CHADRON, Neb. -- August 31, 2016 -- The Chadron State College volleyball team is expected to have its hands full this weekend when it opens the season by playing four matches in the Seaside Tournament hosted by Point Loma Nazarene College in San Diego.  

Three of the opponents won 20 matches last year and the fourth won 19.

The Eagles' new coach, Riann Mullis, knows the foes will be tough, but she says, win or lose, playing rugged competition early in the season will make her team stronger.  

"No matter how things turn out, if we play hard, we can learn and become a better team," she commented.

Mullis said she's happy with the progress her players have made since workouts began two weeks ago.  

"We're not where we want to be or need to be, but every day we do things better," she said. 

Last year's team went 9-17 overall and 8-10 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  There are seven letterwinners on this year's roster, along with three returning squad members, three transfers, two redshirt freshmen and three true freshmen.

One of the transfers, right side hitter Dominika Senkerikova, will miss the trip because of a sprained ankle.

Five of the letterwinners are front row players. They are outside hitters Rudy Leasau and Gaby Varela, both starters last season, along with alternates Kenzie Chrisman and Alexis Farris, and middle hitter Alia Brennan, who will be starting for the fourth season.  

The other monogram winners are setter Madison Webb and libero/backcourt specialist Sierra Winkle, both of whom got lots of playing time as freshmen last season.

Mullis hopes Varela can play "all the way around" to give the Eagles another hitter in the back row when she rotates there.  Leasau did that last year and led the team in both kills and digs.

The coach also noted that transfer Emily Bruce is a solid addition in the back row and will either start at libero or start at a defensive position in the back row.

Webb is being challenged for the starting nod at setter by freshman Ashton Burditt of Spearfish, Mullis said.  Ironically, Chandler Hageman, Chadron High's top senior last fall is now playing volleyball at Black Hills State in Spearfish.

Others expected to see action near the net include senior Stephanie Wilson, who was injured last season, and sophomore Dacia Stuhr. 

The Eagles will play Saginaw Valley State and tourney host Point Loma Nazarene on Friday and Western New Mexico and California Baptist on Saturday.  

The Saginaw Valley Cardinals were 22-9 last season and return two first-team all-conference choices in setter Kelly Vellucci and middle hitter Kaylee Schmitt. This is Will Stanton's 14^th season as the team's head coach.

Point Loma Nazarene went 20-10 and earned its first NCAA II regional tourney invitation last season.  The Sea Lions may not be quite as potent this fall after graduating five starters.  The returnees include middle hitter Marissa Hageman and libero Christian Fisher.

Point Loma was pegged to finish third in the Pac West Conference's preseason poll.

Western New Mexico won 19 matches while sharing second place in the RMAC with a 14-4 record. The Mustangs, who have left the RMAC and are now in the Lone Star Conference, swept the Eagles in Silver City last fall.

Western has height galore. Shannon Rich, the Mustangs' only senior, is 6-4 and Heather Verrill, one of 10 juniors on the roster, is 6-3.  They ranked second and third in kills for the Mustangs last season. This is Jim Callender's 19^th season as the head coach.  The Mustangs' final victory last season was the 700^th of his career.

Cal Baptist, which was 21-7 a year ago, was the leading vote-getter in this year's Pac West preseason poll.  Its returnees include 6-1 Jenna Perry and 6-2 Lauren Hackett.  Both were first-team all-region last fall and Perry also received All-American recognition.  Perry is one of six seniors on the roster.