DUBUQUE, Iowa – After COVID-19 postponed their fall season, the University of Dubuque volleyball team will finally get to begin their season on Saturday, Feb. 20^th when the Spartans host Simpson College at 2 p.m.
 
The Spartans are coming off their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after winning back-to-back American Rivers Conference Tournaments in 2018 and 2019.

UD returns three of six players that played in 30 or more matches in 2019 in Grace Hintze, Shauna McAleer and Kate Messino. McAleer and Hintze return after both were in the top-20 in the conference in 2019 in hitting percentage at 15^th and 17^th, respectively, with Darby Hawtrey being a third Spartan in the top-20 at 18^th. McAleer and Hintze both played vital roles on the defensive side as well. McAleer was second on the team with 61 total blocks, while Hintze added 26 blocks of her own to go along with 205 digs.
 
The Spartan offense has run through Kate Messino the last two seasons and will continue to this year, as Messino averaged 8.91 assists in 2019, good for the third most per set in the conference.

Junior Darby Hawtrey missed 14 games due to injury in 2019, but when healthy, she was one of the most dominant players in the conference. In 2019, Hawtrey averaged 3.28 kills per set, the fourth best in the American Rivers Conference. Her teammate, Grace Hintz, was right behind her in sixth at 3.16 kills per set.
 
Some other notable returners are Abby Smith, who played in 19 matches. Smith served out 10 aces with serving percentage of .962 in 158 attempts and added 45 digs in 54 sets. Kendra Witte saw action in 18 matches and came away with 17 kills on 59 attempts. Kaylyn Murray had 99 assists (3.54 per set) in 13 matches.
 
Fall-to-Spring Schedule
Feb. 20 – vs. Simpson
Feb. 23 – at Loras
Mar. 3 – at Wartburg
Mar. 6 – vs Nebraska Wesleyan
Mar. 9 – vs Coe
Mar. 13 – at Central
Mar. 17 – vs Luther
Mar. 20 – at Buena Vista

A-R-C Preseason Poll
1. UD (6)
2. Wartburg (3)
3. Coe
4. Nebraska Wesleyan
5. Loras
6. Buena Vista
7. Central
8. Luther
9. Simpson