Complete PDF Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Volleyball: Lourdes University opens its seventh season of intercollegiate volleyball this weekend heading to the Red Raider Classic.  The Gray Wolves will play four matches over two days, including contests with top-25 foes Northwestern (Iowa) and Dordt.

Head Coach Greg Reitz: In his seventh season on the Lourdes bench, Greg Reitz has a 118-87 (.576) record at the helm of the Gray Wolves.  In his eighth season overall as a women's head coach, Reitz has a 138-122 (.531) career mark.  He is the only head coach in Lourdes program's history and was named WHAC Coach of the Year in 2015.

Series Notes: Lourdes has never faced Doane, Northwestern (Iowa), Dordt, or Briar Cliff in women's volleyball prior to this season.  All four schools are members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  The Gray Wolves are 1-1 all-time against GPAC schools, having defeated Mount Mary in straight sets in 2011 before falling in four sets to Hastings during pool play last year at the NAIA National Championship.

Wrapping Up 2015: Lourdes finished 2015 with a 33-2 overall record and a perfect 22-0 mark in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, winning both the regular season and tournament titles.  The Gray Wolves entered the NAIA National Championship 31-0 and defeated Trinity Christian in the Opening Round to qualify for pool play.  Lourdes fell to Hastings and Columbia (Mo.) before defeating Mount Vernon Nazarene.

Scouting Doane: The Tigers opened the season last weekend with three victories at the Saint Thomas Classic, defeating Florida Memorial, Rio Grande, and Warner.  Kaitlin Bradley tallied 62 kills and hit .377 in the four matches while Erin Warren led the defense with 76 digs.

Scouting Northwestern (Iowa): The Raiders went 1-3 last weekend to open the season at the Biola Summer Slam.  Northwestern defeated Vanguard in straight sets in the second match of the tournament.  Lauryn Hilger led the Raiders with 52 kills while Jillian Estes registered 41 digs defensively.  Northwestern is ranked 24th in the NAIA preseason top 25 poll.  

Scouting Dordt: The Defenders went 25-7 in 2015 and advanced to pool play at the NAIA National Championship.  Brooke Granstra returns to lead the offense after tallying 394 kills last year while hitting .321.  Defensively, Summer Jansen returns for her junior year after leading the team with 559 digs.  Dordt enters the season ranked 13th in the NAIA preseason top 25 poll.

Scouting Briar Cliff: The Chargers went 17-14 in 2015 and dropped all three matches in pool play at the NAIA National Championship.  Katelin Langel is the team's top returning offensive player, having led Briar Cliff with 331 kills last year.  Ruthie Schmitt handed out a team-high 555 assists for the Chargers, and returns for her junior year.

Lourdes in Season Openers: Lourdes is 5-1 all-time in season-opening matches.  Last season the Gray Wolves swept Governors State to open the season, one of three season-opening sweeps in program history.  Lourdes' lone loss in an opener came in 2014, a five-set setback to Union (Ky.).

Award Winners Return: Stephanie Ruffing earned Second Team All-America honors after being named the WHAC Player of the Year in 2015.  Molly Shonk, the WHAC Newcomer of the Year, was a Third Team All-America pick.  In addition, Meghan Birr was the 2015 WHAC Setter of the Year.  All three were First Team All-WHAC picks along with Ave Stout.  The four First Team selections that return are all entering their senior seasons with the Gray Wolves.

An Experienced Roster: The Gray Wolves have 15 players returning from the 2015 roster, and have added three freshmen and four transfers.  Lourdes has all six of its starters back from one year ago and just needs to replace its starting libero.

Nearing 1,000 Kills: Stephanie Richards enters the season needing just 21 kills to become the first Gray Wolf to reach 1,000 kills for her career.  Her 979 kills through three seasons is a school record, and 269 more than any other player in program history.

Birr Nearing Assist Record: Meghan Birr ranks second in school history with 1,368 career assists.  The senior is 83 helpers shy of Hannah Thompson's (2010-2011) school record of 1,451 career assists.  

More Records: Lexie Curtis is the school's career service ace record holder with 121 over her first three seasons, 40 more than Hannah Thompson's second place mark.  Stef Comte has recorded 247 blocks in three years, and holds the school mark by 109 over Andrea Brown (2012-2013).

This and That: This is the fifth straight year Lourdes opens the season with a neutral site match ... the Gray Wolves are 7-18 all-time against top 25 opponents but went 4-2 against ranked foes in 2015 ... Lourdes set single season records for wins (33), kills (1,719), attack percentage (.283), and assists (1,598) in 2015.