After opening their season with a 2-2 record at the Oredigger Classic, hosted by the Colorado School of Mines, the Colorado Mesa University volleyball team will head to Texas this weekend to compete in the Lubbock Christian University Chap Classic in LCU's Rip Griffin Center.

The Mavericks open the tournament on Thursday evening at 5 p.m. CDT (4 p.m. Mountain) against the host Lady Chaps before facing Eastern New Mexico University on Friday at 11 a.m. CDT (10 a.m. Mountain) and Southwestern Oklahoma State University later that day at 3 p.m. CDT (2 p.m. Mountain).  The Mavericks then wrap up the weekend on Saturday at 11 a.m. CDT (10 a.m. Mountain) against Texas Woman's University, a team the Mavericks needed just 63 minutes to sweep in three sets last weekend.

Fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member Colorado Christian University is also competing in the 6-team tournament but will not face the Mavericks.

Live streaming coverage of all the matches will be provided by LCU and can be viewed here.  Live statistics will also be provided, courtesy of LCU, at the various links listed on the Mavericks' schedule page.

Important Regional Weekend

Although Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play does not begin until next Tuesday (Sept. 12), this weekend's results will go a long ways in shaping the Mavericks' standing in NCAA South Central Regional Rankings later this season.  Three of the Mavericks' opponents this weekend – Eastern New Mexico (Lone Star Conference), Lubbock Christian (Heartland) and Texas Woman's (Lone Star) — are also in the same region while the other – Southwestern Oklahoma State – will count as a regional opponent under the NCAA Division II Regionalization philosophy and contiguous state provision.  The Mavericks are 2-0 against other teams in the region thus far in 2017 after defeating Western New Mexico and Texas Woman's last weekend and have a 2-1 "in-region" record, which counts the match against Cal State-San Bernardino.

Digging her way into the top 10

Preseason RMAC Defensive Player of the Year Taylor Woods began the season ranked 15th on CMU's career digs chart and has already moved up to 12th after last weekend's tournament that saw her tally 65 digs in four matches.  Standing with 1,121 career digs despite being her junior season, Woods will likely move into the top 10 this weekend.  The libero out of Glendale, Ariz. needs just 18 digs to tie Kelly Beer (1139) for the 10th spot and could very easily move as high as sixth this weekend.  Drew Choules currently occupies that position at 1212, ahead of Phyllis Jennings (7th, 1197), Stacey Vogel (8th, 1191) and Kate Matthews (9th, 1145).

RMAC Stat Rankings

Woods' 65 digs are the most of any player in the RMAC thus far and currently ranks her third in the RMAC for digs per set average at 4.64.  She is one of three Maverick players in the RMAC's early season statistical leaders.  Fellow junior MacKenzie Edwards is second for kills per set (4.43) while sophomore setter Samantha Ritter stands second for assists, averaging 11.50 per set.  As a team, the Mavericks are ranked second amongst the conference's 15 teams for both kills (13.86) and assists (12.86) per set.  They also rank fourth in team hitting percentage (.210) and fifth in opponent hitting percentage (.154).

Early Season Honors

Samantha Ritter was named as the RMAC's Setter of the Week for the opening season of the week after doling out 161 assists at the Oredigger Classic.  She had a then career-high 42 against Rollins (Fla.) on Friday evening before dishing out 47 in Saturday's match against Cal State-San Bernardino.  Ritter, who also tallied 28 digs and 13 kills during the weekend, has a .417 personal attack percentage as well.  She is one of four Mavericks to have already received honors this season as Woods, MacKenzie Edwards and Hattie Gianinetti were all named to the Preseason All-RMAC squad last week.  Woods was also tabbed as the RMAC's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year.

Scouting the Opponents

Lubbock Christian is 1-3 on the young season after competing in the Concordia-Portland Labor Day Tournament.  The Lady Chaps' lone win came in their opener against RMAC member Westminster.  A rash of injuries plagued 15th year coach Jennifer Lawrence's squad, which has been picked to finish second in the Heartland Conference, according to that league's preseason poll.  The Lady Chaps also had three players named to the Preseason All-Heartland Team in outside hitter Emily Hanaway, setter Mallory Powell and libero Kelsie French.  Hanaway saw limited action last weekend while Powell went down with an injury in their second match of the weekend against Western Oregon.  French did have a strong weekend averaging 6.08 digs per set from her libero position.  The Lady Chaps went 19-11 a year ago, losing in the finals of the Heartland Conference Tournament to Arkansas-Fort Smith. 

Eastern New Mexico is currently 0-4 but had a brutal schedule at the Oredigger Classic.  Although they did not face the Mavericks, the Greyhounds did take on then No. 13 Wayne State (Neb.), No. 19 and host Colorado Mines and No. 10 Augustana (S.D.) as well as RMAC member Regis.  They took one set off Wayne State in their opener.  They were picked to finish sixth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll and lay claim to LSC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Andrea Aguilar, a senior libero who recorded 47 digs in their four matches to begin the season.  The Greyhounds went 19-13 overall and 13-7 in the LSC last year.

Southwestern Oklahoma State went 1-3 at last weekend's West Texas A&M Lady Buff Classic.  The Bulldogs are coming of a 14-17 campaign in 2016 and have been picked sixth out of 12 teams in the Great American Conference Preseason Poll.   Freshman middle hitter JaLisa Hollingshed had a great start to her collegiate debut recording 29 kills, a team-high 12 blocks and a .286 attack percentage to earn all-tournament honors.  The Bulldogs defeated RMAC member CSU-Pueblo in five sets at that tournament.

Texas Woman's went 0-4 at the Oredigger Classic.  Three of their losses, including the one to the Mavericks came in straight sets although they did take a set against Regis in their final match of the weekend.  Miri Shade led the Pioneers with 36 kills throughout the tournament, an average of 3.27 per set that ranks her fourth in the Lone State Conference.  The Pioneers were picked eighth in the LSC and went 9-20 a year ago.

Up Next

After this weekend's tournament, the Mavericks will have a short turn-a-round before beginning RMAC play on Tuesday, Sept. 12 against Western State Colorado, a match that will also be their home-opener.