Aug. 24, 2016
LET THE SEASON BEGIN
> San Diego State will begin its 2016 volleyball season on Friday, Aug. 26, when it faces Marist as part of the four-team Aztec Invitational. That match gets underway at 7:30 p.m. (PT) on Aztec Court in Peterson Gym. The other tourney participants include Denver and Michigan State. The Aztecs will face Michigan State on Saturday morning, Aug. 27, at 10:30 a.m. and conclude the tourney with a contest vs. Denver that evening at 7:00 p.m.
> Live stats will be available for all matches this weekend as well as live video webcasts with links located at GoAztecs.com. Navigate to the Volleyball page and click on the 2016 Aztec Invitational Tournament Page under the Quick Links on the right side of the page.
SERIES RECORDS
> San Diego State and Marist will be meeting for the first time ever on the volleyball court.
> The Aztecs have a record of 1-2 against Michigan State with the last meeting coming during the 1995 season. The Aztecs defeated the Spartans in 1978 then lost twice to them in 1995, once at the MSU Tournament and a second time at the NCAA Regional in Hawai'i.
> San Diego State's record against Denver stands at 1-1 with the Aztecs winning a match at the University of Arizona tournament in 2001 and the Pioneers winning at last season's San Francisco Invitational.
FOR OPENERS
> San Diego State's record in season openers stands at 21-19 since the sport began at SDSU in 1976. This will mark just the Aztecs' first opener at home since 2012. SDSU has a record of 16-13 when it begins the season on Aztec Court in Peterson Gym.
AZTEC VETERANS
> SDSU returns six starters and the libero from a team that compiled a mark of 12-19 overall and 9-9 in Mountain West play (tie-5th). Those starters include setter Hailey Jones (70.5 ast/s), outside hitter Alexis Cage 1.82 kps, 2.07 dps) and middle blockers Emma Fuzie (1.88 kps, 0.82 bps), Deja Harris 2.30 kps, 1.04 bps) and Baylee Little 2.27 kps, 0.54 bps) plus libero Devyn Pritchard (3.27 dps). Other returnees who saw significant playing time include outside hitter Alexandra Psoma (2.27 kps) along with defensive specialists Danielle Bolden (1.36 kps, 1.84 dps) and Alexa Saba (2.45 dps). Harris and Little were both named to the 2015 Mountain West all-conference team at the conclusion of last season. Also back are redshirt freshmen outside hitters Alexis Harris, Alyssa Mathis and Bailey Osborn. None of the three played during the 2015 campaign.
SIX FRESHMEN
Among the seven new players on the roster this season are six true freshmen.
> Outside hitter Ashlynn Dunbar was an two-time all-state selection in Texas (Clear Falls HS in League City) and was the 2015-16 Galveston County Athlete of the Year.
> Defensive specialist Sam McGrath was a first-team all-Alameda County-Foothill League honoree after helping her team (Bishop O'Dowd HS in Oakland) win the 2015 North Coast Section (NCS) Division III championship.
> Middle blocker Tamia Reeves was a 2015 all-district player at Hebron HS in Carrollton, Texas, where her team won the 2015 Texas 6A State Championship and was ranked No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the nation.
> Defensive specialist Loren Teter was a 2015 all-Sunshine League first team honoree as a senior and was also selected team MVP after helping lead her prep team (Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles) to the CIF semifinals.
> Middle blocker Charlee Thomas played three seasons at Mater Dei HS in Santa Ana, Calif. as her team won the 2015 CIF Championship.
> Outside hitter Hannah Turnlund was named to the West Catholic Athletic League second team after leading her squad at Presentation HS in San Jose, Calif., in kills as a junior and senior.
TRANSFER ADDED
> The Aztecs have also added one four-year transfer to their 2016 roster. Setter Indigo Thompson comes to SDSU after two years at Virginia Commonwealth where she redshirted in 2014 and was the starting setter in 2015. Last season Thompson was a member of the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and was also named to the all-tournament squad at the Wake Forest Classic.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
> The Mountain West coaches' poll has predicted the Aztecs to finish fifth in the 11-team league. In the 17 years of the MW's existence, SDSU has finished first (2012), second (2002, 2011), fourth (2000, 2001, 2003, 2013), fifth (2005, 2015), sixth (1999, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2014), seventh (2008) and eighth (2007) in the final league standings. Colorado State, the 2015 MW champion, has been chosen to successfully defend its title. The results of the preseason coaches' poll are as follows:
Team (1st-place votes) Pts. 1. Colorado State (6).......96 2. Boise State (4)..........92 3. Wyoming (1)..............80 4. New Mexico...............66 5. San Diego State..........64 UNLV.....................64 7. Nevada...................47 8. Fresno State.............35 9. Utah State...............2810. San Jose State...........2111. Air Force................12