Grand Rapids, Mich. – The No. 10 Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team is gearing up for the 2022 postseason and will get set to travel this week to Michigan for the Grand Rapids Regional, hosted by No. 3 Calvin University.
 
The Bears will matchup with Millikin University in the NCAA Tournament First Round on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET. WashU is making its 34^th NCAA Tournament appearance in the past 35 seasons as they hold a record of 104-24 all-time in postseason play.
 
The Grand Rapids Regional is loaded and stacked with talent with six nationally ranked teams in the top-20, including No. 3 Calvin, No. 9 Wittenberg, No. 10 WashU, No. 12 UW-Oshkosh, No. 17 Otterbein, No. 20 Hope, (RV) Millikin, and Aurora.  
 
WashU has had a great season in 2022 and recorded an impressive 29-5 record on the year, earning a runner-up finish at the UAA Championships. The Bears finished the 2022 regular season undefeated at home with a 17-0 record and also hold a 9-4 record in neutral site matches.
 
For Thursday's first round contest, it will be the second meeting of the season for the Bears against Millikin, who defeated the Big Blue 3-0 at the WashU Invite earlier this season at the Field House.
 
In addition, the Bears also earned multiple wins over nationally-ranked opponents this season and boasted a strong record in region play, including a five-set thrilling victory over No. 6 NYU at home at the UAA Round Robin #1.
 
Statistically, the Bears lead the UAA and rank third nationally in total team kills (1636) and are 11^th in kills per set (13.41).
 
Furthermore, WashU is also ranked eighth in the nation in team hitting percentage (.257).
 
Fifth-year outside hitter Michaela Bach has been an integral piece to the Bears' success this season. Bach registered 1,000 career kills in October, becoming just one of 30 players ever in program history to achieve this accomplishment. The St. Louis native leads the Bears in total kills this season with 380 and leads the UAA in kills per set (3.55).

Along with Bach, the Bears also boast two additional players with over 300 kills on the year in Lane Bohrer (317) and Jasmine Sells (301). 
 
Other notable individual records that have been achieved this season include senior Taryn Gurbach, who posted 1,000 career digs last Friday. Gurbach also joined an elite company, becoming just one of 23 players in WashU history to achieve this feat. Gurbach leads the Bears in total digs this season with 470, averaging nearly four digs per set (3.92). 

Defensively, Zoe Foster holds a team-high 13 solo blocks and 57 assisted blocks along with 177 kills. 
 
First-year setter Sam Buckley ranks third nationally in total assists (1183) and is fourth in assists per set (10.56), both of which also lead the UAA.
 
Scouting Millikin
The Big Blue enter the NCAA Tournament with an overall record of 23-10 and finished conference play with a record of 5-3.
 
MU advanced to the CCIW semifinals where they fell 3-0 to North Park.
 
As a team, Millikin averages 13.1 kills per set which ranks 17^th nationally. The Big Blue have two players who have recorded over 300 kills individually on the season in Tori Stuart (313) and Kailee Itzenhuiser (380) and both also average over three kills per set.
 
Defensively, MU has produced 189 blocks on the year and averages 17.55 digs per set. Itzenhuiser is second on the team in total digs (418) behind team-leader Sophia Howell (508).
 
Millikin holds a strong record of 11-2 in true neutral site matches and has also defeated three nationally ranked opponents this season in UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh, and Wittenberg.
 
 
Grand Rapids Regional Info (all times eastern)
Thursday's action begins with Wittenberg (23-4) vs Hope (21-7) at 12:30 p.m. followed by WashU (29-5) meeting Millikin (23-10) at 3 p.m. Wisconsin-Oshkosh (30-5) will face Otterbein (23-5) at 5:30 p.m. with the Calvin/Aurora match to follow. 

The Wittenberg/Hope winner will face the WashU/Millikin winner in a regional semifinal match Friday at 5:30 p.m. The Wisconsin-Oshkosh/Otterbein winner will face the Calvin/Aurora winner in Friday's second regional semifinal with a start time slated for 8 p.m.

The regional final is scheduled to take place Saturday night at 5 p.m. 

Ticket prices are $6 for general admission, $4 for senior citizens, members of the military and students and $3 for children ages two-to-12. Children under three are admitted free.
 
Live coverage will be available with live stats and video.