Wildcats Head To The Land Of 10,000 Lakes For the Up North Preseason Tournament

DULUTH Minn. - The Central Washington University volleyball team (2-2) is set to travel to Minnesota to take part in the 2023 Up North Preseason Tournament. The tournament is hosted by 7^th-ranked Minnesota Duluth, and consists of 5^th-ranked St. Cloud State, Southern New Hampshire, Northern Michigan, and Michigan Tech.

Taking place in Romano Gymnasium the 'Cats kick things off Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. against Northern Michigan and at 5:30pm are set to face the hosting UMD Bulldogs. Saturday, the Wildcats are set for two more matchups, starting with St. Cloud State at 10:00 a.m. and then Michigan Tech at 3:00 p.m.

The 'Cat Stats

The Wildcats are off to a strong start this season with eight of their first nine opponents making the NCAA Tournament last season, proving why they were picked to win the GNAC and even polled in the AVCA poll at 23.

Offense

The 'Cats are led by Kylie Thorne on offense with 60.5 points and 54 kills on the young season. Tia Andaya has an impressive 130 assists while Ashley Kaufman is off to a hot start with eight aces and a team second 46 points. Scottie Ellsworth has been a standout for the Wildcats with 40.5 points and 38 kills of her own.

Defense

The construction crew of Emma Daoud-Hebert and Hannah Stires has helped build the 'Cats strength on defense this season. Daoud-Hebert has been a wall with 22 blocks and Stires has worked the shovel with 52 digs this season.

Northern Michigan

The NMU Wildcats are 1-3 on the season after hosting their own tournament last weekend winning their opening match but dropping the following three. NMU is coming off a 23-9 2022 season with the green and gold Wildcats making the NCAA tournament but bowing out in the first round to Quincy in the Midwest Regional.

#7 Minnesota Duluth

The Bulldogs are off to a hot 4-0 start this season after sweeping their opening weekend at the Ferris State Invitational. UMD is coming off a 27-5 2022 season where they spent a majority of their time in the top-10 and seeing them make the NCAA Tournament but dropped out in the second round to national runner-up Concordia-St. Paul

#5 St. Cloud State

The Huskies are 4-0 this season after competing in the Seawolf Invitational, clean sweeping fellow GNAC teams Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks. St. Cloud State finished the 2022

season with a 28-6 record also seeing their season come to a close by Concordia-St. Paul in the Central Regional Final.

Michigan Tech

The Huskies are off to a 1-3 start to the 2023 season following their participation in the NMU tournament. In 2022 the Huskies finished the season 20-10 just looking on the outside of the NCAA Tournament, with their last match coming in the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals against Ferris State.

Action starts this Friday at 10:00 am at Romano Gymnasium in Duluth Minnesota against Northern Michigan. You can watch the matches on the NSIC Network HERE or follow along on UMD's live stats link HERE

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Players Mentioned

#16 Emma Daoud-Hebert: MB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore; Washington Volleyball Academy

#19 Ashley Kaufman: OH; 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore; Splash

#13 Hannah Stires: DS/L; 5' 5"; Sophomore; T3 Black

#20 Kylie Thorne: OH; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Shockwave Volleyball Club

#1 Tia Andaya: S/OH; 5' 9"; Junior; Central Region United

#3 Scottie Ellsworth: OH; 6' 2"; Freshman; North Pacific Juniors

Players Mentioned

#16 Emma Daoud-Hebert
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore; Washington Volleyball Academy
: MB

#19 Ashley Kaufman
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore; Splash
: OH

#13 Hannah Stires
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; T3 Black
: DS/L

#20 Kylie Thorne
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Shockwave Volleyball Club
: OH

#1 Tia Andaya
: 5' 9"; Junior; Central Region United
: S/OH

#3 Scottie Ellsworth
: 6' 2"; Freshman; North Pacific Juniors
: OH