CARSON, Calif.  Western Colorado heads south for its next outing, participating in the two-day Toro Classic hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills on September 2-3.

The Classic brings three new opponents to the program history list, beginning with the host Toros followed by Stanislaus (Calif.) State and then Winona State (Minn.) University.

MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS
Western opened its season at the Oredigger Classic hosted by No. 11 Colorado School of Mines. Mountaineer opponents in the Classic included the Orediggers, No. 22 Southwest Minnesota State University, Northern State (S.D.) University, and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe Colorado Christian University in a non-conference match.

Though they finished the Classic without a victory, the Mountaineers were a challenge for all four opponents, including taking the highly-ranked Orediggers into extra points (28-26) in a deciding third set.

The attack at the Classic was led by Caroline Parker (25 kills) and Jaeda Davis-Golliher (22), with Hailee Martinez and Lexi Wilmoth splitting time in setting up the attack. Martinez finished the weekend with 45 set assists while Wilmoth accumulated 43.

Defensively, Davis-Golliher collected three solo blocks and four block assists to lead the efforts at the net, and Elizabeth Rupprecht came up with a team-high 33 digs on the floor.

CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS
The Toros have already matched their win total from last season (2-21, including a 3-2 loss to the RMAC's Westminster College), opening the 2022 campaign with a 2-1 mark. Their one loss came against No. 23 Michigan Tech.

CSU Dominguez Hills is paced on the attack by both Cassie Taylor (30 kills) and Camila Sanchez-Tellez (30). The duo have accumulated 47 percent of the team's kills (57 of 121).

Angelina Cabal has a team-best 58 set assists, but Mya Tillman also contributes with 41 assists.

The Toros rely on teamwork at the net defensively with Mary Kirkwood earning no solo blocks but 11 block assists, that combine with Sanchez-Tellez' 7 BAs and Shelby Saporetti's 7 for a solid net-front presence.

Dominguez Hills has four players with at least 20 digs, led by Angelina Robles' 38.

STANISLAUS STATE HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS
The Warriors posted a 12-14 mark overall and an 8-10 record in the California Collegiate Athletic Association last season. Already this season they are 3-1 after a season-opening trip to the Magic Island Hawaii Classic.

Haley Burdo, distributing 68 set assists, controls the attack for Stanislaus. Ellison Weaver's 34 kills and Macky Morris' 30 are team highs with the pair combining for 41% of the Warriors' cumulative kills total (64 of 156).

Alex Byrd is a defensive force at the net tape for Stanislaus, accumulating six solo blocks and 14 block assists to force opponents to plan attacks around her.

Heading into the Toro Classic the Warriors' Gabby Rawson has 65 digs, more than any defender that will step onto the Torodome court on Friday.

No. 25 WINONA STATE HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS
Also the Warriors, Winona State is coming off a season in which it earned a spot in the 2021 NCAA Division II national tournament following a 28-5 season that included a 17-3 record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

The Warriors made it to the NSIC tournament championship game and despite the loss, earned an at-large bid into the NCAA tourney where their season ended in the regional quarterfinals.

Starting the 2022 ranked No. 15 in the preseason AVCA poll, Winona State's 2-2 record to open the season dropped it to No. 25 in the just-released Week 1 poll. All four season-opening games at the Concordia-St. Paul Tournament were against unranked opponents.

Jaci Winchell is far and above the leading setter of Winona State and of the other teams playing in the Toro Classic. Winchell has accumulated 92 set assists for the Warriors.

With that figure it's no surprise that three Warriors have registered at least 30 kills for the Warrior attack, led by Madison Larson's 51.

While Stanislaus has a defender with 65 digs, Winona's Casey Volkmann is just one shy of that number, leading a trio of Warriors with at least 40 digs.

As with host Dominguez Hills, Winona is quick to put up pairs at the net defensively, registering just four solo blocks as a team, but accumulating 53 block assists with Mikenna Joerger topping the team with 18 BAs to go along with 1 of the solo blocks.

UP NEXT FOR WESTERN COLORADO
The Mountaineers complete the non-conference portion of their schedule at the Toro Classic, embarking in RMAC play on Sept. 9 and 10 against S.D. Mines and Colorado Christian, respectively, in a home-opening weekend at Paul Wright Gym.