However, as head coach Matt Jennings argues, last season was one of great growth for the Huskies, who closed out their regular season with wins over Grand Valley State, Northern Michigan, and Saginaw Valley State, among their final seven conference matches, and then defeated Wayne State in the GLIAC quarterfinals, 3-0.

“I’m as proud, if not more proud, of a lot of last year, than I was some of the parts of our really heady years, a couple of years back,” he said. “The way we ended the season, the way we came back and beat teams that we lost to on the front end. Northern being a great example, Grand Valley being a great example. Grand Valley on the road.

“We played Wayne State three times, went 2-1. I’d like a couple of early matches back and considering the shift of personnel. We had to be in the top cluster in our conference, competing for a championship, in that group with 20 wins. It was a success in a lot of ways.”

Part of the reason for those early season struggles in conference play was that the team had to replace four five-year starters in setter Laura De Marchi, defensive special Megan Utlak, and outside hitters Olivia Ghormley and Anna Jonynas. Those were all some very big shoes to fill.

Michigan Tech outside hitter Brooke Dzwik celebrates with her teammates after a play during a match against Wayne State Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

“We had a lot of people introduced to the lineup, and make their way through the season, for the first time,” said Jennings. “We fell short NCAA Tournament-wise. We were one of the first teams probably left out, which is, I think, on par with where we were. But, we bring so much of that back this year, and, with the newcomers, it’s really exciting.”

It took four outside hitters last season to replace Ghormley and Jonynas. All four are returning in senior Lindy Oujiri and sophomores Brook Dzwik, Meg Raabe, and Makena Wesol. By the end of the season, Raabe and Wesol were contributing heavily to the offense.

“Those three (the freshmen), as they matured, you look at that Ferris game that we lost in the semifinal, Megan had, what was it, 26 kills, one error. MaKena had 18,” Jennings said. “The quarterfinal win before that, they were putting up numbers like that. To see them come in, be game changers, and then end their season playing as well as they did, I’m very excited about that. They’re only really sophomores this year.”

Oujiri, on the other hand, struggled in a featured role last season, and she would be the first to admit that, according to Jennings.

“I can say this about Lindy, you’re not going to find a better-quality human being who wants more good things for her team,” he said. “So, when Lindy was going through last year, it never was lost on anyone what she was trying to do and for what reasons. Lindy’s a hard worker, team-first kind of person who does everything that we ask her to do, that is super talented, and, I think, is up to the task at hand.”

Jennings feels that Oujiri comes into the fall having rebuilt her confidence in spring practices.

“The fluidity in her swing was back,” he said. “We didn’t see the hesitation nearly the same way.

“Every player hesitates at times, but in a way that was just more natural, I think. The position we’re asking her to play, or that position in general, is an aggressive, risk-taking position. You have to take risks, and that’s hard to analyze sometimes. I think that she did a really good job there, and I think she’s just more confident in her game. When it’s on, I think Lindy’s going to have a good season.”

As a senior, Kaycee Meiners will have a big impact on the Huskies’ blocking scheme. She has battled injuries in the past, but she will serve as team captain this season, which shows the respect everyone in the locker room has for her.

“Kaycee has matured in a way that anyone should be proud,” said Jennings. “She’s come so far. She’s an excellent captain for us this year.

“It’s funny, because she’s battled some injuries, and I know that makes her so hungry for this year. She is locked in that way. Both her and Lindy have really worked hard in the offseason.”

Among that talented trio of sophomores, all three will be expected to have an impact again this season. That all starts with Raabe, who is just as important defensively, taking passes, as she is offensively, scoring kills. She will also return to her more natural position of right side hitter this year, which should help with blocking as well.

“Meg is as impressive a young person as you’re going to encounter,” Jennings said. “She’s coachable, she’s likable, she’s very smart, she’s heartbreaking and talented. She’s not flashy, so you watch her roll and she’s just got quality touch. She knows what to do with the ball. She’s disciplined.

“She’s the kind of player, you look down at her stat line and you’re like, ‘Wow, she does a lot of things.’ She just maybe never really wowed you. Physically, she’s very low key in the way she rolls, but very disciplined. Megan is going to be an anchor for our team in a lot of ways.”

Wesol is a player that can spark the Huskies with her upbeat play style.

“MaKena is a little bit more like a spark plug,” said Jennings. “You watch her play, and she’s all amped up. She’s going to take big hacks at the ball, and she’s just going to go and try to compete hard. I think that really fits that position well.”

As the season went along last year, Dzwik grew into the space vacated by Jonynas, and Jennings is thrilled to see her continue to grow while playing in all six rotations.

“Brooke is a unique human,” he said. “Brooke is a wonder. We love Brooke. She plays so hard. She’s a competitor. She’s been part of lots of winning programs before she came here. She just wants to play (and) beat teams.

“She doesn’t care what position she plays. She just wants to be on the court. She takes on her role very well that way. We’re excited for her second year, for sure.”

On the back end, the Huskies will be less experienced than they have been in several years. However, adding a Division I transfer in sophomore Alayna Corwin, should help. Corwin, who is competing for the libero position, was someone that Jennings and his staff recruited heavily before she made the decision to go to Marshall for two seasons, so she is known quantity to the Huskies’ coaching staff.

“When you encounter Alayna, you notice her,” Jennings said. “She’s just a presence that you want on your team, positive, energetic, hardworking.

“She’s just hardworking. She wants to play as much volleyball as possible. She’s just very smart. She’ll do what she needs to do to be on the court.”

If there is one question with the Huskies heading into the season, it is who will set. The Huskies had five years of De Marchi and one year of Lina Espejo-Ramirez as a starter. This year, the position is up for grabs, with sophomore Olivia Heidel and freshman Tess Hayes battling for the starting role. Heidel, who is 5-foot-11, brings size and strength to the position, whereas Hayes, who stands 5-foot-7, is shorter, but comes from the same club that Jonynas and former defensive specialist Jacqueline Aird came from.

With other new faces joining the lineup this year, Jennings remains optimistic about how things will shake out for his group this season. The new additions, and players taking on expanded roles, will have figure things out quickly, because the Huskies are playing their most ambitious schedule they ever have under Jennings.

“We’re competing with teams that are at the upper level, and so I took an opportunity to make literally the most difficult schedule I put together since I’ve been here this year,” he said. “We play, out of the eight teams to begin this season, all but one were in the NCAAs. Two were in the Elite Eight. One was in the national championship game. One has six national titles. Two of them are St. Cloud and Minnesota-Duluth. We know what they do.”

Jennings believes his team can set the tone with solid efforts in those early nonconference matches.

“I know what I’m doing with this schedule,” he said. “It’s just that we have to look at the right way. We are going to be challenged. It is important that the team, and people, know that our record early on is going to not reflect, I think, what it’s going to be.

“This young group to see the best right away, and know where we measure. Then (when) we get to the GLIAC, we’re then better prepared to knock off the other top teams.”

The Huskies will open the season on Thursday, Aug. 31, with a home match against Winona State before they head to Marquette for the NMU Tournament during the weekend.