ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Henderson State's 2018-2019 athletic year begins tomorrow, when the Reddies' volleyball team takes the court versus the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in the first game of the Washburn Invitational in Topeka, Kansas.

Henderson State is led by a Texas trio of juniors in Karlie Greene, Adrianna Hartmann and Courtney Bolf. Greene, a middle blocker and opposite hitter from Spring, Texas, finished the 2017 season with 161 kills, and led the team with 111 blocks, 34 of them solo. Hartmann, a middle blocker from Fredericksburg, Texas, played in every set of every match of 2017, finishing third on the team with 217 kills. Bolf, an outside hitter from Fort Worth, Texas, paced the Reddies with 383 kills and 31 service aces, and was second on the team with 398 defensive digs. HSU's lone senior is Zuzana Ondruskova, an outside hitter who finished second on the squad with 227 kills and 117 defensive digs last season.

The Reddies are scheduled to play four matches on August 24 and August 25.  Below we preview each team the Reddies will face throughout the weekend.

Game 1: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs – August 24 – 10:00 A.M.
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs finished last season 15-12, and were bounced in the quarterfinal of RMAC Tournament by Colorado Christian. The Mountain Lions amassed an 11-2 home record, including a 3-1 defeat of #12 Wayne State. However, UCCS combined to go just 4-10 in neutral and away matches. The Mountain Lions return nine players from the 2017 team, including senior outside hitter Alyssa Brinton. Brinton is a two-time first-team All-Conference selection, and has a chance to become just the third All-American in UCCS volleyball history. Other returning contributors are redshirt sophomore Raelynn Edge, a second team All-Conference setter, and middle blocker Josie Russell, who was named honorable mention All-Conference following her freshman season. The Mountain Lions are led by head by sixth year Coach Chrissy Elder, and are coming off of their fourth straight RMAC Tournament appearance after amassing a 12-6 conference record in 2017.

Game 2: William Jewell College – August 24 – 6:00 P.M.
The William Jewel College Cardinals struggled last season, ending with a 10-21 record and missed out on postseason play after finishing 4-14 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. However, the best performances of the Cardinals' season came during their neutral site tournaments, as they totaled a 5-5 record across three events. William Jewell is led by senior libero Olivia Tolberd, a second team All-GLVC selection last season. Carolyn Raynes serves as the Cardinals' head coach, and is entering her fifth year at the helm of the program.

Game 3: Northwest Missouri State – August 25 – 9:00 A.M.
The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats have developed consistency under the leadership of head coach Amy Woerth. With a 17-15 record in 2017, it marked the first time since 2000 that the Bearcats have produced three winning seasons in a row. The 2018 Bearcats return 12 players from a squad that lost their opening round game in the MIAA Tournament. They are led by senior outside hitter Maddy Bruder, a three-time first-team All-MIAA performer. Seniors Sofia Schleppenbach and Olivia Nowakowski also return for the Bearcats having been named honorable mention All-MIAA last season. The Reddies and Bearcats will be facing off for the fifth straight season, with the Bearcats winning the previous four matchups.

Game 4: Colorado State University – Pueblo – August 25 – 3:00 P.M.
The Reddies conclude the Washburn Invitational when they take on the Colorado State University – Pueblo Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds are the youngest team the Reddies will face, with only one senior on the roster. CSU-P went backwards in Jill Muhe's second season, finishing with a 4-22 record, and missed out on postseason play after going 3-15 in the RMAC.