Marriott Houston Westchase Invitational
Sharp Gym – Houston

Tournament Schedule
Friday, Aug. 26
Houston vs. Louisiana – 4:30 p.m. Live Video / Live Stats
Weber State at HBU – 7 p.m. Live Video / Live Stats
 
Saturday, Aug. 27
Houston vs. Weber State – 10 a.m. Live Video / Live Stats
Louisiana at HBU – Noon Live Video / Live Stats
Louisiana vs. Weber State – 4:30 p.m. Live Video / Live Stats
Houston at HBU – 7 p.m. Live Video / Live Stats

Gameday Program
 
HOUSTON – The HBU volleyball team will begin the 2016 season with the first of two-straight home tournaments and host matches against Weber State, Louisiana and Houston in the Marriott Houston Westchase Invitational Friday and Saturday at Sharp Gym.
 
The Huskies return six starters from last season's squad, which finished 17-17 overall and 7-9 in the Southland Conference, but advanced to the championship match of the league's postseason tournament. Second-team All-SLC middle blocker Allison Doerpinghaus was the lone senior on last year's roster, as HBU returns All-SLC first-teamer senior outside hitter Jessica Wooten, second-teamer senior setter Kayla Armer and SLC Newcomer of the Year, junior outside hitter Bailey Banks.
 
HBU also returns starters at middle blocker in junior Blair Gillard, who made the SLC All-Tournament Team, on the right side in senior Ashlee Vann and at defensive specialist in junior Hailey Erickson. Six other letterwinners return, for a total of 13, along with two freshmen.
 
Weber State finished 6-22 overall and 2-14 in the Big Sky in 2015. Outside hitter Amanda Varley led the Wildcats with 2.79 kills per set, while middle blocker/outside hitter Megan Thompson averaged 2.23 kills and 1.50 blocks per set last season. Setter Taylor Christiansen-Kinikini averaged 9.18 assists per set and Thamires Cavalcanti led WSU defensively with 4.17 digs per set.
 
Louisiana went 6-23 overall and 2-14 in the Sun Belt a year ago. The Ragin' Cajuns lose their leading attacker from 2015 in Sara Mossakowski, who averaged 2.36 kills and 2.38 digs per set, but return Chanelle Gardner, who averaged 2.32 kills and 0.80 blocks per set. Jessica Bartczyszyn averaged 8.40 assists, while Sydney Davis led Louisiana with 3.62 digs per set.
 
Houston finished 2015 with a 19-13 mark overall and 9-11 in the American Athletic Conference, under former HBU head coach and alum Kaddie Platt. Brookah Palmer returns after leading the Cougars with 4.15 kills and adding 2.47 digs per set. Chenelle Walker is also back after averaging 1.93 kills and 1.09 blocks per set as a freshman. Setter Keandra McCardell averaged 7.80 assists per set last year, but UH loses its top defender in Olivia O'Dell, who averaged 5.70 digs per set.
 
Louisiana and UH open the tournament with a 4:30 first serve Friday, followed by HBU and Weber State at 7 p.m. UH will face Weber State in the first match Saturday at 10 a.m., then HBU and Louisiana at Noon. In the later session Saturday, Louisiana plays Weber State at 4:30 p.m., then HBU hosts UH at 7 p.m.