The Anderson University volleyball team will travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to open the 2008 season with four games over the weekend.

The Ravens play Olivet in the opener on Friday at 2 p.m., followed by a contest against Baldwin-Wallace at 4 p.m. They play the host school in the first match on Saturday before finishing with an opponent still to be determined.

The Ravens return five starters from last year’s team, which finished 17-14 overall and 6-2 in HCAC play. Senior setter Kasey Bollier (1,233 assists, 57 blocks, 40 kills) joins All-HCAC selection Jessica Berlin (305 kills, 278 digs, 31 service aces), Kate McCollum (254 digs, 192 kills, 28 blocks), Caitlin Morency (507 digs, 42 service aces) and Carol Weatherford (184 kills, 116 blocks, 41 digs) as returnees.

Other returnees include senior Emily Bell (140 digs), Tara Denham (55 kills) and Jessie Wolf (16 kills).

The home opener is on Sept. 3 against Indiana Wesleyan at 7 p.m. They open HCAC play at home against Manchester on Sept. 17 and finish the conference slate on Senior Night against Rose-Hulman on Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

For the fourth consecutive year, Anderson University will partner with Stretch Internet in broadcasting Raven athletic events during the 2008-09 seasons.

During the fall, Stretch will carry 33 sporting events, including all 10 Raven football games, including the season-opener on the new synthetic turf under the lights against arch-rival Taylor at 7 p.m.

In addition to football, there were be 10 men’s soccer games, 10 women’s soccer contests and three volleyball matches in the fall schedule. The men’s and women’s soccer season openers against Spalding on Aug. 30 will both be carried live as well as the Sept. 3 home opener in volleyball against Indiana Wesleyan.

Former AU wrestling, baseball and football coach and alumnus Dave Edwards will be providing live play-by-play on the internet for all events during the 2008-09 year.

The Anderson University volleyball team was selected to finish second in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference pre-season coaches poll on Thursday.

Defending champion Mt. St. Joseph was picked to finish first in the poll, earning 79 points and eight first-place votes. The other first-place vote went to Hanover.

Following the Lions in the poll were Anderson (64 points), Manchester (62), Hanover (53), Defiance (39), Transylvania (36), Bluffton (31), Franklin (27) and Rose-Hulman (14).

Anderson finished 17-14 overall last year, including 6-2 in loop play - good for third place. The Ravens open the 2008 season against Olivet at the Kalamazoo Invitational on Aug. 29 at 2 p.m.

The Anderson University Volleyball Team, along with parents and head coach Tami Miller’s family, participated in the Indianapolis Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, April 19.

Five Anderson University women’s volleyball players partnered with the Indianapolis Colts organization and former Colts’ players last Sunday to kick off the Change for America’s Babies campaign, a coin drive to help the organization raise funds in the fight to improve the health of babies.

Anderson University’s Whitney Osborn and Jessica Berlin have been named to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference volleyball 1st Team for the 2007 season.

The Anderson University volleyball team defeated No. 6 seed Transylvania in three games, but lost to No. 1 Hanover in four games on Saturday in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament at Hanover College.

The Anderson University volleyball team finished the regular season with a three-game victory over Heartland Collegiate Athetic Conference foe Rose-Hulman on Wednesday night at O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.

The Anderson University volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday at the Calvin Invitational, defeated Aquinas 3-1, but losing to the host school 3-0.

The Anderson University volleyball team lost to Spring Arbor 3-0 and Hope 3-0 on Friday in Grand Rapids, Mich.