SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team is set to open the season on a seven-game swing of the west coast beginning on Friday at the Aztec Invitational hosted by San Diego State.
 
EKU will play game one against the Aztecs on Friday night at 10:30 eastern time. They will then play a twin bill on Saturday against California State University Northridge at 12 p.m. ET and Portland State University at 8 p.m.
 
SDSU finished the 2016 campaign with a 17-15 overall mark and a 9-9 mark in Mountain West play. They return stand out middle blocker and all-preseason selection Deja Harris. The Aztecs were picked to finish third in the MW and return five starters. EKU has never met San Diego State on the hardwood.
 
The Colonels have not faced CSUN since 1990 and are 0-1 all-time against the Matadors. They finished the 2016 season with an 11-17 record, falling right below the .500 mark in Big West play with a 7-9 record. Cal State Northridge also returns five starters plus a libero.
 
Portland State finished 17-12 last season with a 9-7 mark in Big Sky play. The Colonels have never faced the Vikings. They also return five starters.
 
Live statistics will be available for each game and a live stream will be available for Friday night's contest.
 
Head Coach Lori Duncan has an arsenal of players returning to the court for the season including All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team selection Nikki Drost and the 2016 OVC Freshman of the Year Rachel Woody, both of which were all-preseason selections. The Colonels also return all but one other player, welcome in true freshman outside hitter Lauren Kolenik and two defensive specialist transfers in Kennedy Wilson (Appalachian State) and Waverly Halverson (Florida International).
 
Assistant Coach Johnna Fouch graduated from San Diego State in 2014 and was a four year starter for the Aztecs. Fouch was a two-time Mountain West All-Conference selection, the MW Setter of the Year in 2011 and 2012, All-American in 2012 and team captain her senior season.
 
"I am so excited," Fouch said on returning to her alma mater. "This is the first time I have been back in Peterson Gym since I played. It's going to be a very surreal moment being back and reminiscing on all the memories and when we won the conference title in that gym. Now, being on the other side of things I can't wait to share my experiences with the girls and be able to compete against my Alma Mater."
 
After the Aztec Invitational the Colonels will hit the road and play the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in a mid-week matchup before closing the west coast swing at the Cactus Classic hosted by the University of Arizona.