The Bemidji State University volleyball team travels to Houghton, Michigan this weekend for their first action of the season. Last season’s team had no seniors. All returning players that had playing time last season are back, including Jess Yost from Bemidji.

This year’s BSU volleyball team, which was picked 15th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, has the benefit of returning all its leaders in key offensive and defensive categories from 2013. Senior Courtney Volkmann (S, Wadena, Minn.) leads the group of returners after being BSU’s NSIC Player to Watch after leading the Beavers in assists (879) and service aces (27) in 2013. In addition to Volkmann, sophomore Jessica Yost (OH, Bemidji, Minn.) paced the squad in kills with 341, while senior Rachel Craig (MB, Wadena, Minn.) was BSU’s most accurate hitter (.199). Defensively, juniors Kayla DeJong (DS, Jefferson, Wis.) and Chelsea Frison (MB, Whitewater, Wis.) led the squad in digs (407) and blocks (71), respectively.