Roswell, NM – The No. 9 nationally ranked Indian Hills Volleyball squad is set to open up the 2024 campaign this weekend at the NMMI Classic, hosted by New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM. The Warriors will take part in four matches over three days at the Cahoon Armory.

DETAILS: NMMI Classic

Thursday, August 22 – Saturday, August 24

Roswell, NM  |  Cahoon Armory

Coming off its second consecutive top-10 finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Volleyball National Championship, the Indian Hills Warriors are set to open up the 2024 season in Roswell, NM with the NMMI Classic. The Warriors, ranked No. 9 in the nation in the preseason national poll, will square off against some of the top teams in the country in a loaded field.

FIRST SERVE

The Warriors' ultra competitive 2024 schedule opens up on the road against four nonconference foes, including two top-10 nationally ranked opponents. 

• The Warriors are coming off a ninth-place showing at the 2023 NJCAA DI Volleyball National Tournament after a fourth-place finish in the 2022. Indian Hills posted a 31-11 overall record a year ago after winning both the ICCAC regular season and NJCAA Midwest District Championships.
• Head coach Lyndsey Michel, in her 13th season at the helm of the program, returns six sophomores from last year's national tournament team to compliment nine incoming freshman.
• Sophomore Sara Van Gisteren looks to build off a dominant freshman campaign that resulted in NJCAA and AVCA All-American honors for the Warriors.
• Sophomore Ana Carolina Westerich ranked fourth in the nation last year in total assists while Sabrina Nogueira Da Silva earned NJCAA All-Region 11 honors as the team's primary libero.
• The Warriors will be making their first-ever trek to the state of New Mexico.

MICHEL'S NOTES

"We are looking forward to high-level play, in a totally new place. Excited to see a couple lineups and who rises to the occasion. We've had a couple of great scrimmages and have played well, but we are biting at the bit to get in the real action.  

Sara (Van Gisteren) had a great showing during both scrimmages and it was very promising seeing multiple freshmen step up already. We have depth and we have options."

SCOUTING THE FIELD

The Warriors open up the three-day extravaganza against Eastern Arizona College followed by a doubleheader on Friday against Dodge City Community College (KS) and No. 7 Weatherford College (TX). The Warriors close out the week against No. 8 Odessa College (TX) on Saturday.

• Eastern Arizona made a run to the NJCAA Rocky Mountain B District Championship last year and finished the season with a 24-12 record. 
• The Warriors are 1-0 all-time vs. the Gila Monsters, a 3-0 victory in Yuma, AZ on August 26, 2021.
• Dodge City posted a 16-17 overall record a year ago, but made a run to the NJCAA Plains District Championship semifinals. 
• Indian Hills and Dodge City have met just once in program history, a 3-0 win for the Wariors on August 18 of last year in Council Bluffs, IA.
• Weatherford placed eighth overall at last year's national championship after winning the NJCAA Southwest A District Championship.
• The Warriors and Coyotes, who are in just their third season of exitsence, will be meeting for the first-time.
• A perennial power, Odessa earned the No. 8 overall seed at last year's national tournament and entered this year's preseason poll at No. 8.
• The Warriors and Wranglers have crossed paths just four times, including three since 2019. Odessa bested Indian Hills 3-1 on August 25 last year in Odessa.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Warriors will open up the home portion of their 2024 schedule Tuesday, August 27 against Des Moines Area Community College at the Hellyer Center. First serve is set for 7:00 PM.

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