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Women’s volleyball gears up for UMass Lowell invitational next weekend

The River Hawks volleyball squad will host a four team invitational this upcoming Friday and Saturday. San Jose State, Holy Cross and Quinnipiac will travel to the Costello Athletic Center to take on the home team.

The team has struggled to get some early momentum this season, having yet to post a win. The women’s volleyball team has had some hardship after jumping to division I,but the squad is definitely trending upwards. After a winless season in 2013, the team posted a 4-29 record last year. The invitational this upcoming weekend serves as the perfect stepping stone to turn the team’s early season troubles around.

Their work will definitely be cut out for them with the talent coming in this weekend, but the River Hawks are confident they can pull out some wins.

The San Jose State Spartans currently possess a 1-3 record and will come into Lowell after a three game tourney they will play in Texas Sept. 4 and 5.

Holy Cross, currently like the River Hawks, are winless on the year (0-4), but will have an opportunity to pick up their first win against the University of New Hampshire this Saturday, Sept. 5..

Quinnipiac has the best winning percentage amongst the four teams at this time (1-2, .333) and will look to improve upon that mark this weekend with their meet in Maryland.

The River Hawks will look everywhere to find the help they need to succeed this season. Rachel Arnason is the only graduate senior on the team, and Captain Megan Young is only a junior. Five freshmen cracked the roster this year, leaving seven out of the thirteen teammates sophomores or younger.

The youth movement will definitely set the foundation for future teams to come in and succeed at the division I level.

Lowell defeated Quinnipiac in straight sets last year (3-0) as part of the Bryant Hampton Invitational in Hamden, Connecticut. The River Hawks will look to duplicate their success of last year in this season’s matchup.

The team fell to San Jose State (0-3) in a match last year held at the Chicago State Invitational in Chicago. A win this year would give a huge boost to the River Hawks’ 2015 campaign and provide the team with some revenge from last year.

Holy Cross and Lowell have not played each other during the past two seasons. The unfamiliarity will result in some interesting matchups and hopefully will be something that UMass Lowell can take advantage of.

These four teams will most certainly provide some quality games at the Costello Athletic Center this weekend. The invitational will hopefully result in the turnaround the River Hawks need to get their season flying high.

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