"The staff is ready, the girls are ready, and what seems like months of anticipation has cultivated into this moment, the preseason," said coach Hall. "Our volleyball IQ, skills and team chemistry increased so much in the spring and now it's time to put all that hard work into action in preparation for our Fall schedule. These next 16 days will be a great test of who we are as a team and what direction this program is going to take. I'm looking forward to getting back on the court and working with the girls in my inaugural season as a Leatherneck."

SENIORS

The Leathernecks return nine members from last year's team led by seniors Bridget Murphy and Katie Hosteng. Murphy led The Summit League and ranked fourth in the nation with 5.98 digs per set last season, and her 580 total digs in 2011 is the fourth best single-season performance in program history. Hosteng led the squad with 2.62 kills per set, and ranked third on the team with 241 total kills.

JUNIORS

The two juniors returning to the squad are Sarah Fetter, who had nine 40-plus assist efforts, including a season-high 50 assists at South Dakota, and Heather Smith, who over the final eight matches of the season led the squad with 69 kills and 2.46 kills per set.

SOPHOMORES

A sophomore class of five return to campus in Ann Miller, Molly Murphy, Bailey Kaloupek, Mallory Gibson and Samantha Fournier.

Miller was named to The Summit League All-Freshman Team, Molly Murphy led the squad and ranked first in The Summit League with 43 service aces, Kaloupek collected six double-digit dig efforts in 2011, including a season-high 16 against South Dakota, Gibson topped the team with 0.80 blocks per set and ranked second with 61 total blocks, and Fournier had six double-digit kill efforts last season and had five over the first 10 contests of the season.

FRESHMEN

The Leathernecks enter the 2012 season with three newcomers, all freshmen, in twin sisters Leighanne Novak and Kaitlynn Novak, and Jordan Jackson.

MORE PRESEASON INFORMATION

The Leathernecks are scheduled to open their 2012 campaign with the SIU-Edwardsville Invitational on August 25 and 26 where they will face Montana State, invitational hosts SIU-Edwardsville and Santa Clara.

The team will compete in two other invitationals on the road before opening its home schedule versus Chicago State on September 11.

To view the 2012 Volleyball Quick Facts, click HERE.

To view the updated volleyball record book, click HERE.

To view the 2011 overall stats, click HERE.

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