SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Indiana University South Bend volleyball team begins its 2019 campaign this weekend, Aug. 23-24 at the Viterbo Holiday Inn Express Preseason Tournament. The Titans square off with host school Viterbo University, ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Top-25 Poll, on Friday before concluding the tournament on Saturday against Mayville State University and Clarke University.
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Viterbo Holiday Inn Express Preseason Tournament | Varsity Athletics Center | La Crosse, Wisc.
Friday, Aug. 23: IU South Bend at #5 Viterbo | 7:00 p.m. | LIVE STATS | WATCH
Friday, Aug. 23: IU South Bend vs. Mayville State | 11:00 a.m. | LIVE STATS
Saturday, Aug. 24: IU South Bend vs. Clarke University | 1:00 p.m. | LIVE STATS | WATCH
Scouting the Titans
IUSB returns seven from last year’s squad and adds two standout junior college transfers and two freshmen. In 2018, IUSB went 14-20 overall with a 9-8 record in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference under head coach Jamie Ashmore’s eighth season. The Titans are recently coming off an exhibition match at Purdue Northwest that occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Starting the Year off Right
The Titans look to win their first match of the season for the second consecutive year after defeating Bethel University in four sets inside the Student Activities Center back on Aug. 21, 2018.
Titans Picked Fourth in the Conference
The NAIA released its conference group polls on Wednesday, Aug. 14 with the Titans being picked to finish fourth in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Trinity Christian (RV) was tabbed to take the conference with Saint Xavier (RV) and Trinity International (RV) taking second and third in front of IUSB.
Scouting the Competition
Viterbo – The V-Hawks were recently ranked fifth in the NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Top-25 Poll that came out on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Last season the squad finished with an overall record of 33-8, winning the NSAA Tournament before falling in the NAIA National Championship semifinal round to No. 3 Columbia College in four sets. The V-Hawks already have four wins under their belt after playing in the Xavier University Early Bird Invitational and defeating Loyola University, Cumberland University, Xavier and College of Coastal Georgia.
Mayville State – The Comets return senior Jayden Warner, who was the North Star leader in 2018 in digs per set, with an average of 6.1 per set in conference games. MSU finished last season with a 19-16 overall record and are coached by Lindsey Johnson, who enters her 12th season at the helm.
Clarke University – The Saints finished last season with a 25-9 overall record and a 12-6 Heart of America Athletic Conference record. On neutral courts, Clarke went an impressive 6-1 during the 2018 campaign and have begun the season winning all three of its matches. During their season opener, the Saints defeated CCAC foe Judson with a score of 3-1.
On the Horizon
Following the weekend, IU South Bend takes the week off before its home opener on Thursday, Sept. 5. The Titans welcome CCAC opponent St. Francis (IL) into the Student Activities Center for a 7 p.m. start.