OMAHA, Neb. - Coming off its second consecutive 20-win season, the Omaha volleyball team is gearing up for the start of the 2023 campaign with an exhibition vs. Tulsa this Saturday at 3 p.m. in Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas. This will be the team's only exhibition before kicking off the season at home on August 25 vs. Texas A&M. 

Quick Hits

• The Mavericks went 20-11 last season and advanced to the Summit League Championship for the second season in a row, falling to No. 1 South Dakota 0-3.
• Omaha also participated in the NIVC Tournament for the first time in program history, facing Pacific in the first round and losing 1-3.
• The team's top returning player is McKenna Ruch, who is coming off one of the best seasons ever for a Maverick as she racked up 145 blocks (1.24 blocks/set), 305 kills (2.61 kills/set), and a .341 hitting percentage en route to becoming the second Maverick in the Division I era to earn AVCA All-American honors.
• Also returning is fellow First Team All-Summit selection Shayla McCormick. One of the top offensive players in the league in 2022, she recorded 438 kills (3.74 kills/set) and 43 service aces, as well as 370 digs (3.16 digs/set).
• Reigning Summit League Freshman of the Year Kali Jurgensmeier is back after leading all freshman last year in kills (264), hitting percentage (.261), and blocks (74).
• Other notable returners are Rachel Fairbanks, who is back for her fifth season after adding 113 kills in 2022, and Olivia Curry, who earned 322 assists and 18 aces last season.
• Nine newcomers join the Mavericks this year: Olivia Tukuafu, Amanda Hardt, Erica Fava, Bryn McNair, Emily Huss, Meghan Tiahrt, Makayla Tiahrt, Ivy Leuck, and Anika Ivester.

Scouting Tulsa
The Golden Hurricane went 13-18 last year and missed the AAC Tournament. 

Their current squad is fronted by 2022 First Team All-AAC selection Kayley Cassaday, who totaled 525 kills (4.49 kills/set) and 251 digs (2.15 digs/set). Tulsa's top blockers Arianna Mongare (60 blocks, 0.52 blocks/set) and Rachel Brown (54 blocks, 0.72 blocks/set) also make their return this season, as well as Marta Pecalli who led the team in digs (573, 4.90 digs/set).

Tulsa is led by new head coach Lauren Ramatowski, who spent the previous season as an assistant coach with Kansas State.

Series History
Omaha is 5-3 all-time against Tulsa, though, the Golden Hurricane holds the edge in Division I competition at 2-0 after picking up wins in 2012 and 2013.