FREMONT, Neb. – The time has finally arrived for the No. 8-ranked Missouri Baptist University women's volleyball team to begin the 2020-21 season. Following a delayed start to NAIA competition, the Spartans will open the new year at the 2020 Warrior Invitational hosted by Midland University. The quick trip over to Nebraska features two familiar and formidable foes including the Midland Warriors, who were receiving votes in the 2019 NAIA Women's Volleyball Postseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll and No. 3-ranked Viterbo University, which made it all the way to NAIA National Championship Semifinals last December.

First serve for the Midland match is set for 10 a.m., while the Viterbo match is scheduled for 3 p.m. Live video will be provided for both matches and can be found at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/midland/.

This marks the third year in a row that the three teams have convened at one of the school's campuses or at a neutral location. Last year on Labor Day Weekend, the Spartans swept then-No. 8 Midland, 25-19, 25-19, 25-18, and defeated then-No. 5 Viterbo (Wis.), 3-1 (25-17, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23) on their home court at the Petty Sports & Recreation Complex. 2018 wasn't as kind as the Warriors and V-Hawks each grabbed a victory from the Spartans on a neutral court in Springfield, Mo. The all-time series between MBU and Midland is tied at 2-2, while MBU owns a 3-4 record against Viterbo.

GETTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT

• Since 2005, Missouri Baptist is 11-4 in season openers
• MBU is looking for its first season-opening win in three tries ; the Spartans fell in a five-setter to (RV) Oklahoma City University in 2019 and kicked of 2018 against No. 11 Midland with a 3-1 loss (25-18, 25-21, 20-25, 31-29)

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

• MBU brings back eight returners from last year's squad that made the program's sixth overall appearance in the NAIA Championship Quarterfinals, highlighted by NAIA Honorable Mention All-American Isidora Stojovic, All-AMC First Team libero Ariana Macies, All-AMC Second Team opposite hitter Giovanna Tapigliani, and All-AMC Honorable Mention outside hitter Katie Duncan
• Four more Spartans have been a part of the volleyball program for at least a year including defensive specialist Sam Kurm, NCAA Lindenwood University transfer Emma Lattimore, who both redshirted in 2019, along with Abby Braswell and Lindsey Major, who made their MBU debuts on junior varsity last season
• The newcomer group also consists of two transfers in 2018 NAIA All-American setter Manuela Vargas (Columbia College) and libero Nathiellen Machado (Seward County Community College) and four freshmen in St. Louis products Tessa Schneider and Shannon McLain, Sara Klunder of Hudson, Iowa, and Maria Hanusik, by way of Tychy, Poland

NICHOLS AMONG NAIA'S COACHING ELITE

• MBU head women's volleyball coach Chris Nichols sits atop the recently updated NAIA Winningest Active Coaches List by win percentage
• In seven years as head coach, Nichols sports an overall record of 234-49, averaging 33.4 wins per season and winning percentage of .826
• Nichols is just one win shy of tying former head coach John Yehling's record for all-time wins (235) and two wins away from taking over the top spot in the MBU record book