With just three players returning from the 2017 HU volleyball team who saw considerable court time, there are, understandably, a lot of questions that need to be answered for second year head coach Maggie Meixl as she assesses the 2018 contingent. She may get a few answers this weekend in Northfield. 

The Pipers open the new season with four matches in 28 hours in a tournament being played at St. Olaf and Carleton. On Friday, August 30, the Pipers open with Simpson in a 1:00 p.m. battle. After a brief break, HU faces Bethany Lutheran at 5:00 p.m.  Hamline did not see either school in 2017. The same starting times prevail on Saturday, August 31 when the Pipers tangle with Crown and Martin Luther. HU defeated Crown but lost to Martin Luther last season. 

After a lively two weeks of training camp, the Pipers are anxious to start to find out who fits where in the rotation. The main returning familiar faces are senior Morgen Coleman (185 kills, 39 service aces, 279 digs, 345 assists), sophomore Megan Rubbelke (399 assists, 29 service aces, 167 digs) and junior Megan Anderson (red jersey, 101 assists, 20 service aces). Also back: Stephanie Maresh (88 kills in 71 sets played), Sammie Coffler (133 digs in 67 sets played) and Gina Kruse, who saw action in five sets last year. The rest of the cast is new but Meixl knows this about them already: they are very athletic. The latter observation could describe the entire team. Coleman was a stalwart for the basketball team last winter. Rubbelke played was a regular in the infield for the softball team last spring and Anderson did likewise in tennis. Several newcomers have indicated they intend to extend their playing time for HU into basketball or softball season. 

For now, though, the thoughts are focused only on volleyball. HU will play three more matches next week in a tournament in Superior, Wis. before getting set for MIAC play Sept. 12 at Gustavus Adolphus.