Volleyball Chosen as Favorite to Win GLIAC
Findlay, OH - The University of Findlay volleyball team has been picked to finish first in the South Division of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) as the conference office released their preseason poll on Aug. 9.
A year ago, the Oilers won 26 matches, won the program's sixth GLIAC South title, reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, and defeated Wheeling Jesuit, the eventual national champion.
The Orange and Black return three players who have all-American credentials: senior Hannah Tong, junior Nickyla Garverick, and sophomore Hailee Olson.
Tong has won an all-American award in the previous two seasons and currently has 1,083 kills in her career, ninth-best in a career at Findlay. Last season she had 509 kills. That mark was the best in the GLIAC and 12th in the country.
Garverick was an all-region player a season ago but did collect all-American status following her freshman season. In her career, she has 576 kills to go along with 209 blocks. Her blocks are the most on the team over the past two seasons.
Olson was last season's NCAA DII Freshman of the Year after finishing the season with 1,523 assists. That number places her fifth all-time in a career at UF after playing in just one season.
"Obviously, with three returning all-Americans, expectations are very high", said head coach Wick Colchagoff, now in his 19th season at UF. "There are also some incoming freshman who will come in and contribute so chemistry will be key."
The Oilers begin their season on September 1 when they travel to Pensacola, Florida to play four matches against teams which combined for a record of 126-24 last season.
September 9 vs. Clarion will be the first home match of the season and a week later, September 16, the Oilers will begin GLIAC play, a home contest against Ashland.