Ottumwa, IA – With sights set on a return trip to the national tournament, Indian Hills Volleyball opens up its 2022 season on Friday at the Reiver Classic in Council Bluffs, IA.
DETAILS: 2022 Reiver Classic – Council Bluffs, IA
Friday, August 19 – Saturday, August 20
Watch Live (first match vs. Hutchinson only): Reiver Sports Network
Ranked No. 19 in the preseason NJCAA polls, the Warriors' gauntlet of a season-long 40-match schedule features 11 contests against teams ranked in the top-12 of the preseason poll, including two matches this weekend.
The Warriors open the season Friday against Hutchinson Community College (KS) at 1:00 PM and Casper College (WY) at 3:00 PM. Saturday's slate features a 1:00 PM showdown with No. 5 Butler Community College (KS) and No. 12 Jefferson College (MO) at 3:00 PM.
LOOKING AT THE WARRIORS
Indian Hills, picked to finish second in the ICCAC this year, enters the season with a wealth of experience coupled with a deep freshman class. Head coach Lyndsey Michel, entering her 11th season at the helm of the program, brings three third-year returners in setter Hennesys Lalane, middle blocker Jarolin de los Santos, and outside hitter Jenna Vallée. The roster also features experienced sophomores Esra Akcay, Lisa Bonnefoy, Erica Calderon Rosario, Haleigh Hadley, and Josi Schachle.
Michel's group of eight newcomers this season brings talent across the court on both sides of the ball along with plenty of height at the net.
SIZING UP THE BLUE DRAGONS
Third-year head coach Delice Downing is coming off a 19-16 record last year for Hutchinson. The Blue Dragons return two of its top three attackers last year in Blondie Penaflor and Sophie Connor who combined for 467 kills during their freshman campaigns. Hutchinson also returns its top setter in Andrea Serrano
The Warriors and Blue Dragons are 5-5 in their last 10 meetings with Hutchinson taking the most recent match, a 3-1 victory at Hutchinson on February 19, 2021.
SIZING UP THE THUNERBIRDS
Indian Hills and Casper have played three times since the 2011 season with the Warriors winning all three matches, dropping just one set along the way. The Warriors last defeated the Thunderbirds 3-0 at the OJC Volleyball Classic in Colorado on August 31, 2019.
Casper finished the 2021 season with a 13-19 record, but bring back seven freshmen from last year's squad, including its top blocker in Milena Franzini.
SIZING UP THE GRIZZLIES
Butler is coming off its best season in program history after going 37-4 overall and 16-0 in league play under head coach Lisa Lechtenberg. The Grizzlies, ranked No. 5 in the preseason poll, earned its first-ever trip to the NJCAA National Tournament last year. Despite losing a talented sophomore class, the Grizzlies bring back a strong freshman class led by All-KJCCC players Ivy Fink and Rainey Aven.
Indian Hills and Butler have met just three times since 2010, but Butler has managed to take all three contests, including a 3-0 win on Oct. 8 last season when the Warriors were ranked No. 15 and the Grizzlies were No. 7.
The two teams will meet again this year on Sept. 24 at the Blue Dragon Classic hosted by Hutchinson.
SIZING UP THE VIKINGS
The Warriors' most familiar foe, Jefferson enters the weekend ranked No. 12 in the preseason poll after making a run to the NJCAA National Tournament last year. The Vikings defeated eventual national champion Iowa Western in the NJCAA Midwest A District Tournament to earn an automatic bid to nationals.
Indian Hills and Jefferson have met 25 times since the 2009 season, with the Warriors winning 16 of those matchups, including a pair of wins over the Vikings last season. The two teams will meet again this season on Sept. 23 at the Blue Dragon Classic in Hutchinson, KS, with a potential third meeting in this year's NJCAA Midwest District Championship.
WHAT'S NEXT
The season-opening tournament for the Warriors will be followed by the team's home opener on Tuesday, August 23 at the Hellyer Center. Indian Hills will host Southeastern Community College at 6:00 PM. Fans can tune into GoHillsTV for all the action and the first 100 fans to the game receive this year's Indian Hills Volleyball poster. Fans can purchase tickets here: INDIAN HILLS VOLLEYBALL TICKETS
FOLLOW THE WARRIORS
Fans can keep up with the Warriors all year long on their social media channels:
Indian Hills Volleyball Twitter | Indian Hills Volleyball Facebook | Indian Hills Instagram