DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - After nearly a week off from competition, the Loras women's volleyball team travels to Whitewater, Wis. this weekend for a stretch of four challenging matches in a two-day span. Included in the weekend slate are matchups with No. 22 UW-Oshkosh, No. 11 UW-Whitewater, No. 12 UW-Stevens Point and Carthage. 
 
PREVIEWING THE DIG PANICI CLASSIC
In a field littered with NCAA-tournament hopefuls, three of the Duhawks' four opponents at the Dig Panici Classic are ranked in the AVCA Top-25. Loras' first opponent, the Titans of UW-Oshkosh, enter with a No. 22 ranking and are riding a three-game winning streak following an upset of No. 12 UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday night. Friday evening's match pits the Duhawks up against the home team, No. 12 UW-Whitewater, who comes in sporting a 19-6 overall record and is a perfect 10-0 at home this season. Day two kicks off with a rematch versus Carthage, who bested Loras in a three-set sweep at their home tournament earlier this season. The weekend concludes with the Duhawks taking on No. 12 UW-Stevens Point, who, despite a recent loss to the UW-Oshkosh, carry a 21-5 overall record and are 10-1 in neutral site matchups in 2016.

BOGE AND BUDDEN CONTINUE TO TURN HEADS
Freshman Kelly Boge and Michelle Budden have been bright spots for the Loras women's volleyball team in 2016. Heading into this weekend, Boge and Budden rank in the top-five in two offensive categories for the Duhawks. Boge currently sits third in both attack and blocking percentage, while Budden ranks fifth in attacking percentage and fourth in blocking percentage. With it being only their first year playing volleyball at the collegiate level, Boge and Budden have taken major steps in terms of their development into becoming reliable pieces that head coach Jenna Ness can count on the rest of this season and in the future.