OREM, Utah - After a third-place finish in his first season of play in the Western Athletic Conference a year ago, 16th-year head coach Sam Atoa has high expectations for his Utah Valley University volleyball team in 2014.

The Wolverines, who went 18-15 overall a year ago, tied for third in the WAC with an 11-5 league record. UVU returns 10 letterwinners from last year's club, including five of its seven starters. The 2014 Wolverine roster features a good mix of experience to go along with its underclassmen as it boasts five seniors, two juniors, five sophomores and five freshmen. In all, Atoa welcomes seven newcomers to the fold, including a pair of transfers.

Utah Valley also welcomes back two First Team All-WAC performers from a year ago in senior libero McKenna Tait (libero) and junior middle blocker Lauren Bakker (middle blocker). The newly married Bakker (formerly Stringham) was not only named First Team All-Conference last season but also the WAC's Preseason Player of the Year this year after leading the league in blocks in 2013. Bakker, Tait and senior outside hitter Kalani Norris were all recently named Preseason All-WAC as well.

The three preseason all-conference selections along with seniors Cassie Wahlin (right side), Jen Hardman (setter) and Jaramey Barney (middle blocker) will look to lead the Wolverines this year. Norris, Tait and Wahlin will make-up Atoa's team captains in 2014, as the trio of seniors will look to anchor the squad.

The Wolverines will be tested early and often this season as they'll face four nationally ranked programs in their first seven matches. UVU will play two of the four on Friday as it will begin the season against No. 22 Kansas that morning at 10:30 a.m. MT and No. 23 Creighton later that afternoon (4:30 p.m. MT). Both matches will be part of the Kansas Invitational in Lawrence, Kansas, as well as a Saturday morning contest against Lipscomb (10:30 a.m. MT).

Following the Kansas Invite, Utah Valley will have a quick turnaround to its next match, as it will face the University of Wyoming at Evanston High School in Evanston, Wyoming, on Monday at 4 p.m. The Wolverines will then return to the Beehive state to face No. 4 Washington, No. 9 BYU and UMBC in Provo next weekend.

In all, Utah Valley will play its first 11 matches away from home. The Wolverines' home opener will come on Sept. 19 against Idaho State. That weekend UVU will host the annual La Quinta Inn & Suites Invitational.

The following is a position breakdown for the 2014 Wolverine volleyball team.

Outside Hitter
Besides the preseason all-conference selection Norris at outside hitter, Atoa will also look for big things from a trio of sophomores in Macky Treanor, Nakisha Willden and Kiahna Steiner. Treanor had a big season prior to an injury a year ago but Willden led the group in 2013 by being named to the All-WAC Freshman Team.

Middle Blocker
With the preseason player of the year Bakker leading the way for the Wolverines in the middle, freshmen Madison Wolford (Pleasant Grove, Utah, Pleasant Grove HS) and McKenzie Schenk (Morgan, Utah, Morgan HS) will also see extensive time at the position as well as the senior Barney and junior transfer Megan Hunt (Mesa, Ariz./Chandler-Gilbert CC).

Right Side
Wahlin will start her senior campaign at right side for UVU with sophomores Kelcee Munk and Steiner also seeing time at the position as well as freshman Lexi Thompson (South Jordan, Utah, Bingham HS).

Setter
True freshman Sierra Starley (Twin Falls, Idaho, Twin Falls HS) has shined at the position so far in the preseason and senior Jen Hardman, who backed up the program's all-time assist leader Brookelyn Hall who graduated last year, will also see time on the court at setter as well.

Libero/Defensive Specialist
The preseason all-conference selection Tait will start at libero for UVU but freshman Cydney Lund (Lehi, Utah, Lehi HS) as well as sophomore transfer Audrey Guiberson (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Lewis College) will take the court at defensive specialists as well.