Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team begins the 2023 season at the Otter Volleyball Invitational in Seaside, Calif., where it will match up against Northwest Nazarene on Thursday at 6:00 p.m., Westmont College and CSU Monterey Bay on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., respectively, and Dominican on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. All match times are listed in Central Standard Time.
 
About the Mavericks:
The Mavericks finished the 2022 season with a 6-22 overall record, going 5-15 in NSIC play. The Mavericks are returning 11 of the team's student-athletes, as well as adding six newcomers to the squad. The Mavericks were ranked 10th in the NSIC preseason poll. Minnesota State is led by Corey Phelps, who enters his third season as head coach.
 
2022 Recap:
The 2022 Mavericks finished 12th in the NSIC rankings. Senior Sophie Tietz led the team with 220 kills and 28 service aces. Junior Brooke Bolwerk led the team in both assists and digs, recording 731 assists and 233 digs. Block leader, junior Kiya Durant, also contributed 181 kills to go along with her 109 blocks. Toryn Richards was one of the best all-around players for the Mavericks in 2022. The junior from Cleveland, Minn., finished second on the team in kills with 208, second in service aces with 22 and fourth in digs, recording 226.
 
Fresh Faces:
The Mavericks have added five athletes to their program that will compete in the 2023 season. Simara Amador (Eagan, Minn.), Elise Jensen (Rochester, Minn.), Caitlin McCormack (Omaha, Neb.), Avery Rosenberg (Chaska, Minn.), Skylar Walters (Omaha, Neb.) and Kendall White (DeWitt, Mich.) will compete for Minnesota State this season.
 
About the Nighthawks:
The Nighthawks of Northwest Nazarene finished 2022 with a record of 16-10, finishing sixth in the GNAC. The Nighthawks 2022 leaders in kills, assists and blocks all graduated. However, Caroline McMahon, the team's leader in aces and digs, returns for this new Nighthawks team. Coach Doug English returns to coach his 11^th season for the Nighthawks. Minnesota State is 2-1 all-time against Northwest Nazarene.
 
About the Warriors:
The Warriors are looking to have a season similar to their successful 2022 campaign. Westmont College finished with a 24-7 record, finishing first in the GSAC. The Warriors made it to the NAIA National Championship, eventually falling to Midland (Neb.) in the tiebreaker round. Westmont is returning its leaders in kills and aces, senior Phoebe Minch, and its digs leader, junior Kaili Hashimoto. Ruth McGolpin enters her fifth season as head coach for the Warriors.
 
About the Otters:
The Otters went 10-15 in 2022, finishing ninth in the CCAA. CSU Monterey Bay returns its leading assists leader, Ashley Vanderpan, leader in aces, Savanna Maker, and blocks leader, Mikayla Nolte. Head Coach Courtney Materazzi begins her second season coaching for the Otters. The Mavericks won their only matchup against the Otters back in 2012.
 
About the Penguins:
The Dominican University Penguins went 1-27 in 2022. The team returns its kills leader, junior outside hitter Ella Heckman. Deo Boongaling enters his first season as head coach of the Penguins.