SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Lake Superior State University volleyball program prepares to kick off their 2022 campaign on Thursday, Aug. 25 when they take on Upper Iowa Peacocks at the Northern Michigan Open in Marquette, Mich. The Lakers were selected to finish ninth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference (GLIAC), as announced by the conference office on Monday, and they will be looking for improvement under first year head coach, Zac Rambo.

"Shifting culture is a big thing to focus on this coming year, having the girls enjoy being on the court and remember why they love the sport because it's not a job," said Head Coach Zac Rambo.

The Lakers return ten players from last year's squad, including the team-leader in digs (365), Emily Hagelthorn (South Lyon, Mich.), who ranked fourth in the GLIAC in digs per set (4.2).

"Offensively, we are going to be able to score in the middle," said Rambo. "We have two very good young ladies in Emilee McDaniel (Manistique, Mich.) and Maggie Morris (Schoolcraft, Mich.). Both of them are going to be big cornerstones for us, but also, Emily Kalinowski (South Lyon, Mich.), she will distribute the ball well."

In addition to the returnees, the team has also added six new faces, including a pair of junior college transfers in Anastasjia Dragovic (Belgrade, Serbia) and Mariana Velasque (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

"You are going to see a bunch of [the new players] on the court," said Rambo. "You are going to see a bunch of them contribute points… There are a lot of very good pieces that are going to be able to come in and contribute right away."

After the previously mentioned NMU Open, the Lakers will travel to Missouri for the Drury/Southwest Baptist Invitational on Sept. 2-3. They will then open up Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Sept. 9 when they take on the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals in Bud Cooper Gymnasium.