Volleyball Set to Start 2022 Season at Northern Arizona Invitational

Northern Arizona Invitational
Tournament Info – Friday, Aug. 26 & Saturday, Aug. 27
Location – Rolle Activity Center (Flagstaff, Ariz.)
Stream – ODU vs. Northern Arizona (Aug. 27, 5 p.m. on ESPN+)
Live Stats – CLICK HERE
 
Full Schedule 
Friday, Aug. 26
1 p.m. – Northern Arizona vs. Utah Tech 
3 p.m. – Old Dominion vs. Michigan
7 p.m. – Utah Tech vs. Old Dominion
9:30 p.m. – Northern Arizona vs. Michigan
 
Saturday, Aug. 27
5 p.m. – Northern Arizona vs. Old Dominion
7 p.m. – Michigan vs. Utah Tech
 
*Times are in Eastern Standard
 
NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion volleyball team begins its 2022 campaign this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26-27 at the Northern Arizona Invitational. Northern Arizona is hosting the two-day tournament at the Rolle Activity Center in Flagstaff, Ariz.
 
First up for ODU is a 3 p.m. EST meeting with the Michigan Wolverines, followed by a 7 p.m. EST match with the Utah Tech Trailblazers on Friday. The Monarchs then face the host Lumberjacks at 5 p.m. EST on Saturday.
 
This weekend's matches mark the first-ever meetings between ODU and its opponents. Live stats will be available for all three matches, and Saturday's match versus NAU will be streamed live on ESPN+.

About ODU
The Sun Belt Conference announced its 2022 Preseason Poll on Tuesday, Aug. 16 and ODU was picked to finish fifth in the league's East Division with 39 points. Coastal Carolina and James Madison were selected to finish tied for first in the East with 90 points each. The Chanticleers received seven first-place votes, while the Dukes received six. South Alabama is the preseason favorite to win the West Division with eight first-place votes and 92 points.
 
The Monarchs finished 13-13 overall with a 5-7 mark against Conference USA opponents in 2021, a four-match improvement from their inaugural season. ODU finished tied for fourth in the C-USA East Division, missing out on its first conference tournament appearance by virtue of tiebreaking criteria.
 
Myah Conway looks to build off a 2021 season that saw her land on the C-USA All-Freshman Team, while Teresa Atilano and Hailey Duncan were named to the VaSID All-State Second Team. Duncan led last year's squad with 225 kills and finished second on the team with 2.34 kills per set. She also led the Monarchs in blocks with 102, while Olivia De Jesus was close behind with 99. Atilano finished with a team-high 893 assists and needs 21 more to reach 1,500 for her career. ODU brings returns 12 players from last year, to include five of its starters.
 
This year's newcomers include freshmen Gerren Tomlin, Ashlynn Belcher, Bailey Burgess, Jennifer Olansen and Kate Ayre. Also joining the team is Tessa Mati, a junior transfer from Kansas State.
 
About Michigan
The Wolverines posted an 18-12 overall record in 2021, to include an 11-9 mark in conference play, and fell 3-2 to Ball State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The team was picked to finish tied for sixth alongside Illinois in the Big Ten's Preseason Poll. Wisconsin, the reigning NCAA national champion, was picked to finish first while NCAA runner-up Nebraska was voted second. Outside hitter Jess Mruzik represented Michigan on the Preseason All-Conference Team after co-leading the Wolverines in kills with 389 and led the team in points with 446.
 
Michigan returns 14 letterwinners, to include starters Mruzik, Jess Robinson, Hannah Grant, May Pertofsky, Jacque Boney and Scottee Johnson. They are joined by one transfer and two freshmen.
 
About Utah Tech
The Trailblazers finished 7-15 overall and 6-8 in conference play in 2021. The team was picked to finish tied for ninth along with Tarleton State in the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, while New Mexico State and Utah Valley were selected first and second, respectively.
 
Middle blocker Kate Hardy garnered Second Team All-WAC honors in addition to being named to the league's All-Freshman Team for the second year in a row after receiving an extra year of eligibility due to COVID. She totaled 144 kills and led Utah Tech with a .269 hitting percentage and 90 total blocks. Utah Tech returns nine players from 2021 and is joined by nine newcomers this fall.
 
About Northern Arizona
The Lumberjacks ended 2021 12-14 overall and 10-6 in conference play, falling to Montana State in five sets in the opening round of the Big Sky Championship. Northern Arizona was picked to finish tied for fifth along with Sacramento State in the conference's Preseason Coaches' Poll, while Northern Colorado was tabbed the league favorite.
 
Back for the team this year is two-time All-Big Sky First Team selection Taylor Jacobsen, who ranked second in the league last season with 3.63 kills per set. The Lumberjacks also return Jordan Elder and Millie O'Ketter, who recorded team highs in blocks (81) and digs (373), respectively. NAU has a total of 10 returners and three newcomers.