Rockhurst will open its 2015 volleyball season on Friday (Sept. 4) in Alaska at the SpringHill Suites Invitational, hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The Hawks open the season with matches against Cal Poly Pomona and Alaska Anchorage. Rockhurst will play a total of four matches over two days. The 23rd-ranked Hawks will meet Azusa Pacific and fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.
 
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The Hawks are coming off a 28-5 record and NCAA Midwest Regional final appearance in 2014. Rockhurst is the preseason favorite to win the West Division in the Great Lakes Valley Conference after finishing second in the GLVC West last year.

Head coach Tracy Rietzke returns six starters from last year's team, led by senior middle hitter Preecy Seever and junior outside hitter Morgan Rietzke. Seever and Reitzke combined for 655 kills and 168 blocks last year. Senior setter Whitney Kostal has started the past three years for the Hawks. Senior middle hitter Katie Loescher and senior right side hitter Alyssa Arnold also return, along with sophomore libero Anne Hellwege and senior defensive specialist Lauren Poulicek.