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

SOMERS, Wis. (Sept. 24, 2015)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside volleyball team embarks on its first road trip of the Great Lakes Valley Conference season, continuing interdivisional play this weekend against the University of Missouri-Saint Louis and Maryville University.
 
The Rangers open the trip at UMSL on Friday with first serve slated for 7 p.m. The trip concludes on Saturday, facing Maryville at 3 p.m. Live stats and video are available for both matches.
 
About the Rangers: UW-Parkside (7-4, 1-1 GLVC) packs its bags having won five of its last six games, including a 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-17) sweep of previously undefeated Michigan Tech University in a non-conference clash on Tuesday.
 
The Rangers opened conference play on Sept. 18, edging Missouri University S&T 3-1 (25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 25-12) for the team's fourth consecutive win and held a 2-0 lead on Drury University the following day before surrendering the final three sets and ultimately suffering a 3-2 (24-26, 16-25, 25-13, 25-23, 15-12) setback to the Panthers.
 
In Tuesday's non-league win over Michigan Tech, the Rangers netted seven service aces, including five in the opening set while Rebecca Roembke led the team with 12 kills.
 
Roembke leads the Rangers and sits second in the GLVC in kills, averaging 3.8 per set while Jackie Langer contributes 2.8 kills/set. Lauren Hickson sits sixth in the conference in assists, averaging 8.9 per set as the primary setter while defensively Meghan Conley leads the way averaging 3.8 digs per set. Jessi Mainczyk tallies 3.3 digs per set and is dangerous off the serve with a team-best 15 aces in 2015.
 
About the Tritons: Missouri-Saint Louis (4-6, 1-1 GLVC) enjoys the comforts of the Mark Twain Building for the first time this season after spending the opening three weeks on the road. The Tritons head into Friday's clash having won three of their last four matches with the lone setback a 3-0 defeat to the University of Indianapolis last Saturday. Prior to the loss, UMSL had collected wins over Harding University (3-0), local rival Lindenwood University (3-1), and Saint Joseph's College (3-0).
 
Maddy Russell powers the UMSL attack, averaging 2.7 kills per set while Hannah Miller adds 2.2 per set. Lindsay Meyer is the primary setter, posting 7.2 assists per set with Alivia Brinker and Olivia Gillum averaging a team-best 4.9 digs per set.
 
About the Saints: Maryville (5-5, 1-1 GLVC) split its games last weekend to open GLVC action, getting swept 3-0 by UIndy last Friday before reversing its fortunes on Saturday, sweeping host Saint Josephs' 3-0.
 
The Saints have struggled at home this season, owning just a 1-3 mark in matches inside the Simon Athletic Center.
 
Ashley Selman is MU's top offensive threat, averaging 2.6 kills per set while Maddie Timmermann chips in 2.4 per set. Taryn Trubich collects 8.1 assists per set and defensively, Ali Lampen registers 4.3 digs per set.
 
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 139-94 and a 76-56 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.