2016 FAU Invitational
Date: Aug. 26-27, 2016
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Teams: Bethune-Cookman, Drake, FAU, North Florida, Northeastern
Tournament Information: Tournament Central Page
 
2016 Season Preview
 
After a historic 2015 season, Bethune-Cookman volleyball begins its 2016 quest as the Wildcats spend opening weekend in Boca Raton, Florida at the Florida Atlantic Invitational, Aug. 26-27.
 
Picked as the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason favorite in the southern division, the Wildcats return 10 letterwinners from a season ago, including preseason All-MEAC honorees Phylecia Armstrong and Rakaya Neely.
 
Drake
Drake was picked to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference according the league's annual preseason poll.
 
Head coach Darrin McBroom enters his fourth season, while the Bulldogs finished with a 15-20 record and a 6-12 record in MVC action, to narrowly miss earning an MVC Tournament berth in seventh place a year ago.
 
Top returners include junior Kyla Inderski (Urbandale, Iowa) and senior Makena Schoene (Seattle, Wash.) who each posted 350 kills in 2015.
 
FAU
As a team, the Owls were picked to finish fifth in a poll of the league's head coaches. FAU (18-11 overall) finished fifth in conference play last season, with a 10-6 record. The Owls advanced to the C-USA tournament for the third season in a row.
 
Senior outside hitter Maja Ristic was named to the Conference USA Preseason All-Conference volleyball after she led the team in kills (285) and kills per set (3.8).
 
North Florida
North Florida was selected to finish fifth in the Atlantic Sun while senior Carina Hoff and junior Courtney Miller were selected to the Preseason ASUN All-Conference team.
 
Hoff, the lone Osprey with postseason accolades in 2015, ranked among the league leaders in kills per set (2.98) and hitting percentage (.325). The 2014 Freshman of the Year, Miller was once again recognized for her strong performance on the court. She recorded 211 kills with 11 matches in double figures. Miller totaled 10 digs and had 29 total blocks.
 
Northeastern
The Huskies were chosen eighth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) preseason coaches' poll.
 
For the third consecutive season senior setter Jamie Bredahl earned preseason All-CAA preseason honors. Throughout the 2015 season, Bredahl racked up 13 double-doubles and three triple-doubles, good for eighth in the nation and first in the CAA. She also tabbed 35 service aces, which placed her fourth in the CAA and in the top 150 in the nation. Her season-best 648 assists ranked eighth in the CAA. Bredahl was the team leader in both assists and service aces.