PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico travels to the Centennial State this weekend to kick off the 2024 season in Pueblo, Colo. at the 2024 Steel City Showcase. First, ENMU plays Minnesota Crookston (8 a.m.) and Lake Superior State (12:30 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 6. Then, Eastern wraps up the weekend against Cal. State – East Bay (10:30 a.m.) and hosts Colorado State-Pueblo (2:30 p.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 7.
TUNE IN
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
- Eastern New Mexico come into 2024 following a 11-20 standing in 2023. ENMU landed in 14th place in the 2024 Lone Star Conference Preseason poll.
- The Greyhounds roster features ten newcomers, with Halle Sanders, Darcy Dodd, Sophia Valdez, and Teryn Foote returning to the lineup.
- Both Sanders and Dodd played considerable time last season, with both finishing in the top three on the team for digs per set (Dodd, 2.43 d/s | Sanders, 2.19 d/s).
- ENMU open their season in Colorado for the first time since 2017, when Eastern went to the Oredigger Classic in Golden, Colo. hosted by Colorado School of Mines.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
- Minnesota Crookston was selected 14th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) poll, after holding a 4-22 record, and 2-16 in conference in 2023.
- The Golden Eagles have a few key returners, including Maya Jones who led the team in points (256.5), points per set (3.25 p/s), kills (219 kills), and kills per set (2.77 k/s) in 2023.
- Defensively, Kailee Wassdorp finished in the top-10 in the NSIC in digs (421 digs) and digs per set (4.63 d/s).
- ENMU will be facing the Golden Eagles for the second time in program history. The two teams met last season in Odessa, Texas as the Greyhounds came away with a 3-0 sweep.
SCOUTING THE LAKERS
- Lake Superior State finished 9th in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason poll, after the Lakers finished 8-22 overall, and 5-13 in conference play.
- LSSU returns first team all-conference honoree Mariana Velasque, averaging 3.74 k/s with 408 total kills, and 4.22 p/s.
- Additionally, LSSU bring back Morgan Deming, who provided 134 kills and 52 blocks in their freshman season.
- Eastern New Mexico will face the Lakers for the first time in program history.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
- Cal State East Bay comes into the season following a 13-12 season, with a 9-9 conference record. Recently, the Pioneers were tied 5th in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) preseason poll.
- Middle blocker Mia Jordan was selected to the 2024 CCAA Volleyball watchlist, leading the team in blocking in 2023 with 79.0 total blocks with 8.0 b/s.
- Cal State East Bay also returns top offensive threat Lexi Pagani. Pagani provided 2.72 k/s last season, finishing with a team best 269 kills and 3.16 p/s.
- Eastern New Mexico will face the Pioneers for the first time in program history.
SCOUTING THE THUNDERWOLVES
- CSU-Pueblo is projected to finish 5th in the in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) preseason poll, following a 13-14 record, and 10-4 RMAC record in 2023.
- The Thunderwolves brought back 11 returners, with Sadi Scoville being the top offensive returner with 2.80 k/s and 289 total kills. Setter Sabrina King led the team in 2023 and is back with CSU-Pueblo after 5.33 a/s and 554 assists.
- Scoville also led the team in digs last season (318), while Golden Finch returners after leading the team with 88.0 total blocks.
- ENMU and CSU-Pueblo will meet for the 23rd time in series history, with the Greyhounds holding a 16-5-1 overall record (just one of two ties in ENMU Volleyball history). ENMU faces the Thunderwolves in Pueblo, Colo. for the first time in over a decade (9/8/12), with the Greyhounds winning the last meeting 3-2 in Austin, Texas (8/31/18).
