During the preseason, volleyball fans get a chance to see teams face off that would otherwise never have the opportunity to play each other.

The Wolverine Invitational, taking place August 31 to September 2, brings together host team Utah Valley, Big 12 reigning champ Kansas, Long Beach State, and Montana.

Action kicks off on Thursday, August 31, with Long Beach State taking on Montana at 5 PM MT, and you can watch all six matches LIVE right here on FloVolleyball.

THE TEAMS

Kansas

With eight seniors on the 2017 roster, Kansas has more than enough talent to challenge Texas for the Big 12 title. The Jayhawks, led by 2016 Big 12 Player of the Year Kelsie Payne, were upset by Creighton in the second round of the NCAA tournament last year, and their path to redemption starts now, during preseason where big out-of-conference wins and losses could have a big impact on tournament seeding down the stretch.

Kansas Star Players

Kelsie Payne | Senior | Opposite
2016 & 2017 Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year
2016 Big 12 Player of the Year
2015 & 2016 AVCA First Team All-American
2015 & 2016 AVCA First Team All-Midwest Region
2015 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team

Ainise Havili | Senior | Setter
2016 AVCA Third Team All-American
2015 AVCA First Team All-American
2014 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American
2015 & 2016 Big 12 Setter of the Year
2015 & 2016 First Team All-Big 12
2014 All-Big 12 Freshman Team
2014, 2015 & 2016 AVCA First Team All-Midwest Region
2014 Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year
2015, 2016 & 2017 All-Big 12 Preseason Team

Madison Rigdon | Senior | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-Big 12
2016 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American
2016 First Team All-Big 12
2016 AVCA First Team All-Midwest Region
2015 Second Team All-Big 12

Long Beach State

New head coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer leads a Long Beach State team that finished runner-up in the Big West last year and returns first team All-Big West middles YiZhi Xue and Ashley Murray.

The 49ers were picked to finish third in the Big West this season, coming in behind reigning champ Hawaii and Cal Poly. They'll come in to the Wolverine Invitational after a challenging opening weekend hosting Stanford, Iowa, and Wright State.

Long Beach State Star Players

Ashley Murray | Senior | Middle Blocker
2016 First Team All-Big West
2015 Honorable Mention All-Big West
2014 Big West Freshman of the Year

YiZhi Xue | Sophomore | Middle Blocker
2016 First Team All-Big West
2016 Big West All-Freshman Team

Utah Valley

Head coach Sam Atoa led the Wolverines of Utah Valley to a 10-4 record in the Western Athletic Conference last fall, and UVU was one win away from securing the conference championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament.

A loss to Texas Rio Grande Valley ended the 2016 season, but this year the Wolverines returns five starters, including first team All-WAC middle Madison Dennison, second team all-conference outside hitter Lexi Thompson, and WAC all-tournament setter Sierra Starley.

Utah Valley Star Players

Madison Dennison | Senior | Middle Blocker
2017 Preseason All-WAC
2016 First Team All-WAC
2014 WAC All-Freshman Team

Lexi Thompson | Senior | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-WAC
2016 Second Team All-WAC

Sierra Starley | Senior | Setter
2017 Preseason All-WAC
2016 WAC All-Tournament

Montana

Like Long Beach State, the Grizzlies are heading into 2017 with a new coach at the helm. Allison Lawrence joined the Montana program as an assistant in 2010, serving under previous head coaches Jerry Wagner (2006-14) and Brian Doyon (2015-16).

The team she inherits went 5-21 last season, but is bringing in four freshmen, including Canadian standout Maddy Marshall, and will have two redshirt freshmen making their collegiate debut this fall.

Montana Star Players

Mykaela Hammer | Redshirt Junior | Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker
2016 SMU Invitational All-Tournament Team
2016 Team Blocks Leader

THE MATCHUPS

Long Beach State vs. Montana

Thursday, August 31 | 5 PM MT

They haven't played since 1994, so one can't put much stock in Long Beach's 4-1 series lead over Montana. That said, with six players 6-foot-2 and taller, the 49ers certainly bring a height advantage over the Grizzlies, whose tallest players are 6-1.

Utah Valley vs. Kansas

Thursday, August 31 | 7 PM MT

The Wolverines and Jayhawks are familiar foes, having played each other three times, most recently in August 2014. Kansas has won all three meetings, and the No. 11 Jayhawks will be heavily favored in this home opener for UVU.

Kansas vs. Long Beach State

Friday, September 1 | 2 PM MT

In only the second time these two programs have ever met, Long Beach State will be seeking a big upset over Kansas. With seven newcomers and a new coach, Long Beach is an unknown quantity and could just catch the Jayhawks by surprise.

Utah Valley vs. Montana

Friday, September 1 | 5 PM MT

The Grizzlies and the Wolverines have never had the opportunity to face off, despite being only one state away from each other. This might be largely because Utah Valley has only been competing in NCAA Division I since 2003.

Kansas vs. Montana

Saturday, September 2 | 9:30 AM MT

With an all-time series record of 1-1, Kansas and Montana will each be seeking to take the head-to-head lead. The last time the two teams met in 2001, Kansas won in three sets, but it was Montana with the sweep back in 1994.

Utah Valley vs. Long Beach State

Saturday, September 2 | 12 PM MT

Utah Valley's five returners will seek to down Long Beach State, a team the Wolverines have never faced in program history. Their biggest hurdle will be getting around the block of middles Xue and Murray and avoiding sophomore libero Hailey Harward.

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