OMAHA, Neb. - The Mavericks will officially begin their 2023 season this weekend when they host Texas A&M and Kansas in the Omaha Invite presented by Sarpy County Tourism. Pepperdine will also compete in the event, though, will not face Omaha.

Weekend Slate

• Friday, August 25, Kansas vs. Pepperdine at 3 p.m.
• Friday, August 25, Omaha vs. Texas A&M at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, August 26, Pepperdine vs. Texas A&M at 2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, August 26, Omaha vs. Kansas at 7 p.m.

Quick Hits

• The Mavericks are coming off their second consecutive 20-win season and appearance in the Summit League Tournament Finals, as well as the program's first ever appearance in the NIVC.
• Last week, Omaha played its only exhibition of the season in Overland Park, Kansas, where they were bested by Tulsa.
• Omaha was recently ranked third in the Summit League Preseason Poll, with South Dakota and North Dakota State slotting in at first and second place. Omaha was also one of only three teams to earn a first-place vote.
• McKenna Ruch and Shayla McCormick were named Summit League Preseason Players to Watch. Ruch was just the second Maverick in the Division I era to earn AVCA All-American honors last season. The First Team All-Summit selection ranked in the top 10 in the Summit in kills (305), hitting percentage (.341), and blocks (145). As for McCormick, she finished fifth in the league with 438 kills and third in kills per set with 3.74. She also finished fourth in aces with 43 and 11th in digs with 370. Overall, she ended the season with 28 double-digit kills matches and 20 double-doubles. McCormick was named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region team and First Team All-Summit.
• Reigning conference Freshman of the Year Kali Jurgensmeier is also back after leading all newcomers last season in kills (225), hitting percentage (.263), and blocks (64).
• Nine newcomers join the Mavericks this season, giving the team an even split between returners and new players. Erica Fava is the only upperclassman in this group, while the rest - Olivia Tukuafu, Amanda Hardt, Bryn McNair, Emily Huss, Meghan Tiahrt, Makayla Tiahrt, Ivy Leuck, and Anika Ivester - are all freshmen.

Scouting Texas A&M
The Aggies are coming off a 13-16 season in which they went 5-13 in the SEC. Last week, they played their only exhibition of the season against No. 15 Baylor, losing 3-1.

Aggies to Watch
Graduate Student Caroline Meuth returns for her second season with the Aggies after leading the team and placing third in the conference with 508.5 points and 439 kills. She also had 25 double-digit kills matches, topping out with 30 kills vs. Tennessee.

Redshirt junior Molly Brown is the team's top returning blocker, having finished second on the team with 92 total blocks in 2022.

Senior Lauren Hogan led Texas A&M with 311 digs last season, recording three matches with at least 20 digs and getting a season-high 24 vs. No. 16 Kentucky.

Series History
This will be the first ever meeting between Omaha and Texas A&M.

Scouting Kansas
The Jayhawks went 19-11 last year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after sweeping No. 7 Miami in the opening match. In their exhibition vs. South Dakota last week, Kansas came out on top at 3-1.

Jayhawks to Watch
Junior Ayah Elnady earned AVCA Midwest All-Region honors last season after leading the Jayhawks in kills (292) and aces (42). She set a career-high in aces with eight vs. Omaha last season as well.

Junior Caroline Bien finished right behind Elnady in kills last year with 263 and was also third in digs with 233. In Kansas' win over Miami in the NCAA Tournament, she led the team with 12 kills.

Super senior Kennedy Farris returns for a fifth year with the Jayhawks and will once again be the team's primary libero. In 2022, she led Kansas with a career-high 349 digs and reached 1000 in her career.

Series History
Omaha is 2-9 all-time vs. Kansas, most recently falling in four sets in the Jayhawk classic last season.