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Rockhurst University Athletics

Lily Thornberg

Women's Volleyball By Ryan Crawford

Hawks poised to defend GLVC West Division title in 2017

Senior setter Lily Thornberg led the Hawks with 858 assists last year.
The 23rd-ranked Rockhurst Hawks enter the 2017 season in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with large expectations after finishing with a West Division first-place record of 16-2 in 2016.

The Hawks' new 6-2 attack will be led by senior setters Lily Thornberg and Grace Carter this season. Carter will also serve as a hitter on the right side for Rockhurst.

2016 GLVC Freshman of the Year Alyssa Woodman returns for her sophomore campaign with the Hawks as an outside hitter. Two 2016 second team All-GLVC honorees—middle hitter Mary Rolf and libero Anne Hellwege—are an integral part of the outlook for the Hawks in 2017.

"We have good, experienced players returning," said head coach Tracy Rietzke on his team's outlook for the upcoming season. "We have experience in our setters and libero. We will need to fit a few new people in our lineup."

Junior Kalie Arnold returns as a defensive specialist for her junior season, while Karli Reichert and Emma Kriete will fill in as hitters. After sitting out last season due to transferring from Valdosta State, Emily Matio will start as a middle hitter.

Freshmen Audrey Arand of Union, Mo., and Lauren Reding of St. Louis could make an impact in their first season at Rockhurst.

While the Hawks have plenty of talent, depth could still be an issue. "We can't afford to get anybody hurt," Rietzke said. "We are thin in a few spots."

Rockhurst will open the season in two of out-of-town tournaments, beginning this week in Stephenville, Texas.

"We open the season with two tough tournaments (in Texas and Nebraska)," Rietzke said about his team's early schedule. "We play two top 25 teams in Tarleton State and Nebraska-Kearney. The other games in those tournaments will be competitive."

The Hawks open conference play with an away game Sept. 14 at William Jewell.

Even though the Hawks were selected as the favorite to win the GLVC West yet again in the annual GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll, there will still be tough competition throughout the conference.

"Top to bottom, our conference will be very competitive," Rietzke said. "Lewis, McKendree and Truman State will be strong."

The Hawks make their Mason-Halpin Field House debut Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. against Lindenwood.
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Players Mentioned

Lauren Reding

#9 Lauren Reding

OH
5' 11"
Freshman
Rockwood Thunder
Audrey Arand

#22 Audrey Arand

OH / RS
5' 11"
Sophomore
Rockwood Thunder
Kalie Arnold

#5 Kalie Arnold

L
5' 5"
Senior
Topeka Saints
Emma Kriete

#13 Emma Kriete

RS
5' 11"
Junior
Rockwood Thunder
Emily Matio

#18 Emily Matio

MH
6' 1"
Senior
Munciana
Karli Reichert

#6 Karli Reichert

OH / RS
5' 11"
Junior
Club North
Mary Rolf

#2 Mary Rolf

MH / RS
5' 11"
Junior
Platform Elite
Alyssa Woodman

#11 Alyssa Woodman

OH
6' 0"
Junior
Premier
Anne Hellwege

#3 Anne Hellwege

L
5' 5"
Senior
Rockwood Thunder
Grace Carter

#4 Grace Carter

S / RS
5' 11"
Senior
CYC
Lily Thornberg

#17 Lily Thornberg

S
5' 10"
Senior
Kansas Jets

Players Mentioned

Lauren Reding

#9 Lauren Reding

5' 11"
Freshman
Rockwood Thunder
OH
Audrey Arand

#22 Audrey Arand

5' 11"
Sophomore
Rockwood Thunder
OH / RS
Kalie Arnold

#5 Kalie Arnold

5' 5"
Senior
Topeka Saints
L
Emma Kriete

#13 Emma Kriete

5' 11"
Junior
Rockwood Thunder
RS
Emily Matio

#18 Emily Matio

6' 1"
Senior
Munciana
MH
Karli Reichert

#6 Karli Reichert

5' 11"
Junior
Club North
OH / RS
Mary Rolf

#2 Mary Rolf

5' 11"
Junior
Platform Elite
MH / RS
Alyssa Woodman

#11 Alyssa Woodman

6' 0"
Junior
Premier
OH
Anne Hellwege

#3 Anne Hellwege

5' 5"
Senior
Rockwood Thunder
L
Grace Carter

#4 Grace Carter

5' 11"
Senior
CYC
S / RS
Lily Thornberg

#17 Lily Thornberg

5' 10"
Senior
Kansas Jets
S