DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Set to Open Season with DePaul Invitational
8/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Tournament Central | DePaul Invitational Notes 
CHICAGO - The DePaul volleyball team opens up the 2014 season by hosting the DePaul Invitational. The four-team, two-day tournament kicks off Friday, August 29 at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
The opening match of the tournament features Bradley and Hampton at 4:30 p.m. before the Blue Demons take to the court against Stony Brook at 7 p.m.
Saturday is loaded with four different matches as action is set to start at 10 a.m. with Hampton squaring off against Stony Brook. Shortly after, DePaul tangles with Bradley at noon. There will be a short break before Bradley plays its final match of the invitational against Stony Brook at 4:30 p.m. The conclusion of the tournament features DePaul taking on Hampton at 7 p.m.
Blue Demon fans will get the chance to see nine newcomers in regular season action for the first time, as head coach Nadia Edwards welcomes a seven-member recruiting class including two transfers to bolster the 2014 roster.
Among the newcomers are freshmen Lexi Bolotin, Rachel Breault, Haley Bueser, Caitlyn Coffey, Kelsey Horvath, Jameson MacPhie and Myah Reed. The Blue Demons also add two transfers, sophomore Jasmine King (Cardinal Stritch) and junior Saige Gallop (VCU).
Leading returnees include junior setter Colleen Smith who led the 2013 club with 1,036 assists and other consistent attacking optiong in junior Callie Huebener (179 kills) and sophomore Randi Leath (155 kills). Defensively, DePaul brings back sophomores Tyler Graham (211 digs) and Lexi Chanos (68 digs).
Series Histories
DePaul entertains Hampton and Stony Brook for the first time in program history. Bradley, however, has been a common opponent as the Braves are 14-7 against the Blue Demons all-time. DePaul won its last matchup against Bradley in 2008, 3-0.
Scouting the Seawolves
Stony Brook is coming off a 16-18 season, but did manage to tie for second in the America East with a 9-5 mark. The Sea Wolves return five starters plus the libero highlighted by senior setter Hannah Dolan. Dolan tallied 985 assists and had an attack percentage of .306. Junior Melissa Rigo is coming off of a successful 2013 in which she led the team with 410 kills.
Scouting the Braves
Bradley heads into the season with 10 returning letterwinners, including four starters, from last year's team which went 13-15 overall. Sophomore Rachel Jones boasted a school-record .344 attack percentage as a freshman. Junior Jessie Tulacka is the squad's active career kills leader with 345.
Scouting the Pirates
Hampton enters the season fresh off of a MEAC Championship and a NCAA Tournament berth. The Pirates return four starters highlighted by senior right side hitter Vendula Strakova who notched 626 kills in 2013. In the middle, senior Marija Kocevska registered 100 total blocks a season ago.
