GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Third annual Cougar Classic
at California State San Marcos
Thursday thu Saturday, August 23-25, 2018
San Marcos, Calif. | The Sports Center
 
Info: San Marcos Preview | Tournament Page with schedule
Follow: Live Stats | Cougar Sports Network
 
IUP's weekend schedule
Aug. 23 vs. Cal State San Marcos, 9 p.m. EST
Aug. 24 vs. No. 8 Nebraska Kearney, 7 p.m. EST
Aug. 25 vs. No. 6 Lewis, 2 p.m. EST
Aug. 25 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills, 7 p.m. EST
 
Up next
Quality Inn Crimson Hawk Invitational
August 31-September 1
 
The weekend at a glance
The Crimson Hawks open their 2018 regular season with a trip to California for the Cal State San Marcos Cougar Classic. The six-team field is highly competitive and includes a pair of Division II top 10 teams in No. 6 Lewis and No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney. A total of 11 matches are spread out across three days, starting Thursday, August 23 and ending Saturday, August 25.
 
Notes
>> The Crimson Hawks were picked to finish third in the PSAC Southwest as the league announced its preseason coaches' polls this week. IUP received two of the 18 possible first place votes.
>> IUP returns two starters from last year's PSAC Southwest regular season championship team in senior opposite Sami Brown and senior libero Jess Marut. Brown was third on the team with 251 kills and 2.41 kills per set, while Marut ranked 12th in the PSAC with 533 digs.
>> Marut enters her senior year third in IUP history with 1,735 digs, 17 away from tying Sarah Rosenberry (2001-04) for second at 1,752. Emily Pany (2007-10) is the program's all-time leader with 2,670 digs.
>> Marut and Brown are joined by classmate Breanna Damiani, who has 547 career digs in three years as a defensive specialist.
>> IUP will feature a new setter as redshirt sophomore transfer Courtney Kijek, sophomore Dominica Niccolai, and true freshman Danielle Dirkman have competed in fall camp. Niccolai totaled 73 assists with 9.12 assists per set in limited playing time last year at IUP.