Kenosha, Wis. - The Parkside Rangers are set to begin the 2024 season this weekend at the Maverick Invite. The team will travel to Mankato, Minnesota, to play four games against Truman State, Upper Iowa, Minnesota State Mankato, and Minnesota State Moorhead.
To watch ALL matches this weekend: WATCH | LIVE STATS
Scouting Parkside:
The Rangers are coming off a historic 2023 season. The program collected more wins than they ever have before under Head Coach Leigh Barea, finishing with 19. Barea is expected to roll out a similar squad into battle this season, with four All-GLIAC players returning. Junior Ava Irvin finished with a magnificent 424 kills, ranking second most in the GLIAC. Irvin earned First Team All-GLIAC honors. Natalie Harris and Sam Fisch also return after being recognized on the Second Team All-GLIAC. Harris ranked third in the conference with 510 digs, while Fisch collected 266 kills, which was second-most for Parkside. Additionally, Karlee Lois tallied 1076 assists, placing fifth in the GLIAC. She earned Honorable Mention All-GLIAC honors.
Scouting Truman State:
The Bulldogs enter the 2024 campaign after a 12-16 finish last season. The program struggled in the GLVC, earning just two conference victories. The Bulldogs are projected to finish last in the GLVC this season. The program returns Jessica Proszenyak, their leader in kills per set at 2.54 from a year ago. Parkside and Truman State battled last season in Kenosha, where the Rangers bested the Bulldogs in three sets.
Scouting Upper Iowa:
Another GLVC team in Minnesota this weekend are the Peacocks. This is a program that was picked to finish in eighth place in the conference, with a new face at the helm. The Peacocks will see Jim Dietz make his head coaching debut for the program this weekend. The Peacocks return two key pieces, with All-GLVC honorees Zoe Semelroth and Nicole Pozorski back in the lineup. Upper Iowa appeared in the GLVC Tournament last season, after a 6-8 finish in conference. The Peacocks have won the last six matches against the Rangers, holding a 6-3 all-time record.
Scouting Minnesota State Mankato:
Parkside will face their first NSIC opponent of the season when they play the host team, Mankato. The Mavericks were picked to place ninth in the NSIC Preseason Poll after posting a 9-9 conference record last season. The squad returns Toryn Richards, who has been named Mankato's Preseason Player to Watch after ranking third in conference in kills (167) and digs (163).. This will mark the first match between Parkside and Mankato since 2021, with Mankato leading the all-time series 6-2.
Scouting Minnesota State Moorhead:
The Rangers will wrap up their first weekend with a match against the Dragons of Minnesota State Moorhead. The Dragons have been selected to finish 13th in the NSIC after winning just three conference contests last season. Senior middle blocker Abby Thompson returns to the lineup, having been named MSUM's Preseason Player to Watch. In 2023, she tallied a career-high 135 kills and 45 total blocks. Parkside and Minnesota State Moorhead met in Kenosha in 2023, where Parkside secured a four-set victory. This will be the third-ever clash between the programs.
