DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - Following a 2–2 opening weekend at the Northwestern Labor Day Tournament in the Twin Cities, the Duhawks return to the Key City to play five matches this week. On Sept. 7, Loras will face UW-Platteville in their first home game of the 2016 season. The Duhawks then welcome several teams to town on Sept. 9 and 10 as part of the Loras Invitational. The weekend slate for Loras will be pose its fair share of challenges as the Duhawks are set to take on Augustana, No. 13 Carthage, St. Olaf and Gustavus Adolphus at the tournament.
 

On Sept. 9, 2015, Loras defeated the Pioneers by a 3–1 score on the road. Sophomore Claire Ritchie finished with a double-double, totaling 13 kills and 11 assists. As a team, the Duhawks recorded eight service aces to the Pioneers' four.

 

In its opening weekend of 2016, UW-Platteville dropped all four of its matches in Newport News, Va. Standouts for the Pioneers were juniors Merritt Johnson and Alison Jensen, who combined for 47 kills in four matches. Junior Allie Carter dished out 62 assists to lead the UW-Platteville offensive attack.

 

The Duhawks last faced the Vikings during the 2013 campaign, suffering a 3–1 defeat in Rock Island, Ill. In her freshman year, now-seniors Danni Kennedy hit .176 with five kills and Tara Blake added seven kills and 14 digs.

 

Augustana is out to a 2–2 record this year, splitting its opening four matches of 2016 which came at the Elmhurst Tournament on Sept. 2 and 3. Sophomore Taryn VanEarwage led the Viking offensive effort totaling 40 kills on the weekend. Senior captains Nicole Morrisey and Jacqueline Kibir-Evans rank second and third in kills for Augustana with 35 and 29 respectively.

 

Loras and Carthage last met in Oshkosh, Wis. on Oct. 24, 2014. Entering the match, the Lady Reds were 23–2, but after Loras stormed back in set three, used the momentum to pull the upset, winning 3–2. As a team, Loras hit .238 and was led by senior Danni Kennedy who totaled 11 kills and added three blocks. Junior Haley Bergan posted 25 digs to lead the defensive effort.

 

After dropping their opening match of 2016 versus No. 16 Southwestern, the Lady Reds regrouped to win their next three contests, coming away with a 3–1 record at the Puget Sound Tournament in Tacoma, Wash. Stephanie Korbakes is averaging 3.06 kills per set through the first four matches, totaling 52 kills at a .276 attack percentage. Abigail McGowan is the primary setter for Carthage and average 7.76 assists per set last weekend.

 

In a tightly-contested match, the Duhawks were bested in five sets by the Oles at the St. Kate's Invite in 2014. Danni Kennedy, Liz Jendra and Kara Kentner put away 12 kills each while Kennedy added eight blocks to her name. 

 

St. Olaf is still perfect after its first weekend of 2016, sweeping all four of its matches in straight sets. For the Oles, sophomore Megan Grimes led the way with 42 kills and a .293 attack percentage for the weekend. Senior Abby Slack anchors the St. Olaf backline and posted at least 15 digs in each of the Oles' first four matches.

 

Following a victory over Hamline as part of a triangular on Oct. 17, Loras was defeated on the road by the Gusties 3–0 in 2015. From the first serve, the Duhawks struggled to contain the Gustie offense that hit .390 in the first set and .412 in the third set. Sophomore Jenna LaCorte led Loras with nine kills while sophomore Claire Ritchie totaled 14 assists.

 

Gustavus is off to a 3–1 start in 2016, highlighted by a 3–2 victory over No. 14 Wisconsin-Whitewater at the Elmhurst Tournament. The balanced Gustie attack saw five players record 20 total kills or more in their opening four matches. Sophomore Lauren Hanson led the way for Gustavus, posting a team-high 41 kills and a .218 attack percentage.

 

With the loss of senior captain Liz Jendra due to graduation, head coach Jenna Ness needed a new veteran leader to step up to lead this team in 2016. During their opening weekend of competition, Coach Ness and the Duhawks seem to have found their answer in senior Therese Schultz. The New Lenox, Ill. native currently leads the Duhawks in kills (44), kills per set (2.75) and attack percentage (.254) after the first four matches of her senior campaign. Schultz' stellar start to 2016, which included a career-high 21 kills versus UW-Stout, earned her all-tournament team honors at the Northwestern Labor Day Tournament this past weekend.

 

Headed into last weekend, head coach Jenna Ness knew she would be calling on some new faces in the Loras lineup to contribute. Junior Morgan Potts, a transfer from St. Thomas, and freshmen Carlee Beck and Michelle Budden all performed admirably in their first weekend in the Purple & Gold. Playing libero for most of the weekend, Potts recorded 58 digs in her first four games as a Duhawk. Beck also shined defensively in her role as an outside hitter tallying 18 digs in Loras' match versus Concordia. Budden used her 6–0 frame to hit over blocks and intimidate opposing defenders, finishing the four game stretch with a .321 hitting percentage. 

 

In a very competitive weekend at The Northwestern Labor Day Tournament in St. Paul, Minn, Loras split its opening four matches. After securing two victories on day one against UW-Stout and Concordia, the Duhawks were defeated at the hands of Augsburg and No. 23 Northwestern to finish the weekend 2–2. Seniors Therese Schultz and Danni Kennedy led the way for Loras posting a combined 70 kills in the middle. Sophomore Claire Ritchie totaled 28 kills and added 62 assists from the setter/right side position. As the Duhawks prepare for their upcoming match against UW-Platteville, they will look to defend their nine-game win streak at home, which dates back to last season.  

 

Freshman Kelly Boge, a middle hitter from Hazel Green, Wis., started her time as a Duhawk in a big way this past weekend at the Northwestern Labor Day Tournament. In the opening match of her collegiate career versus UW-Stout, Boge racked up nine kills on a .318 attack percentage in Loras five-set victory. In the second match of day one, Boge continued to find success, registering seven kills and a .300 attack percentage in three sets versus Concordia. Boge finished the weekend with 28 total kills and a .183 attack percentage for the Duhawks.