2007 PAC Volleyball Preview

BETHANY BISON (7-21 Overall, 1-11 PAC in 2006)
The Bethany volleyball program will have a far different look to it in 2007, as head coach Courtney Kline welcomes six returnees and eight newcomers into her first year in charge of the Bison.

Kline comes to Bethany following two highly successfully seasons at Penn State-Fayette, which featured two Coach of the Year awards. Also new to the squad are six freshmen and two sophomores, including Rachael Dunham, who played for Kline at Fayette in 2006.

The Bison have plenty of talent to blend in with the newcomers, led by senior outside hitter Lauren Spegal (left). A three-time Second Team All-PAC selection, Spegal enters the campaign with 896 career kills, which ranks her fifth all-time at Bethany. To surpass Kelly Sitko as BC's career leader in kills, Spegal, who has averaged 314 kills over the past two seasons, will need to total 302 this year.

Also up front for the Bison is junior middle hitter Sumer Scott, who posted 76 kills and team-leading 55 blocks, and senior Michelle Fowler, who set career-highs with 25 aces and 29 kills after spending most of her first two seasons as a libero. Junior Mandy Kaufman also returns to battle for playing time.

Bethany's third returning starter is junior setter Kim McKay. In her first season as the starter, she gave out 686 assists and has moved into ninth place all-time at BC in assists with 879. The last remaining returnee for the Green and White is junior libero Melissa Fraleigh, who will be in competition to fill the position vacated when Angelina Allen, who finished third all-time at Bethany in digs with 1,671, graduated.

CHATHAM COUGARS (5-22 Overall, first year in PAC)
The 2007 Chatham University team is looking to regain the championship form that helped it win three Atlantic Women’s Colleges Conference (AWCC) titles in the last 10 years.  It will have to do so without the 2006 AWCC Most Outstanding Player, Chelsea Viti, and Christina Pettinato who was the top defensive specialist for the Cougars in 2006; both graduated in the spring.

Eleventh year head coach, Greg Lockley, will look to a group of young players as Chatham enters its first year of competition in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. 

“I’m looking forward to establishing Chatham as a top program in the PAC and to continue a tradition of volleyball success at Chatham University,” said Lockley.

Chatham returns junior middle hitter Camille Herby (right) who led the team in blocks in 2006.  Herby’s contributions helped the Cougars rank first overall in NCAA Division III in blocks per game last season.

In addition to Herby, Chatham will look for improved play from four sophomores.  Brittany Coscia, Chiara McGuire and Mary McMahon saw significant playing time in their first year as outside hitters.  Alese Underwood looks to pick up the role of defensive specialist and build on her strong performance from the 2006 season.

GENEVA GOLDEN TORNADOES (16-20 Overall in 2006)
Every year college teams must find a way to replace players. Each season, college coaches from across the country watch their senior stars move on after graduation and are faced with the unenviable task of reloading teams into contenders. This example has never been truer than for co-coaches Wendy Smith and Curt Conser and the Geneva College volleyball team.

The Golden Tornadoes watched their four top players graduate following the 2006 campaign. Four All-Conference players in Marisa Barickman, Caryn Azure, Allison Seldomridge and Megan Summers. That foursome helped Geneva to a share of it’s first-ever AMC North divisional title in 2006. However, as Geneva prepares for the 2007 season, Geneva’s coaching duo will look for answers from some fresh faces that are looking to make a bit of history of their own.

Geneva finished the 2006 season with an overall record of 16-20, including an 11-3 mark in divisional play. On that title team, the Golden Tornadoes featured four veteran players that will return this year to lead the next charge against the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. Blair Bruce, Elizabeth Fisher, Faith Guerra, Michelle Zimmovan (left) and the lone senior on this year’s roster, Sarah Bruck, will all look to continue Geneva’s momentum into a new season.

“Without question this is a different team,” said co-head coach Wendy Smith. “Different, however, does not mean any less competitive. We feel as though we have brought in some top players to go along with our veterans that have experienced a lot of success over the last couple of seasons.”

“We are excited about our club,” said Conser. “It is nice to get some fresh faces in the program and see what happens. There will certainly be days when we will miss those reliable veterans, but we are going to build this thing from the ground up and I think we can surprise a few people.”

In addition to Geneva’s returning foursome, the Golden Tornadoes will also feature a solid group of new arrivals. Sophomore setter Brandi Snavely transferred to Geneva in the spring and is set to take over as the quarterback of Geneva’s offense this fall. Snavely will be joined by freshmen Taryn Alverson, Tiffany Smith, Amy Hagen, Adriane Blake and Laure Zerbe as first year players for the Golden Tornadoes.

“We have seen a lot of talent come through our doors this year and hopefully we can put it all together in a timely manner,” said Smith. “We certainly have the potential to be a solid team, but we will need some immediate contributions from some of our newcomers.”

GROVE CITY WOLVERINES (20-11 Overall, 8-4 PAC in 2006)
The Grove City College volleyball team will feature one of its most experienced teams in recent memory as the 2007 season unfolds. With numerous standouts back this season, the Wolverines are in prime position to challenge for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Championship Tournament.

Grove City returns seven total letterwinners from last year’s 20-win campaign. Included in that group of letterwinners is a five-player senior class that has played in over 350 combined matches since 2004.

Senior setter Kim Walsh (right) is a three-year starter and letterwinner for Grove City while senior middle hitter Brittany Anderson and senior outside hitter Kate Skinner are also three-year letterwinners. Classmates Brooke Mincey and Jennifer Plyler are two-year letterwinners. All five will be counted on heavily this season.

Walsh set a new Grove City single-season record with 1,333 assists during the 2006 season. She started all 31 matches and earned Second Team All-PAC honors following the season. Skinner rebounded from an early-season injury to play in 26 matches in 2006. Skinner finished third on the team in total kills and closed the season with a 20-kill, 20-dig outing against Washington & Jefferson in the PAC Championship Tournament.

Anderson played in 29 matches as a junior and finished third on the squad in both hitting percentage and blocks per game. Mincey and Plyler are entering
their third seasons in the Grove City program. Both have made significant contributions in each of their first two seasons.

Mincey has played extensively over the past two seasons as a defensive specialist for the Wolverines. She played in all 31 matches and 114 games during the 2006 season.

Plyler returns to the program after studying abroad during the 2006 season. She lettered in both 2004 and 2005 as an outside hitter. Two years ago, Plyler ranked among the team leaders in both kills and digs.

The Wolverines also return a pair of juniors to the regular rotation this fall in middle hitter Natalie Liberati and outside hitter Meghan Glenn. Liberati moved into the
starting lineup as a sophomore and played in all 31 matches. She led the team in hitting percentage and total blocks. A Second Team All-PAC
selection, Liberati also finished second on the team in total kills.

Glenn played in all 30 regular-season matches before missing the postseason due to injury. She highlighted her sophomore season by leading the team with 36 aces. Glenn also finished third on the team in digs.

A talented freshman class is also expected to contribute during the 2007 season.

Grove City will open the 2007 season at the Ohio Wesleyan Bishop Invitational Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Delaware, Ohio.

Grove City opens the home portion of the schedule Sept. 11 against Saint Vincent while Presidents’ Athletic Conference play begins four days later at Waynesburg.

This year’s conference schedule will also feature home-and-home series with new PAC member Chatham. Grove City will also play provisional PAC members Geneva and Saint Vincent twice. For the first time, the Presidents’ Athletic Conference champion will receive an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

The Wolverines are in pursuit of several milestones in 2007. Grove City currently has 778 all-time victories and could surpass the 800-win mark this year. Head coach Susan Roberts needs 11 wins to reach the 500-win plateau at Grove City. She has led Grove City to 489 wins in 22 years as coach. Grove City is also in pursuit of its 10th all-time PAC title. Grove City’s nine league titles are the most in conference history.


SAINT VINCENT BEARCATS (29-4 Overall in 2006)

The 2006 Saint Vincent volleyball team posted one of the most dominant seasons of any team in school history.

The Lady Bearcats finished 29-4 last season, winning the ECAC Division-II title and going a perfect 12-0 against PAC opponents. The squad finished the season with a flourish, winning its final 20 matches, dropping just one game in that span. It was just the most recent in a string of successful seasons for Saint Vincent, which has gone 77-20 dating back to the 2004 campaign.  

Sue Hozak, the only head coach in the program’s 24-year history, believes that there is plenty of pressure on her team to continue its stretch of success.

“There’s always pressure,” she said, “and most of it is self-imposed pressure. We always put pressure on ourselves to continually get better. With the accomplishments of last season, it’s going to be quite a task.”

“We’ve lost ten starters over the past two years,” Hozak said, “but we are pleased with the progress of our sophomores and juniors so far.”

The three returning starters include setter Kristin Hozak (left) and hitters Jamie Kelly and Lauren Paddick. 

Hozak recorded 1,496 assists last season, leading the PAC with an average of 13.85/game, while also finishing in the top-5 in the conference with 66 service aces.

The 6’1” Kelly was named MVP of the 2006 ECAC Championship game, and finished the year with an average of 3.5 kills. Paddick, another six-footer, averaged two kills and 0.85 blocks.

Coach Hozak is also eager for the return of outside hitter Ashlee Shearer. The senior missed all of last season due to injury, but has looked strong in preseason workouts. 

“We’re happy to have Ashlee back,” said the coach. “She got a lot of playing time two years ago, and her experience should really help us.”

The coach is also very pleased with her freshman class, saying it “is one of the strongest we’ve ever had in program history.”

The incoming freshman class is highlighted by 5’3 defensive specialist Nicole Hemminger, who was named both Somerset/Cambria County and District-VI All Star, three All-WPIAL hitters in 6’1” Diana Petrovich, 5’10” Rachel Pace, 5’9” Natalie Hozak, and Steffani Huff, a 5’7” setter who was also an All-WPIAL pick a year ago.

The Lady Bearcats enter their second season in the PAC, a conference, according to Sue Hozak, where any team can beat anyone else on a given night.

“It’s going to be a challenging year in the PAC,” she said. “The conference just keeps getting stronger, and there can be at least five or six teams vying for the top position.”

In addition to its PAC schedule, the Lady Bearcats will also play a very tough non-conference slate, highlighted by a late-October trip to Juniata, the 2006 NCAA Division III National Champion. 

Facing such a difficult schedule, as well as the task of replacing more than half of its starting lineup, Hozak isn’t quite sure of what to expect from her team in 2007.

“How successful we will be this year depends on how quickly we come together as a team,” she said, “and how well the new starters adjust to the speed of the collegiate game.  We only have four players with significant collegiate experience.”

THIEL TOMCATS (8-20 Overall, 1-11 PAC in 2006)

Despite posting an 8-20 overall mark last season, second-year head coach Steve Brewer believes a solid foundation has been set for the Thiel College volleyball team.

“One of the positives of last season was the level of the student-athlete that we were able to recruit. Two good examples were (LaToya) Locke and (Abbey) Kiger, who were both able to make immediate impacts not only on the court but also on the track and in the classroom.  Those types of solid student-athletes have already started to attract the caliber of player that we are looking for down the road,” said Brewer.
  
The Tomcats’ 8-20 overall mark and 1-11 record in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference might not be too impressive, but starting small is something Brewer understands completely. 

“Despite our record we think last season was successful for our program. We went through some growing pains that will allow us to now build on a solid foundation. That foundation consists of a small group of returners that understand very clearly the expectations of this program. To me growth is making mistakes along the way and remembering not to make them again. The Bethany win was certainly a milestone, but not nearly what we were shooting for last season,” said Brewer.

Sophomores LaToya Locke (right), Abbey Kiger and Kristen Martin return as starters from last season. (right)
 
“As a group the returning starters are simply more experienced. They’ve seen the competition in the conference as well as what’s outside the PAC. They also understand the speed of the game in college.  Young players often don’t understand how much faster everything happens at this level. This experience will allow the returning starters to have that edge over the first-year players that will allow them to lead this team,” said Brewer.

“LaToya is a wonderful athlete with natural talents that surpass anyone in the conference.  The quicker she learns to harness those abilities the quicker she will lead us to the conference title. Abbey has the drive and determination inside that we’ve only glimpsed. As she learns and her skills improve, she could also find herself among the top outsides in the conference and the region. As a freshman Kristen was able to run the offense that we put in place year very efficiently. As she gets more comfortable I expect her to make more of an impact on the defense as well as being a bigger offensive weapon herself,” said Brewer.

Named to the all-PAC first team following the 2006 season, Locke finished the season third in the conference in kills, with 378 (4.20 k/g) and fourth in hitting percentage (.350). Her 378 kills also ranks her second all-time on the school's single-season kills chart. Kiger posted 252 kills and 132 digs while Martin’s 898 assists ranked her fifth in the PAC (10.44 a/g) and second on the Tomcat single-season list.

Also returning are senior Olivia Rogers, junior Stephanie Lardo and sophomores Heather Peck  and Mary Lisowski.f

“I am expecting big things from the returning upperclassmen. They possess some of the same experience the returning starters that may allow them to find their way onto the court more often they have in the past. I expect each one of them to come out on the 19th fighting for their own starting position,” said Brewer. 

Brewer expects contributions early and often from his incoming freshman class, led by Brooke Ziegler, Madison Chylik, Annie Semko and Jaclyn Johnston.

“This year’s freshman class contains quite a few players that I am expecting to make an immediate impact with this program. We recruited ball control and height this season and we got them both. All the pieces of the game that we were consistently missing last season will be walking through the door this fall,” said Brewer. 

The Tomcats open their season with back-to-back tournaments, beginning at Marietta College’s River City Tournament (Aug.31-Sept.1) and the Hiram College Volleyball Invitational (Sept. 7-8). 

“With the addition of a couple tournaments and a scrimmage we are playing a lot more volleyball this season.  We’ve also scheduled some matches that will challenge us very early and to a greater degree than what we saw last season,” said Brewer.

THOMAS MORE SAINTS (16-17 Overall, 7-5 PAC in 2006)
For a two-day stretch, the Thomas More volleyball team dominated the Presidents’ Athletic Conference en route to claiming the 2006 championship. Now that title has put a huge target on the reigning champions that featured no seniors last season.

“A lot of coaches have told me that we have a target on our backs,” said head coach Jenny Fette, who missed the tournament after giving birth to her first child. “The pressure for us is to finish where we did last year. Our goal is the same; win the PAC, the tournament, then advance to the NCAA Tournament.”

Despite not graduating any seniors, the Saints will have to deal with the loss of starters Jessica Tyner and Lindsay Webb. The loss of the duo will be felt more defensively as Fette expects Thomas More to have one of the best offensive teams of her tenure.

The sophomore tandem of Leslie Hoelscher (#11 at left) and Kristine Rust carried the offensive load last season, accounting for 61 percent of the team’s offense.

Hoelscher – who burst on the scene earning National Player of the Week following her first collegiate weekend – ended the season leading the Saints in kills (528), solo blocks (52), block assists (118) and total blocks (170). All three block totals set new school single-season records. The two-time PAC Player of the Week was also the team leader with a .351 hitting percentage en route to earning PAC Freshman of the Year honors.

Rust finished the season second with 490 kills, and earned honorable mention conference laurels.

Junior Sara Corry has continued to improve her presence in the TMC lineup, and now will be looked upon to be another offensive weapon. After playing limited minutes as a freshman, she emerged as a viable defensive player finishing the season second on the team with 90 blocks.

“Val is our only four-year starter and she leads by example,” said Fette. “She knows what I am going to tell her. She knows what I am thinking and I can just let her go with the offense.”

In order for Kuhn to be able to utilize her multitude of options, the Saints will have to get improved play from its back row players. In addition to seniors libero Jenny Schutte and defensive specialist Michelle Headley, sophomore Missy Boian and several newcomers will be asked to add depth in the back row.

Freshmen Karley Riffe, Katie LaCorte and Tiffany Powell will all be given opportunities to contribute defensively.

WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON PRESIDENTS (19-11 Overall, 9-3 PAC in 2006)
Washington & Jefferson returns four starters and nine letter winners from last year’s squad (19-11, 7-3 PAC in 2006) which finished second in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in both the regular season and the conference tournament. With a clear goal of winning the PAC and earning the trip to the NCAA Tournament in mind, the Presidents are ready for 2007.

 The Presidents will be hampered by the loss of 2005 PAC Player of the Year Jamie Gullen; however, a strong nucleus returns in hopes of capturing the program’s second PAC Championship in three seasons. 

The returning starters include seniors outside hitter Gabby Zagari, middle hitter Beth Mihalik (right), setter/DS Emily Yaros and sophomore libero Erin Ponter. 

Mihalik was sixth in the league in blocks (106), while adding 268 kills.  She is the team’s returning leader in hitting percentage at .228. Zagari was second on the team a year ago with 315 kills. She also excels on the defensive end with 195 digs. 

Yaros picked up 272 digs and 14 service aces last season and will be asked to increase her overall production heading into her final collegiate season. Ponter took over as the starting libero midway through the season and responded with 332 digs (second on team). 

"While we did lose four starters to graduation from last year, I feel that with the incoming freshmen and the returnees, we are better than ever before," said head coach Fred Wallace. "Our returning players have an understanding of what is expected of them in the off-season, and the in-season practice demands. They are all excellent leaders and with the very deep and talented incoming freshman class we are extremely excited about the 2007 season."

In 2006, the Presidents ranked third in the PAC in kills (13.59 kpg), third in blocks (2.22 bpg) and fourth in hitting percentage (.218). 

"Each season we want to improve our overall game in each of the statistical categories from the previous season," emphasized Wallace. "We also want to continue to build up our non-conference schedule and compete against the very best on a daily basis.  Finally, we want to be the most prepared team every single time we take to the floor. If we can accomplish these objectives then I have no doubt we will be very successful.”

W&J earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association GamePlan/AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2006-07 school year. This award honors collegiate teams that display excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average on a 4.0 scale.  The Presidents overall team GPA was an outstanding 3.43. 

“Needless to say, we (the coaching staff & players) are extremely proud and happy to earn this team academic award,” said Wallace. “This is a very prestigious award as it shows that the student-athletes are putting in the time and effort to be successful both on the court and in the classroom.”

WAYNESBURG YELLOW JACKETS (8-25 Overall, 6-6 PAC in 2006)
After missing the conference tournament for the first time in recent memory, the 2007 Waynesburg University volleyball team returns to the court on a mission to reestablish themselves as a contender in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

Returning all but one starter from a year ago, the Yellow Jackets have the much needed game experience they lacked last season. Waynesburg’s roster includes a senior and a quintet of juniors that played an integral role on the team last season.

With the loss of two-time, all-conference selection Kaci Hlad to graduation, the middle blocker responsibilities fall to junior Amanda Jo (AJ) Morgan. She showed promise in her first significant action, ranking third and fifth in the PAC in blocks per game and hitting percentage, respectively.

“AJ did what I needed her to do last year,” said Szabo. “She blocked well and is coming around hitting wise, but she has huge shoes to fill.”

“Laurie has a huge amount of pressure on her to be a leader on the court, both vocally and in her play,” said Szabo. “She has gotten better each year and you can see her growing as an athlete on the court, but I think she will continue to get better since she works hard every day.”

The Yellow Jackets also return sophomores Alyson DeMao and Jenna Heaston to the outside, along with senior Ashley Kreinbrook who made the transition from defensive specialist last season. However, Szabo expects Kreinbrook to move back to the traditional defensive position with the addition of freshman Catherine Balzer and the development of the two sophomores.
 

Sophomore Mary Beth Crouch, one of the tallest players for the Yellow Jackets, returns to action after ranking third on the team in kills.

“Mary Beth needs to help take some pressure of AJ (Morgan) in the middle,” said Szabo. “She is always working to try to figure out how to do different shots and get better.”

In addition to action at her natural position of setter, Lindsey Garrison may also see time on the right side, where she saw major time last season.

“Lindsey is very versatile, so it’s easy to put her in other positions,” said Szabo. “She also doesn’t question when you ask her to do something and I think that’s what makes her so versatile.”

Sophomore Amber Wallack also should provide dept for the Yellow Jackets on the right side.

Amanda Staudt returns for her junior season after two years of full-time starting duties.

The Yellow Jackets also return fellow juniors Garrison and Gina Rizzo, who may figure into playing time at the setter position.

After seeing action at outside hitter last year Kreinbrook returns for her senior season with the Yellow Jackets as a defensive specialist or libero.

“Ashley has played every position but where is supposed to be,” said Szabo. “By being a senior with a bunch of juniors on the team, I think Ashley is going to feel more relaxed to say things to people and try to get the team more motivated.”

Last season while seeing time at outside hitter, Kreinbrook still ranked among the conference leaders in both digs per game and service aces per game. She registered a career 434 digs with five matches of 20-plus digs.

Waynesburg also will benefit defensively with the addition of freshmen Julie Incerpi, Rachel Storm and Lauren Veydt, who should provide depth and versatility.

With the recent expansion of the PAC to 10 members and the announcement of the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament, the importance of conference games has drastically increased in recent years.

“I expect the PAC to be very difficult this year,” said Szabo. “There are lot of new programs and new coaches and the conference is going to keep getting tougher with the expansion.”

The PAC Tournament is perhaps the best showcase on the quality of teams in the conference, as in each of the last two seasons there has been an upset in the championship match.

Waynesburg opens the season at the Saint Vincent Tournament before playing at the Defiance Tournament in Ohio the second weekend of September.

WESTMINSTER TITANS (24-12 Overall, 10-2 PAC in 2006)
The Westminster College volleyball team will rely on experience as it enters the 2007 season. The experience is immeasurable with five returning starters and a team consisting of four seniors, four juniors and four sophomores.

The Titans have their sights set on winning the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship. Westminster was a legitimate contender for the title the last four years, including last year's team that posted a 24-12 overall record and a 10-2 mark in the PAC for first place and the top seed in the league tournament. However, the Titans have not won the PAC title since 2002 despite finishing as runners-up in 2003 and 2004.

The 2006 team was a PAC semifinalist before extending its season with a postseason invitation to the ECAC Division III South Region Championships, where it also finished as a semifinalist. The postseason experience for the team was valuable since it marked Westminster's first postseason berth since 2002.

Now, the Titans are more anxious than ever to make a run at the PAC title in 2007.

"I anticipate us being just as successful as last year," 15th-year head coach Tammy Swearingen said. "There's no reason to think we won't be, especially with all the experience we have coming back. There are so many upperclassmen returning and a large number of them made huge strides in the off-season."

The four seniors on the team will provide the leadership, experience and motivation needed to boost the Titans over the top. Defensive specialist Jenna Hinks and middle hitter Danielle Hogue are returning starters. Seniors Jess Cooper and Hannah Parker will return after suffering season-long injuries last year.

Hinks ranked second on the team last year with 41 service aces and third with 3.10 digs per game in 112 games. She enters the season with 523 career digs.

Hogue ranked sixth in the league in hitting percentage (.320) and third on the team in blocks with 0.70 per game in 111 games. She was the fourth-leading hitter on the team with 2.17 kills per game.

Cooper and Parker return as two-year letter-winners and previous experience as starters. As a sophomore, Cooper played in all 35 matches (123 games) and ranked third on the team with 2.09 kills per game and second with 109 blocks (0.89 per game). Parker led the team with 580 digs (5.23) and posted 39 service aces, 34 assists and 106 kills (0.95) as a sophomore.

Joining Hinks and Hogue as returning starters are senior outside hitter Rachel Terzak, junior setter Traci Hassell and junior libero Kylene Hoch (right).

Terzak ranked second on the team with 2.51 kills per game (286) and fifth with 38 blocks. She recorded 182 digs, 40 service aces and 22 assists.

Hassell, an honorable mention for the all-PAC team, ranked sixth in the PAC with 10.07 assists per game. She was second on the team with 104 blocks and registered 353 digs, 101 kills and 34 service aces.

Hoch was the 2006 PAC Defensive Player of the Year, and ranked sixth in the league with 4.5 digs per game (522) in 116 games. She was the fourth-leading team member in service aces with 38.

The Titans also have four reserves from last year. Sophomores Corrie Gasser, Beth Copp, Devin Kelley and Sam Botzum all saw considerable action and are ready to step in for more playing time.

Gasser played in 52 games and ranked third on the team with 109 assists. She posted 102 digs (1.96), 10 aces and four kills. Copp played in 47 games and recorded 89 kills, 16 service aces, 58 digs and 10 blocks. Botzum saw action in 20 games and Kelley in 14.

The Titans open the season at the Mount Union Invitational Aug. 31-Sept. 1.

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