CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Thunderbirds will hit off their 2014 season as they travel to Annapolis, Md. for the Kristen Dickmann Invitational where they will face The Citadel, Navy and Providence this weekend. 

The trip will mark the first year that the Thunderbirds travel to Maryland to participate in the Kristenn Dickman Invitational. SUU opens their tournament play against The Citadel on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. and will wrap up their games the following day as they match up with Navy at 9 a.m. and Providence at 2 p.m. 

RETURNING LIBERO 

For the first time since the program began, the Thunderbirds will have a returning libero for the 2014 season.  

CHANGE OF LINE UP 

Southern Utah entered the 2014 season anticipating to run a 6-2 set but a season ending injury to returning setter, Joanna Christenson, has changed those plans. The Thunderbirds will now turn to freshman setter Faith Ma'afala to be their primary setter in a 5-1 set.  

SIBLING FOOTSTEPS

Three members of the SUU volleyball team are following in their older siblings footsteps as Thunderbird student athletes. Defensive specialist Sariah Pelaez is the younger sister of SUU's all-time leader in kills, Analaine (Pelaez) Mailoto. Faith Ma'afala is the younger sister of former SUU volleyball player, Jazmine Ma'afala and MaCail Wood is the younger sister of former SUU Women's basketball player Morgan (Wood) Slade. 

SEVEN RETURNERS, SIX INCOMERS 

Along with the Thunderbird's seven returners are six incomers, four incoming freshmen and two transfers from Snow College and The University of Pacific. Three of the Thunderbirds' incomers were on the Top-100 incoming freshmen according to Prep-Volleyball.

REVIEW OF 2013

2013 was the second season Southern Utah University competed in the Big Sky Conference. Unexpected injuries left the Thunderbirds young and inexperienced leading to a 4-27 overall record and 3-17 in conference play.