Volleyball Opens Season with First Day of Practice

2010 VOLLEYBALL QUICK FACTS

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona women’s volleyball team starts the 2010 season with its first day of practice on Monday at the Rolle Activity Center.  The Lumberjacks hold preseason camp until their first match against Central Arkansas at the UniWyo Wyoming Invite on August 27-28.

Head coach Craig Choate enters his third season at NAU and returns 10 letterwinners all with starting experience.  The Lumberjacks also bring in four newcomers rounding out a roster of 14.  The group consists of two freshmen, six sophomores, five juniors, and one senior. 

"We are excited to start practice and get the season underway," Choate said.  "We have a talented group of returners back to build around and also brought in several players that we think will contribute throughout the year.  This should be a good season." 

NAU will compete in three tournaments to open the year followed by the 16-match Big Sky Conference season.  The Lumberjacks travel to the Wyoming Invite then return home to host the Fiesta Bowl Classic followed by the Wolfpack Invitational in Reno, Nev. 

NAU went 8-17 with a 5-10 record in the Big Sky Conference last fall.

DID YOU KNOW…Northern Arizona University finished tied for second in the Sterling Savings Presidents’ Cup standings in 2009-10. The Sterling Savings Cup reinforces the Big Sky’s dedication to the academic side of the student-athlete experience. Overall athletic success is combined with team grade point averages, graduation rates, and All-Conference performers with grade point averages of at least 3.0 to determine the winner. NAU led the conference with 37 first or second-team all-conference performers who recorded a 3.0 GPA or better.