GUNNISON – Western State Colorado University women's volleyball team will head to Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, to compete in the 2016 Oredigger Classic this weekend. The team will send the entire squad to compete in four non-conference competition, two on Friday and a pair on Saturday.
 
The Mountaineers have a tough opening schedule, facing four teams that all faced a first round conference tournament loss last year. Western opens with a rematch against St. Cloud State, a team the Mountaineers lost to in three sets in the second game of last season. The team follows them up with an evening battle with Cal. State LA, a team that went 19-11 last season.
 
The second day will be the true test for Western, as the team will begin with Dallas Baptist (14-12), and close out the tournament against the No. 6-ranked team in Division II, Wayne State University (Neb.). The wildcats are coming off of a 28-8 season where they came back from a devastating first round loss in the conference tournament to win their NCAA Regional Tournament and advance all the way to the NCAA Division II Semi-Finals. This will be one of two matchups the Mountaineers and Wildcats will have this season, as the two will face again next week in the CSU-Pueblo Tournament.
 
Western is boasting a comeback of seven starters. Kills leaders Jordan Eatwell (288) and Tori Gaherty (287) return to lead the offense, along with middles Avery Burkholder and Molly Hothan. The single-season digs record holder Amanda Maestas will return at libero for the Mountaineers, with help from defensive specialist Logan Franek. Running the offense in the middle is setter Allison Walker who is coming off of her best season at setter.
 
The Mountaineers have a lot of depth, with six freshmen and four sophomores along with three more upperclassmen. Hannah Sauer, Maria Agazio and Kirsten Companik all provide depth at the outside hitter position. At rightside, Kaitlin Verhagen and Julianna Waller backup Gaherty, while Waller also works with Kitt Campbell to backup Walker at setter. Freshman Caiden Rexius will provide solid offensive power at outside hitter while also working in defensively with Franek. Linnea Sauer and Sarah Sparling add depth for Maestas and Franek on defense. Finally, Kathleen Kasel, Maddy Johnson and Taylor Ferrel add height and blocking ability at middle.
 
The Mountaineers open home competition Thursday, September 15^th, against Colorado Mesa University.