University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, August 30
Greeley, Colo.
7 PM
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Rutgers
Photo by: Woody Myers
Volleyball starts 2019 with a bang
8/29/2019 5:22:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
 After a long offseason, UNC volleyball is ready to play for wins and losses. The Bears start the season with the annual Hampton Inn and Suites Northern Colorado Classic and as usual the competition is of the highest level.
The season starts with a match against Big 10 member Rutgers.
- The Scarlet Knights are coming off a rough 2018 season that saw them go winless in the Big 10.
- Beka Kojadinovic is the leading returner on offense, she registered 204 kills last season.
- Sophomore Inna Balyko registered over 1,000 assists and more than 250 kills as a freshman.
- Last season Rutgers was swept by Illinois 6 sets to none. The Bears dropped a tough one to the No. 12 ranked Illini last season.
- RU will open the tournament against New Mexico on Thursday afternoon before taking on the Bears at 7 p.m.
- UNM finished in seventh place in the Mountain West last season with a conference mark of 9-9.
- Senior Lauren Twitty leads the offense into 2019 after notching 407 kills as a junior.
- Tai Bierria is no slouch on the outside and had 359 kills last season to prove it.
- The two teams have two opponents in common from last season and a combined six matches. UNM beat Idaho and split with Colorado State.
- This will be the second match for first-year head coach Jon Newman-Gonchar.
- The Lopes return three starters from last season.
- They are led by a trio of players who had over 200 kills last season.
- GCU finished seventh in the WAC last season at 4-12.
- GCU and UNC both played Idaho and Southern Utah last season and went a combined 3-0.
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