Friday, August 26
Dallas, Texas
10:00 A.M. CT
DePaul University
vs
Stephen F. Austin
Blue Demons Open Season with SMU DoubleTree Invitational
8/25/2022 4:54:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
DePaul begins 2022 with matches against Stephen F. Austin, SMU and UC Irvine
CHICAGO – DePaul opens its 2022 season with a trip to Dallas, Texas for the SMU DoubleTree Invitational Aug. 26-27. The Blue Demons open the two-day invitational against Stephen F. Austin (SFA) on Friday at 10 a.m. before facing the host Mustangs at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. DePaul will close out the weekend at Moody Coliseum on Saturday with a 12 p.m. match against UC Irvine.
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"This first weekend will be a very important test for us against some great ball control teams. I'm excited to see what the group can do to protect and create offensive opportunities" said fifth-year head Coach Marie Zidek. "Training has been going very well and we have been pushing hard to compete early this year. I am excited to start our Fall 2022 journey with this group at SMU this weekend. "
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SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS: A new era for SMU begins under first-year head coach Sam Erger who spent the last eight seasons at Baylor. The Mustangs return six letterwinners from a season ago including All-American Athletic Conference middle blocker Alex Glover alongside outside hitter Jadyn Bauss. Erger added five transfers to the mix including former Baylor right side Marieke van der Mark. SMU have a pair of new setters in their system including Michigan State transfer Celia Cullen and true freshman Casey Batenhorst. Erger and the Mustangs were selected to finish fifth in the American Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll.
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UC Irvine brings back a veteran laden team including seven returners from 2021 which saw the anteaters post a 17-13 record and earn the most wins in a season since 2017. UCI was selected to finish fifth in the Big West preseason poll as head coach Ashlie Hain enters her fourth season leading the program. Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu and outside hitter Joy Umeh lead the returning core as a pair of All-Big West selections a season ago. Ofoegbu hit a blistering .409 last season and ranked 17th in the nation in blocks. The Anteaters welcome three newcomers to the squad in 2022.
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SFA went 19-10 a season ago and head into 2022 selected to finish fifth in the Western Athletic Conference. The Ladyjacks return nine from last season while also bringing in seven freshmen and four transfers. Debbie Humphreys is in her 34th season at the helm of the program and is 767-357 in her career. Outside hitter Leah Powell is expected to pace the offense after earning All-WAC Second Team honors in 2021.
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SERIES STUFF: All three of DePaul's matches on opening weekend will be the first between the two programs.
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PRESEASON PROGNOSTICS: After making their first appearance in the BIG EAST Championship a season ago, the Blue Demons were selected to finish third in the 2022 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll as selected by the league's 11 head coaches. The third-place election was the highest since DePaul joined the league in 2005. Outside hitter Jill Pressly was named one of five unanimous selections to the preseason All-BIG EAST team. Pressly was a 2021 All-BIG EAST honoree and led the Blue Demons in kills and points a season ago.
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WHAT'S BACK: Marie Zidek's squad returns nine letterwinners from a 2021 team that went 19-12 and 12-6 in BIG EAST action. Hanna Karl joins Pressly on the outside to complete a pair of steady six-rotation players. Libero Rachel Krasowski returns to the back row for her third season in the starting role. Krasowski ranked third in the BIG EAST in digs per set (4.64) in 2021. Bailey Nelson is the lone senior on the squad and will look to provide leadership on the right side after tallying 1.98 kills per set and .79 blocks per set during conference play as a junior. Middle blocker Aly Kindelberger looks to take the next step as a sophomore while setters Phoenix Lee and Ashley Cudiamat look to orchestrate the offense. Sierra Ellison and Julia Nagy will also play pivotal roles.
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WHAT'S NEW: Six new faces will put on a Blue Demon uniform for the first time on Friday. NC State transfer setter Maggie Jones and Ferris State transfer Connie LeBel joined the program mid-year while former USF middle blocker Sara Griffith landed in Lincoln Park this fall. Freshmen Grace Brooker, Katelynn Oxley and Taylor Underwood arrived on campus in June and have proved ready to make an immediate impact on the court.
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COMING HOME: DePaul's season opening weekend in Dallas serves as a homecoming for junior Jill Pressly. The junior grew up in nearby Plano, Texas and hails from Plano West and Excel Volleyball Club.Â
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WHAT'S NEXT: Following a weekend down south, the Blue Demons will travel to Bowling Green, Ohio Sept. 2-3 for the Falcon Invitational presented by Hampton Inn featuring matchups against nationally ranked Western Kentucky, Northern Kentucky and the host Falcons.
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"This first weekend will be a very important test for us against some great ball control teams. I'm excited to see what the group can do to protect and create offensive opportunities" said fifth-year head Coach Marie Zidek. "Training has been going very well and we have been pushing hard to compete early this year. I am excited to start our Fall 2022 journey with this group at SMU this weekend. "
Â
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS: A new era for SMU begins under first-year head coach Sam Erger who spent the last eight seasons at Baylor. The Mustangs return six letterwinners from a season ago including All-American Athletic Conference middle blocker Alex Glover alongside outside hitter Jadyn Bauss. Erger added five transfers to the mix including former Baylor right side Marieke van der Mark. SMU have a pair of new setters in their system including Michigan State transfer Celia Cullen and true freshman Casey Batenhorst. Erger and the Mustangs were selected to finish fifth in the American Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll.
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UC Irvine brings back a veteran laden team including seven returners from 2021 which saw the anteaters post a 17-13 record and earn the most wins in a season since 2017. UCI was selected to finish fifth in the Big West preseason poll as head coach Ashlie Hain enters her fourth season leading the program. Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu and outside hitter Joy Umeh lead the returning core as a pair of All-Big West selections a season ago. Ofoegbu hit a blistering .409 last season and ranked 17th in the nation in blocks. The Anteaters welcome three newcomers to the squad in 2022.
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SFA went 19-10 a season ago and head into 2022 selected to finish fifth in the Western Athletic Conference. The Ladyjacks return nine from last season while also bringing in seven freshmen and four transfers. Debbie Humphreys is in her 34th season at the helm of the program and is 767-357 in her career. Outside hitter Leah Powell is expected to pace the offense after earning All-WAC Second Team honors in 2021.
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SERIES STUFF: All three of DePaul's matches on opening weekend will be the first between the two programs.
Â
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICS: After making their first appearance in the BIG EAST Championship a season ago, the Blue Demons were selected to finish third in the 2022 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll as selected by the league's 11 head coaches. The third-place election was the highest since DePaul joined the league in 2005. Outside hitter Jill Pressly was named one of five unanimous selections to the preseason All-BIG EAST team. Pressly was a 2021 All-BIG EAST honoree and led the Blue Demons in kills and points a season ago.
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WHAT'S BACK: Marie Zidek's squad returns nine letterwinners from a 2021 team that went 19-12 and 12-6 in BIG EAST action. Hanna Karl joins Pressly on the outside to complete a pair of steady six-rotation players. Libero Rachel Krasowski returns to the back row for her third season in the starting role. Krasowski ranked third in the BIG EAST in digs per set (4.64) in 2021. Bailey Nelson is the lone senior on the squad and will look to provide leadership on the right side after tallying 1.98 kills per set and .79 blocks per set during conference play as a junior. Middle blocker Aly Kindelberger looks to take the next step as a sophomore while setters Phoenix Lee and Ashley Cudiamat look to orchestrate the offense. Sierra Ellison and Julia Nagy will also play pivotal roles.
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WHAT'S NEW: Six new faces will put on a Blue Demon uniform for the first time on Friday. NC State transfer setter Maggie Jones and Ferris State transfer Connie LeBel joined the program mid-year while former USF middle blocker Sara Griffith landed in Lincoln Park this fall. Freshmen Grace Brooker, Katelynn Oxley and Taylor Underwood arrived on campus in June and have proved ready to make an immediate impact on the court.
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COMING HOME: DePaul's season opening weekend in Dallas serves as a homecoming for junior Jill Pressly. The junior grew up in nearby Plano, Texas and hails from Plano West and Excel Volleyball Club.Â
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WHAT'S NEXT: Following a weekend down south, the Blue Demons will travel to Bowling Green, Ohio Sept. 2-3 for the Falcon Invitational presented by Hampton Inn featuring matchups against nationally ranked Western Kentucky, Northern Kentucky and the host Falcons.
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Players Mentioned
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OH
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/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALLEpisode 24: Marie Zidek, Women's Volleyball
Tuesday, September 02
Bowling Green vs. DePaul - NIVC Great 8
Saturday, December 07
Omaha vs. DePaul - NIVC Second Round
Friday, December 06
Volleyball vs. Omaha - NIVC Super 16
Friday, December 06