DENVER – The top two teams in NCAA Division II, four of the top six, and six of the top 10 are all coming to Denver this weekend.
And so are three other Top-25 teams – including No. 20 MSU Denver. Of the 12-team field, 11 are at least receiving votes in the AVCA coaches' poll.
That's why they call it the Premier.
The Colorado Premier Challenge will be co-hosted by MSU Denver and Regis on Friday and Saturday and, as always, the field is loaded.
"It's always exciting," MSU Denver coach
Jenny Glenn said. "It's one of our highlights of the season every year. Last year (due to COVID-19) we didn't get to play it, and that's one of the things our athletes missed the most. It's fun, high-level volleyball. You test yourself and it's sink or swim."
On Friday, MSU Denver will play host to Texas A&M-Commerce at 2:30 p.m., and to No. 10 Central Missouri at 6 p.m.
In accordance with MSU Denver campus protocols, all fans in attendance at the indoor venue will be required to wear masks regardless of their vaccination status.
Saturday's matchups will be determined after Friday's results.
The field includes No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), No. 2 Angelo State (Texas), No. 5 Lewis (Ill.), No. 6 Cal State San Bernardino, No. 9 Western Washington, No. 10 Central Missouri, No. 17 Wayne State (Neb.), No. 20 MSU Denver, No. 25 Rockhurst (Mo.), Lynn (Fla.), Regis and Texas A&M-Commerce.
Regis, which was No. 22 in the preseason poll, and Lynn are both receiving votes in the coaches' poll.
Concordia-St. Paul, Cal State San Bernardino and Rockhurst will also play two matches at MSU Denver's Auraria Event Center on Friday.
MSU Denver comes into the tournament at 2-2 and had two match points in each of the matches it lost, including at Western Washington.
"You're trying to play good volleyball for four matches in a row this weekend," Glenn said. "I think our team proved we can do that last weekend. Even though we're 2-2, we have some good things happening on our side of the net."
Outside hitters
Rylee Hladky and
Avaline Lai, as well as setter
Jessa Megenhardt, were all named to the all-tournament team at the Western Washington Invitational.
The Roadrunners' other loss in the tournament came to Chaminade (Hawaii), which is receiving votes in the national poll.
"We wanted to really challenge our team in the preseason (including scrimmages at No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney)," Glenn said. "These matches have given us measuring sticks each weekend and have done exactly what we've needed. We're trying to be better blocking and in the passing lanes, and we've had a lot of change with our setters for various reasons and we want to get into a better offensive rhythm."
The top teams throughout Division II are invited to the Premier each season. All teams that had been scheduled to play in 2020 were offered the opportunity to return since that tournament was canceled.
"I know the coaches are all excited," Glenn said. "It's a fun time, even though it's still difficult (because of COVID-19). The top teams haven't crossed over (in scheduling) since 2019. We've been so isolated. It's fun to have that excitement again."
