FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

SOMERS, Wis. (Sept. 10, 2015)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside volleyball squad hits the road for the second consecutive week, squeezing in four matches in three days at the Western Oregon Volleyball Invitational in Monmouth, Oregon.
 
The Rangers open the invite today with a 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) clash with Concordia University (Oregon) and return to the court on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. (PT) showdown with host Western Oregon University. UW-Parkside closes its West Coast trip on Saturday with matches against Adelphi University and California State University-Chico. The Rangers match against Adelphi is set for 12 p.m. (PT) with the Chico State contest set for 5 p.m. (PT). All matches will be played inside WOU's Physical Education Building with live stats provided for every contest.
 
About the Rangers: UW-Parkside (2-2) split its opening four matches last weekend at the Ferris State Invitational in Big Rapids, Michigan. The Rangers began the tournament strong, dropping perennial NCAA Tournament qualifier Metropolitan State University of Denver 3-1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-21, 25-19) last Friday, collecting 10 services aces and getting 18 kills from Rebecca Roembke before slipping past Mercyhurst University 3-2 (25-19, 12-25, 25-15, 20-25, 16-14) to finish the afternoon.
 
The Rangers saw its fortunes reversed the following day, stumbling 3-1 (25-15, 20-25, 25-23, 25-18) to Saginaw Valley State University and 3-0 (25-22, 25-8, 25-18) to Missouri Western State University.
 
Roembke and Jackie Langer highlighted the tournament for UW-Parkside, both earning a spot on the 12-player All-Tournament squad. Roembke averaged 3.2 kills per set for the Rangers over the weekend while Langer tallied 2.4 kills/set and nine service aces.
 
Lauren Hickson is the team leader in assists, averaging 7.7 per set while Jessi Mainczyk leads the team in digs with 2.7 per set. Jeni Heller accrued 16 blocks over the weekend to pace the Rangers, averaging 1.0 per set.
 
About the Cavaliers: Concordia (4-0) heads into Thursday undefeated, dropping just two sets last weekend at the GVSU Riverfront Classic in Allendale, Michigan. The Cavaliers opened the tournament with a 3-1 victory over host and then No. 7-ranked Grand Valley State University before dropping Quincy University 3-0 to close the day. Concordia defeated Ohio Dominican University 3-1 last Saturday and close the Classic with a 3-0 decision over Daemon College.
 
Cavalier libero Shantel Gritsch was tabbed as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, averaging 5.9 digs per set over the weekend, including a season-high 32 digs against nationally-ranked Grand Valley.
 
About the Wolves: Host Western Oregon (1-4) had a rough start to the season, dropping its opening four matches at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic in Golden, Colorado, before rebounding with a 3-0 win over Division III Lewis & Clark College on Tuesday.
 
Two of the Wolves four setbacks in Colorado came at the hands of ranked foes last Friday, stumbling 3-1 to then No. 19 California State University-San Bernardino and 3-0 to host and then-No. 8 Colorado School of Mines. On Saturday, the Wolves dropped a pair of 3-0 contests to the University of Findlay and Minnesota State University-Moorhead.
 
About the Panthers: Adelphi (4-0) heads to the Pacific Northwest undefeated after competing last weekend at the Shippensburg Tournament in Pennsylvania. The Panthers tallied 3-1 wins over Kutztown University and Wilmington University to open the tournament on Sept. 4 before notching 3-2 wins over Davis & Elkins College and host Shippensburg University.
 
AU libero Sierra Crook totaled 100 digs over the course of the tournament, averaging 5.6 per set along with 16 assists and four aces, securing Northeast-10 Conference Libero of the Week accolades.
 
About the Wildcats: Chico State (6-0) is the third squad heading to Oregon undefeated, winning all four matches at the Route 92 Showdown in Hayward, California before netting 3-0 victories over Simpson University and William Jessup University on Monday.
 
Five of Chico State's six wins have been 3-0 sweeps with California Baptist University the lone squad to push the Wildcats past three sets in a 3-2 (25-19, 18-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13) decision.
 
Monday's victories gave Head Coach Cody Hein 200 career wins at Chico State, now boasting a 200-145 mark at the university.
 
GLVC Prognostications: The GLVC released its annual coaches' poll on August 26 with UW-Parkside picked to finish fifth in the East Division. The Rangers racked up 64 points in the poll, finishing 14 points shy of fourth place University of Southern Indiana and 14 points clear of sixth place Bellarmine University. Defending East Champion University of Indianapolis secured the top spot, collecting 110 points and seven first place votes. Lewis University nabbed the No. 2 spot with 109 points and five first place nods followed by McKendree University in third with 97 points and four first place votes. Southern Indiana was fourth (78 points), followed by Parkside (64), Bellarmine (50), Saint Joseph's College (32) and University of Illinois Springfield (28).
 
In the West Division, Rockhurst University landed the preseason No. 1 position, raking in 115 points and 10 first place votes. Defending division and tournament champion Truman State University was slotted at No. 2 with 110 points and the remaining six first place endorsements. Missouri University S&T was third with 89 points while the University of Missouri-Saint Louis secured fourth with 77 points. Drury University was fifth with 60 points, followed by Quincy University in sixth (55 points), Maryville University in seventh (38 points), and William Jewell College in eighth (25 points).
 
Parkside's Paciero: Head Coach Christine Paciero begins her fifth season at the helm at UW-Parkside, owning a career mark of 134-92 and a 71-54 record with the Rangers. Paciero compiled a 63-38 record in three seasons at Dominican University (2008-2010) before taking over the reins at Parkside. She notched her 100th career win in the 2013 season opener, downing Anderson University on Sept. 6.
 
All-Academic: The UW-Parkside volleyball squad earned both the Team Academic All-GLVC Award and the AVCA Team Academic Award for the second straight year this offseason, boasting an impressive 3.44 team grade point average. Additionally returning student-athletes Meghan Conley, Jeni Heller, Lauren Hickson, Rebecca Kuske, Jackie Langer, Rebecca Roembke, and Lexi Turek were all honored as Academic All-GLVC honorees.
 
Three and counting: UW-Parkside posted a winning record for the third consecutive season in 2014, marking the first time since 1990 the program has strung together back-to-back-to-back winning campaigns. The Rangers streak began in 2012, posting a 21-10 record in Head Coach Christine Paciero's second year at the helm. Parkside followed it up with an 18-13 record in 2013 and a 15-13 mark last season. Under the direction of Terry Paulson the Rangers accumulated six consecutive winning seasons from 1985 to 1990 including a program-best 34-win season in 1986.