Tech Volleyball picked second in GLIAC Preseason Poll

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech volleyball team is the second pick in the GLIAC Volleyball Preseason Poll. The Huskies are two points behind first-place Grand Valley and garnered one fewer first-place vote.

Tech begins defense of back-to-back GLIAC Regular Season Titles with a No. 23 AVCA preseason national ranking. The Huskies return three players who have been named All-GLIAC in their careers with 14 returners overall, seven seniors, and welcome four freshmen.

In the 2022 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Lakers had 68 points and the Huskies received 66 points. Wayne State was third with 64 points and Ferris State (62) rounded out the top four. Davenport (55), Northern Michigan (48), Saginaw Valley State, and Parkside (26) were also in the top eight. Lake Superior State and Purdue Northwester were ninth and tenth.

Carissa Beyer will anchor the defense after being named to the All-GLIAC Second Team last season as she ranked third in the conference in digs per set (4.32) and third in total digs (419). Janie Grindland enters her fifth season at middle blocker. She tallied 131 kills and 41 blocks last season while hitting .273 and was an All-GLIAC Second Team selection in the spring of 2021. Jillian Kuizenga has twice been named All-GLIAC Honorable Mention and was second on the team last season with 271 kills. The Huskies will lean on the experience of Lina Espejo-Ramirez at the setter position. It will be the third season in Houghton for Espejo-Ramirez after two years at the junior college level. Other key returners for the Black and Gold are outside hitter Lindy Oujiri, middle blocker Morgan Radtke, and defensive specialist Grace Novotny.

The season begins in California at the Cal State Monterey Bay Tournament on Friday and Saturday (Aug. 26-27). The Huskies travel to Parkside for another non-conference tournament on September 2-3 before jumping into GLIAC play with the home opener on September 9 against Davenport. The schedule includes nine matches at the SDC Gym this fall.

2022 GLIAC Volleyball Preseason Poll