Women's Volleyball | August 25, 2017

FOLLOW THE ACTION
WMU's game against Tennessee can be seen live on the SEC + Network and at ESPN3.com. 

THIS WEEK
The Western Michigan volleyball team travels to Knoxville, Tenn., to open the 2017 season at the DISH Tennessee Classic. The Broncos take on the host Volunteers at 7 p.m. on Friday night. WMU then plays George Washington at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning and Wofford later on at 4:30 p.m. 

AT THE DISH TENNESSEE CLASSIC
The Broncos will cross off a couple of program firsts at their season-opening tournament. It will be the first-ever meetings with both George Washington and Wofford. WMU has a history against Tennessee. The Volunteers hold a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series. The two teams met last season at WMU's Holiday Inn West Invitational. UT took the match 3-1 (13-25, 26-24, 19-25, 23-25).

Tennessee went 17-14 last season and finished in seventh in the SEC after a 7-11 showing in conference. During last season's match it was the Bri Holmes show for Tennessee. Holmes had 21 kills in the match against the Broncos. Holmes is gone but Alyssa Andreno enters her sophomore season. Andreno had 11 kills against WMU last season and averaged 1.64 per set on the season, along with 0.75 blocks per set. Tessa Grubbs is the team's top returning attacker after averaging 3.60 kills per set and being named to the SEC All-Freshmen team. Setter Sedona Hanson returns for her sophomore season as well. She averaged 11.19 assists per set and 2.95 digs per set on the season. Junior defensive specialist Brooke Schumacher finished second on the team in digs per set last season with 3.14.

George Washington enters a new era under first-year head coach Sarah Benson. The colonials finished last season with an 11-18 record and a 4-10 showing in the Atlantic 10. Senior outside hitter Aaliya Davidson is the team's top returning attacker after averaging 2.86 kills per set last season. Sophomore Skylar Iott averaged 2.75 kills per set and 1.42 digs per set. GW lost three starters and have four newcomers. 

Wofford had a solid 2016 season, finishing 17-15 and 9-7 in the Southern Conference to tie for fourth. The Terriers made it to the quarterfinals of the SoCon tournament. Sophomore Catie Cronister is the team's top returning attacker. She led the squad with 3.39 kills per set and was named the SoCon Freshman of the Year and a Second Team All-SoCon selection. Sophomore Madeline Savage led the team with 3.98 digs per set last season and was second on the team with 27 aces. Sophomore Larissa King was the team's top setter in 2016, averaging 7.34 assists per set.

RETURN OF THE ALL-MAC
Senior middle blocker Sydney LeMay was recently named Preseason All-MAC for the third time in her career. Last season she led the Broncos with 3.12 kills per set and 3.89 points per set on her way to earning her third-straight First Team All-MAC Honors.

ONLY THE LONELY
WMU seniors Sydney LeMay, Olivia Kofie and junior Mary Murphy are the lone playable upperclassmen on the team. Injuries have knocked out both Sydney Cheathman and Bailey Schnell, with Schnell joining the coaching staff as an undergrad assistant. 

The Broncos do have a strong sophomore class of Willow Martin,  Kathleen Reilly, Quiana Ware and Kate Carey. Reilly earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshmen team last season, while Ware emerged as a strong attacking option.  

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Western Michigan has seven new faces to the roster this season with six freshmen and one sophomore junior college transfer. The freshmen class is made of setter Emma Yarber, libero Kaley Smith, outside hitter Rachel Bontrager, middle blocker Janell Williams, middle blocker Cassandra Smigiel and middle blocker Jordan White. Kennedy Potts recently transfered in from Grand Rapids Community College and will be a defensive specialist for WMU. 

All saw significant playing time in Western Michigan's exhibition match against Ferris State. Bontrager and Smith were the standouts. Bontrager had 12 kills on the night, while Smith was tied for the team-lead with 19 digs. 

FLIPPING THE SCRIPT
Western Michigan struggled on the road and in neutral play last season, going a combined 5-14. The team was slightly better in neutral play with a 3-4 record. 

TOURNAMENT TIME
The Broncos open up 2017 with three straight appearances in non-conference tournaments. After the DISH Tennessee Classic WMU heads to Xavier University for a tournament featuring the host Musketeers, Texas State and the University of Cincinnati. WMU opens up the tournament against TSU and then takes on Xavier and Cincinatti on Saturday. 

WMU hosts the annual Holiday Inn West Invitational beginning on Sept. 7 against Oakland at 7 p.m. WMU then also plays Southern Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. as part of the tournament.