the addition of the four Texas schools (Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin) the conference standings have been split into two divisions: Southwest and West. Dixie State will play in the West Division, alongside California Baptist, Chicago State, Grand Canyon, New Mexico State, Seattle U, and Utah Valley, while the Southwest Division will feature Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton State, and UT Rio Grande Valley.

The Trailblazers were picked to finish fifth in the West Division in the recent WAC Preseason Coaches Poll. DSU will play a 14-game WAC slate with a home-and-home against each member of the West Division, while traveling to Abilene, Texas, for matches against ACU and Tarleton.

UP NEXT: The Trailblazers will travel to Provo, Utah, next week for matches against Michigan State, No. 14 BYU, and Weber State at the BYU Invitational.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Kate Hardy: MB; 6' 0"; Freshman

#1 Jordyn Nelson: S; 5' 6"; Senior

#15 Whittnee Nihipali: OH; 6' 2"; Junior

#16 Lauolive Tonga: MB; 5' 10"; Junior

#13 Megan Treanor: OH/S; 6' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#6 Kate Hardy
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MB

#1 Jordyn Nelson
: 5' 6"; Senior
: S

#15 Whittnee Nihipali
: 6' 2"; Junior
: OH

#16 Lauolive Tonga
: 5' 10"; Junior
: MB

#13 Megan Treanor
: 6' 1"; Senior
: OH/S