The UMSL volleyball team, which is ranked No. 10 in the preseason AVCA national poll, will begin play on Friday at a tournament in Nashville. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Nora Nichols
Staff Writer
The 2023-23 University of Missouri-St. Louis sports year will begin officially on Friday, September 1, when the men’s and women’s cross country, women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball teams will all play their first matches of the season.
Volleyball
Volleyball will be the first Triton team to open its season as they’ll take on host Trevecca Nazarene in the Ray Thrasher Classic in Nashville, Tenn. UMSL is coming off a 25-7 season last year and an appearance in the National Semifinals. The Tritons begin the season ranked 10th in the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll and will take on Lynn ranked 25th in the poll from the Sunshine State Conference along with Alabama-Huntsville and Carson-Newman.
Women’s Soccer
Women’s soccer will be the first Triton team to open its season at home as they’ll host a pair games this weekend. They’ll welcome MIAA foes Northwest Missouri State and Washburn to Don Dallas Field.
The Tritons went 6-7-5 in 2022 including 3-4-5 in the GLVC and advanced to the semifinal round of the conference tournament for the second straight year.
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country
The Tritons open their fourth season of competition this Friday at the Bearcat Invite hosted by Southwest Baptist at the Bolivar Golf Course in Bolivar, Mo. The women’s race begins at 5:15 p.m. with the men’s race to follow at 6 p.m. The women’s race with be 5,000 kilometers while the men’s race will be four miles.
The men are coming off an eighth-place finish at the GLVC Championships a year ago and return the GLVC Freshman of the Year in Toby Middleton and All-GLVC performer Benjamin VandenBrink. The women finished 10th last season at the conference meet and have their top two runners returning in Kayley Heeter and Lily Wagemann.
Men’s Tennis
The Triton men’s tennis team begins its fall schedule hosting Missouri Valley on Saturday morning. UMSL returns seven players from last year’s squad including Marcos Navas who missed the season because of injury.
Women’s Tennis
The Triton women’s tennis team also begins its fall slate this Saturday against Missouri Valley. UMSL return five of their top six players from last year and look to build off a 7-8 record.
Men’s Soccer
The Tritons get their season underway on Sunday traveling to Owensboro, Ky., to take on Kentucky Wesleyan. UMSL went 5-8-3 a season ago including 4-6-2 in the GLVC. The Tritons were picked to finish ninth in the GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll.
THIS WEEK’S UMSL ATHLETICS CALENDAR
Friday, September 1
1 p.m. – No. 10 Volleyball at Trevecca Nazarene, Nashville, Tenn.
5 p.m. – No. 10 Volleyball vs. No. 25 Lynn, Nashville, Tenn.
5 p.m. – Women’s Soccer hosts Northwest Missouri State, Don Dallas Field
5:15 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Cross Country at SBU Bearcat Invite, Bolivar, Mo.
Saturday, September 2
9 a.m. – No. 10 Volleyball vs. Alabama-Huntsville, Nashville, Tenn.
11 a.m. – Men’s and Women’s Tennis hosts Missouri Valley, UMSL Tennis Courts
3 p.m. – No. 10 Volleyball vs. Carson-Newman, Nashville, Tenn.
Sunday, September 3
12 p.m. – Women’s Soccer hosts Washburn, Don Dallas Field
3:30 p.m. – Men’s Soccer at Kentucky Wesleyan, Owensboro, Ky.