PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pitt State Volleyball team will open the 2014 season, its first season under new head coach Jenny Mueller, on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 5-6) at the Rockhurst Classic in Kansas City, Mo.

The Gorillas will play four matches in the two-day tournament, staring off the season with a match-up against tournament host Rockhurst at noon on Friday, followed by a 2:30 p.m. match against East Central University. Saturday's play starts early with a 9:30 a.m. match against Findlay, followed the the Gorillas' opening weekend finale versus William Jewel at noon. 

Rockhurst was picked to be the GLVC's second-place team, behind only the Gorilla's former MIAA foe, Truman. The Hawks return all but one starter from a team that went 26-7 in 2013, including sophomore Morgan Rietzke, the GLVC Freshman of the Year.

East Central is the opposite of Rickhurst, as the Tigers return only one starter from a year ago and two more players with significant court time. The team finished 2013 with a 12-19 record overall and an 8-6 mark in GAC play. The team advanced to the 2013 GAC Tournament semifinals after finishing the regular season in a tie for fourth. The team was picked to finish eighth in the GAC this season. Hayley Gerken is the team's lone returning starter. She led the team with a .222 attack percentage last season.

Findlay posted its first 20-win season in seven years last season, finishing the year 20-12. The team was picked to finish third in the GLIAC South Division. The team will be led by senior setter Amanda Calhoun, who is sixth on the Oilers career assists list. Sophomore Hannah Trong will also be important for Findlay after she recorded 184 kills in only 24 matches last season.

William Jewell was picked to finish eighth in the GLVC. Like the Gorillas, the Cardinals are in their first year with a new head coach. Carolyn Raines inherited 10 returning players and brought in eight new players for the 2014 season. The team won only four matches last season and will be hungry to start 2014 on a high note.

The Gorillas, picked to finish seventh in the MIAA, returns five starters, including MIAA Freshman of the Year Madi Mosier and two more All-MIAA players, setter Hayley Hansford and middle Paula Okrutna. The team will be looking to improve on last season's 16-16 overall record.

Live stats will be available only for the match against Rockhurst. Live updates will be available through Pitt State Athletics' Twitter account and on the social media tab on the main page of www.pittstategorillas.com.