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(AP) -- The 40th edition of Truman State University volleyball gets underway for the 2012 season as the inaugural Days Inn Bulldog Invitational kicks off on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Pershing Arena.

The two-day event features six programs from four states and will pit the Bulldogs in four regional matches on the first weekend of the regular season.
 
The Bulldogs face McKendree (Ill.) to open the weekend on Friday at 11:00 am before taking on the nation’s seventh-ranked team, Minnesota-Duluth, at 7:30 pm.

Then, on Saturday, Truman tackles Winona (Minn.) State at 1:15 pm before closing the event at 7:30 pm against Missouri-St. Louis.

The matches against UMD and WSU denote true in-region matches as part of the newly-realigned Central region, consisting of teams from the MIAA, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and the Great American Conference (GAC).

Truman’s matches against MCK and UMSL also count as in-region matches since both programs are either in-state or within a bordering state.
 
Truman returns five starters from last season’s team, including three-time AVCA all-American Megan Sharpe (Sr., MB).

Also returning are all-MIAA recipients Emily Briseno (Sr., MB), Abby Moser (So., L) and Allie Brak (So., OH).
 
Ben Briney begins his fourth season as the Bulldog head coach with a career record of 69-35.

Courtesy Truman State University

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)