Grand Rapids, MI – After a 3-1 performance at Oakland Community College's Block City Invitational last weekend, GRCC's Raider Volleyball team is now preparing to face a pair of nationally ranked opponents at the Owen's Community College Express Invitational starting Friday August 29^th.

The Raiders first face Iowa Central Community College at 12:00PM on Friday.  While unranked, the Tritons received votes in the preseason NJCAA DII Volleyball poll and are off to a 2-2 season with wins against Riverland Community College and Mineral Area College and losses by #14 Kansas City Community College and Highland Community College.  The Triton roster is deep with fifteen, but very young as the Tritons start the 2013 season with only 2 sophomores.

The following match the Raiders face #16 Illinios Central College at 5:15.  ICC's Cougars finished the 2012 season with a 27-15 record and have commenced the 2013 season with a 4-0 record defeating Carl Sanburg College, Illinois Valley CC, Kaskaskia College and Joilet Junior College.  The Cougars have five sophomores on their roster of thirteen.

Saturday's first match will place GRCC against its highest ranked opponent of the season, #3 Parkland Community College.  Parkland's Cobras finished the 2012 season with an overall record of 45-8 finishing 3^rd Nationally with a 3-0 win over Owens Community College in the consolation match.

The Cobras return 8 sophomores including Megan Casagrande who earned All-American Honorable Mention honors during Parkland's 2012 season.  Thus far in 2013 Parkland is 5-0 having only dropped one  set in each of their matches combined.

GRCC's last match of the weekend pairs them up against McHenry County College.  McHenry is winless in 2013 after one weekend of play, but return 5 sophomores for 2013.  McHenry's Scots have made 5 national tournament appearances since 2005.

Ranked #2 in the nation and with one loss on their plate already, GRCC is expecting to work tirelessly to defend their position in the NJCAA's DII rankings before regular season play beings on Tuesday September 3^rd.