ST. PAUL, Minn. – The top-ranked Concordia-St. Paul volleyball team returns to action this week as they open up the 2018 season on the road at the Ferris State Volleyball Invitational from Thursday to Saturday.
 
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
The Golden Bears will be heading to a new location this week as they make their first ever trip to Ferris State for four matches starting on Thursday. CSP gets things underway on Thursday at 5 p.m. CT against Hillsdale in the season opener before returning to action for two matches on Friday and one more on Saturday. Friday's matches feature a 1 p.m. start against Wayne State (Mich.) and a meeting with the host school #21 Ferris State at 5 p.m. Concordia wraps up play in the tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Rollins College.
 
The four matches feature unfamiliar competition for CSP as the Golden Bears have faced none of the four schools more than twice. Concordia enters with a 2-0 mark against Hillsdale while they have gone 1-0 against Rollins College and 0-1 against Ferris State. Friday afternoon's meeting with Wayne State (Mich.) will be the first meeting in the all-time series between the two schools.
 
When asked about facing some new opponents, head coach Brady Starkey pointed out that not much changes in their preparation. He pointed out, "We just try take care of our things on our side of the net and show up and play regardless of who we play."
 
2017 RECAP
Concordia continued their historic run during the 2017 season as they claimed their ninth NCAA Division II Volleyball Championship in the past 11 years, dropping just two sets total in their six NCAA Tournament matches. The Golden Bears finished the campaign with an overall record of 34-3 while they went 19-1 in NSIC play en route to also winning their 14th NSIC regular season title.
 
Last year's title effort proved to be one of the more impressive for the program as the Golden Bears entered the season with nearly an entirely new starting lineup. Seniors Mariya Sampson and Shelby Seurer were the only two with much starting experience heading into the season as Elizabeth Mohr, Brooklyn Lewis, Hope Schiller, Sydney Book and Tori Hanson were all first-year regulars for CSP.
 
Making the feat all the more impressive, the Golden Bears won 14 matches against opponents inside the top-25.
 
PRACTICE UPDATE
With all but Sampson and Seurer back from that unit, the Golden Bears are certainly not lacking experience heading into the 2018 season. "It's been good to get back in the gym. It hasn't taken us too long to get back into the flow of things. We're hoping we'll be able pick up where we left off in the spring and hit the ground running," said head coach Brady Starkey. When talking about the group, he added, "It's been a fun group to work with and has been for the last couple of years."
 
With much of last year's championship squad back in the fold, Starkey pointed out there are plenty of areas of that can still be improved moving forward. "We make an emphasis to pick off some things that maybe weren't at the highest level last year while we try to maintain a consistent level of what we did well," he said of the team's focus at practice.
 
One benefit in getting work done at practice has been having more healthy bodies available, especially at the middle blocker position. Starkey said of the increased depth, "It's been nice having a few more bodies in the middle, allowing us to scrimmage six-on-six a lot more than we were able to do last year."
 
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
The work put in on the practice court will be put to the test early and often as Concordia will once again have to navigate a tough schedule again this season.
 
After the opening the season in Michigan, CSP will make their annual trip to Denver for the Colorado Premier Challenge. Concordia will face Texas A&M-Commerce and MSU Denver on Aug. 31st before playing two more contests on Sept. 1st.
 
The Golden Bears will use the first two weekends as a measuring stick to see where the team is at heading into conference play. "We are hoping to see how this group competes without the kids we lost from last season's team. It will be nice to see some other people step up in some situations so we can get into a flow quickly," said Starkey of the non-conference slate.
 
The degree of difficulty remains at a high level in NSIC action as each of the first two matches feature opponents mention in the AVCA Preseason Top 25. CSP kicks off play on the road at Upper Iowa, who is receiving votes, on Sept. 6th before returning home to host #17 Winona State on Sept. 8th. Overall, the Northern Sun has six teams in the top-25 in the country with two more receiving votes, including the Golden Bears at #1.
 
On the level of play throughout the league, Starkey said, "It's daunting. It's what we face every year so it doesn't feel that different since we know it's coming, but you still have to be mentally prepared for it. Every game matters in making a regional and you have to make sure you come focused to play every night."
 
MEET THE GOLDEN BEARS
The 2018 Concordia roster includes a good mix of experience levels as the Golden Bears enter the year with four seniors, two juniors, two sophomores, four redshirt freshmen and a true freshman.
 
After injuries depleted the team's depth in the middle in 2017, the Golden Bears enter 2018 with Sydney Book, Sarah Macek, Leah Damerow and Kennedy Brady in the mix.
 
Book returns after an impressive first season with CSP as she moved over to fill in at middle blocker, making 25 appearances and 24 starts. She finished the year ranked eighth in the NSIC in hitting percentage at .351 while ranking fifth on the team with 182 kills and 2.09 kills per set. Despite playing out of her natural position, Book put up a team-best 0.85 blocks per set.
 
On the junior middle blocker, Starkey said, "Sydney looks even more comfortable at the position than she was last year. I thought she really started to go at the end of the year and she has picked up where she left off from there."
 
Concordia will receive a big boost with Sara Macek returning to action after missing much last season due to injury. The NSIC All-Academic performer earned Colorado Premier Challenge All-Tournament Team honors and was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week after a dominant start to the year last year. In her 13 matches, Macek ranked third on the team with 2.98 kills per set while leading the way with a .401 hitting percentage.
 
"It's great to see Sarah back in the middle. She has had a really dominant preseason and is tough to stop when she gets going. If she can stay healthy, she can be a massive difference maker for us," said Starkey.
 
Another middle welcomed back from injury this season is Leah Damerow. Damerow redshirted during her first year on campus last season due to injury. The redshirt freshman was an All-Conference performer at Irondale High School prior to joining the Golden Bears.
 
Starkey said of Damerow, "Leah hasn't really played in a year and a half due to injury so it's almost like she's starting new with us. Having a year of strength and conditioning has shown for her this fall as she looks even more physical than she was coming out of high school."
 
Rounding out the group is freshman Kennedy Brady. Brady capped off an impressive high school career at Lakeville North High School with a state title in 2017. The Lakeville native was a three-time All-Conference pick, earning All-Metro Second Team honors in her senior season.
 
"Kennedy is a very high-skilled, high-IQ volleyball player as a freshman. There's not a ton we have to deal with in terms of her intelligence on the court which is nice. Coming from high school, she's learning that she needs to be explosive on every jump to find success at this level which will bode well for her in the future," said Starkey of his freshman.
 
On the outside, the Golden Bears have a pair of returners set to fill the roles as Hope Schiller is back for her senior year and Erin Fallert returns for her sophomore campaign.
 
Schiller moved into a starting role last year after working as a defensive specialist in her first two seasons. The Anoka native came through with an All-NSIC Second Team season while also being named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. Starting all 37 matches, Schiller finished second on the team with 433 digs and third with 3.66 kills. She proved to be an all-around performer as she also ranked third on the team with 40 service aces and third with 73 total blocks.
 
Starkey said of the senior, "Hope is still doing her thing. She keeps getting more intelligent with the game which makes her hard to defend with her unpredictability. She also continues to be solid in the back row for us."
 
Fallert will be making the same move that Schiller made a year earlier as she moves from a defensive specialist role to a six-rotation role. Fallert shined in a serving role with 50 service aces, putting her 30^th in the country, while her 0.37 aces per set put her in fifth in the NSIC. Her 2.92 digs per set and .954 receive percentage also ranked third on the team.
 
Speaking of the Concordia Academy grad, Starkey said, "Erin was an incredible back row presence for us last season and I think people will be pleasantly surprised by her hitting. She's an efficient and intelligent hitter that doesn't make a lot of mistakes."
 
Concordia's setting unit features a pair of returners in Elizabeth Mohr and Payton Nutter while Ellie Veldman joins the group to give CSP three at the position.
 
Mohr returns after a season in which she led the nation in assists per set while 13.19 while being named AVCA All-America First Team. In her first season as a starter, the Eden Prairie native tallied 2,038 assists while leading the offense to a .288 hitting percentage. Mohr also provided CSP a weapon as a server as her 46 service aces and 0.34 aces per set both ranked second on the team. She shined in the postseason as she was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
 
"Elmo is really solid and consistent in putting up good balls. By the end of last year she had a really good grasp of what we were trying to do offensively and she seems to have picked that right up again this year," said Starkey.
 
Payton Nutter enters her second season on campus after redshirting in her freshman campaign for the Golden Bears. Prior to CSP, the Waterville native helped lead Bethleham Academy to three state titles
 
"Payton has made significant improvements since last year, especially in her decision making. She has a fantastic serve and puts our team in duress during practice which is great," said Starkey of the redshirt freshman.
 
Veldman joins Concordia after spending last season as a member of North Dakota's volleyball team. The Prior Lake native appeared in one match for the Fighting Hawks after setting the career assists record at Prior Lake High School. Veldman has missed much of camp due to injury.
 
Starkey said of the transfer, "What we've seen from Ellie on a technical standpoint, she has strong hands and sets a hittable ball, and we look forward to her future."
 
On the right side, Brooklyn Lewis is back for her senior season while Rachel Tschida is entering her redshirt freshman year.
 
Lewis burst onto the scene in 2017 as she put together an AVCA All-America Second Team season in her first year as a starter. Lewis was a focal point of the offense as she became just the seventh player in program history to average over 4.00 kills per set, registering in at fourth in the conference and 28^th in the nation at 4.01 per set. Her .338 hitting percentage also ranked 10^th in the league and 46^th in the country. Lewis finished the season strong, earning NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team and NCAA All-Tournament Team.
 
Starkey said of Lewis, "Brooklyn is repeatedly terminating the ball at a high level and has really turned into a dominant hitter for us. She's also done a good job of improving her blocking this year."
 
Tschida is back in navy and gold after redshirting in her first season at Concordia. The Little Canada native was a two-time All-Conference player at North St. Paul High School.
 
"Rachel moves around well and puts up an impressive block for us at practice. She still has a lot of potential and is still working on things offensively, but when things are lining up well she puts a good swing on the ball," said Starkey.
 
In the back row, the duo of Taylor Soine and Tori Hanson reprise their roles from last season as they played big roles in CSP's strong serve receive.
 
After making a few appearances in her first two years at CSP, Soine appeared in all 37 matches last season. She finished fifth on the team with 264 digs (2.00 per set) while her 413 receive attempts and .939 receive percentage ranked fourth.
 
Starkey said of the senior, "Taylor did a great job for us defensively last year, especially in serve receive. She's continued that this fall every day at practice and has also picked up her serving to be an even tougher in that area."
 
Hanson took the libero job and ran with it last year as she was named Colorado Premier Challenge All-Tournament Team and NSIC All-Tournament Team as a freshman. The Delano native ranked ninth in the NSIC with 4.24 digs per set while leading the team with 522 total digs. She showed her consistency as she collected double digit digs in 30 of 34 matches.
 
"Tori is an aggressive, hard-nosed player with a fighter spirit that helps our team in a big way. It was a great addition last year and should be a helpful thing for us over the next few years," said of the libero.
 
For pre and postgame updates along with coverage of the team, please visit cspbears.com to follow along throughout the season.