Michigan Tech right side hitter Meg Raabe attempts to make a block during a match against Cal State-Monterey Bay during the Cal State-Monterey Bay Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Seaside, California. The Huskies are picked to finish fourth in the GLIAC Presason Poll. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech volleyball team is the fourth pick in the GLIAC Volleyball Preseason Poll the conference announced Tuesday (Aug. 22). The Huskies are behind Ferris State, Grand Valley State, and Northern Michigan.

The season gets underway on Thursday, Aug. (6 p.m.) when the Huskies host Winona State at the SDC Gym. Tech returns five key players with significant starting experience and 13 Huskies overall from a 2022 team that won 20 matches for the fifth consecutive season under coach Jennings. Last season saw the Huskies advance to at least the GLIAC Tournament semifinal for the sixth straight year.

In the 2023 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Bulldogs had 79 points, including seven first-place votes. The Lakers (70) and Wildcats (67) were also above the Huskies (53). Wayne State (51), Davenport (44), Saginaw Valley State (34), and Lake Superior State (24) round out the top eight. Parkside (18) and Purdue Northwest (10) were ninth and 10th.

The Huskies will lean on veterans Kaycee Meiners and Lindy Oujiri for their leadership in 2023. Meiners, a redshirt junior, returned from injury to play in 15 of the final 16 matches last season at middle blocker where she tallied 71 kills and 26 blocks while hitting .254. Senior Lindy Oujiri and sophomores Meg Raabe and Makena Wesol will return as key players at the pin and sophomore Brooke Dzwik will anchor the backrow. With seven freshmen and an NCAA Division 1 transfer, this year’s Huskies will turn to a number of newcomers at various positions, including Tess Hayes at setter. 

The Huskies travel to tournaments at Northern Michigan and Minnesota Duluth before beginning GLIAC play. There are 29 matches on the schedule with 18 GLIAC contests and 10 games at the SDC Gym. Nine of Tech’s opponents went to the NCAA Tournament last season and seven were ranked in the AVCA Top 25.