Lady Saints Prepare for NMMI Kick-Off Classic

ROSWELL, N.M. – Following a perfect preseason, the Seward County volleyball team will travel to Roswell, New Mexico to participate in the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) Kick-Off Classic. They will open the regular season with a pair of contests on Friday (Aug. 25) against Odessa at 10 a.m. CT and Pima at 4 p.m. CT before finishing the weekend with matches against Eastern Arizona at 9 a.m. CT and South Mountain at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday (Aug. 26).

The Lady Saints are led on offense by 2016 All-Region VI and All-Jayhawk West middle hitter Mariana Nascimento, as well as 2015 Honorable Mention All-Region VI outside hitter Viviane Viana. In the final preseason scrimmage against Oklahoma Panhandle State, the two combined for 14 kills and 18.5 total points.

On the defensive side, freshman libero Nathiellen Machado led the team in digs during the preseason, averaging 4.5 digs per set. Luz Sierra, a 6'6" freshman from Dominican Republic, was a force at the net in the preseason, picking up 21 blocks in the four matches played.

Last season, the Lady Saints went 3-1 at the NMMI Kick-Off Classic, with their only loss coming in the final contest against South Mountain, 3-2. In their matchup a year ago, Seward County defeated Pima 3-0. Briana Domino led the Lady Saints on defense with 14 digs. Seward defeated their other common opponent, Eastern Arizona, 3-1, in last year's tournament matchup. Nascimento finished the match with 13 kills.

The only opponent the Lady Saints did not face at the NMMI Kick-Off Classic a year ago, Odessa, finished last season with a record of 25-6. Their season ended in the first round of the Region V tournament with a 3-2 loss against Western Texas. In their lone matchup from a year ago, Odessa topped the Lady Saints 3-2 at the Odessa College Tournament.

For more information on the Seward County volleyball team, visit SewardSaints.com.