Women's Volleyball | 2/18/2021 2:23:00 PM

STORM LAKE, Iowa (February 18, 2021) - The Buena Vista volleyball team will begin its fall-to-spring schedule on Saturday afternoon when the team hosts Luther College for an American Rivers Conference battle inside of Siebens Fieldhouse.

THE MATCH-UP
Who: Luther (0-0, 0-0 A-R-C) at Buena Vista (0-0, 0-0 A-R-C)
When: Saturday, February 20, 2021  |  2:00 p.m.
Where: Storm Lake, Iowa  |  Siebens Fieldhouse

Live Video  |  Live Stats

INSIDE THE SERIES
This marks the 54th meeting between the two programs since the first match was played back in 1980...The Norse hold a 33-20 advantage overall, including two straight victories over the Beavers...BVU's last win in the series was a 3-0 shutout during the conference tournament in 2017...Each of the last five meetings played in Storm Lake have gone at least four sets.

LAST 5 MATCH-UPS
10/25/19  Luther 3, Buena Vista 1  |  Decorah, Iowa
10/20/18  Luther 3, Buena Vista 1  |  Storm Lake, Iowa
11/03/17  Buena Vista 3, Luther 0  |  Cedar Rapids, Iowa (US Cellular Center)
09/30/17  Luther 3, Buena Vista 1  |  Decorah, Iowa
10/01/16  Luther 3, Buena Vista 1  |  Storm Lake, Iowa

ABOUT LUTHER
The Norse will take the court for the first time this season and are looking to rebound from a 7-22 overall record (2-6 A-R-C) during the fall of 2019.  Sophomore Rachel Luebbe will be among the team's top returning attackers.  She was third on the team with 103 kills and a .188 hitting percentage.  She also chipped in with 26 total blocks on the defensive side.  Junior Anna Jenewein will help anchor the defensive side as she led the way with 310 digs which ranked ninth in the A-R-C.  The team will be looking to replace its starting setter from that team.  Jenewein is the leading returner with 59 assists.  

ABOUT BUENA VISTA
The Beavers will have a strong young and veteran core of players back from the 2019 team that finished 11-18 overall (3-5 A-R-C).  Junior Sydney McLaren will help lead the offensive attack at the net, alongside sophomores Katie Serkiz, Hannah Smith and Taylor Caves.  McLaren was an all-conference selection as a sophomore and an honorable mention performer as a freshman.  Last season, she ranked second in the A-R-C in kills per set (3.32) with Serkiz sitting 11th (2.74). Smith was third on the team with 255 total kills with Caves posting 126.  Dishing the balls their direction will be a combination of sophomore Taylor Wedemeyer, who ranked fourth in the A-R-C last season at 8.50 assists per set, and freshman Skylar Cole.  Cole led the Storm Lake Tornadoes in assists as a senior with 281 while also leading the way in digs with 136.  BVU will be replacing its all-time leader in digs (Summer Goss), who was fourth in the league last season (5.65).  Junior Jade Hays will be among those looking to fill those shoes.  She was fourth on the team with 230 digs and was fourth in service aces with 20.  BVU will have extra depth off the bench to turn to with eight freshman joining the roster.  McLaren and Hays are the only two upperclassmen (both juniors).

AROUND THE CORNER
The Beavers will travel to Nebraska Wesleyan next Tuesday night (Feb. 23) for an A-R-C match inside of Snyder Arena against the Prairie Wolves.