SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Whitworth College volleyball team faces quite a challenge as the Pirates open the 2005 season at the Washington University Open this weekend. All four of Whitworth's opponents are considered favorites or contenders in their respective conferences heading into this season.

The Pirates will play Illinois Wesleyan University on Friday at 3:00 pm (CDT) to open the season. A match against host Washington University follows at 7:30 pm. On Saturday Whitworth will take on Dominican University at 10:00 am, followed by a match against Rhodes College at 12:15 pm.

Whitworth itself is a favorite for the Northwest Conference title heading into 2005. The Pirates are tied for first in the NWC preseason coaches poll and ranked 24th in the AVCA/CSTV NCAA Division III preseason poll. Whitworth returns five starters and the top two liberos from 2004, when the Bucs finished 19-5 overall and 12-4 in the NWC. Senior outside hitter Julie Marsh (Cheney, Wash.) was a First Team All-NWC selection last year, while Rebekah Hornor (Sr., S, Spokane, Wash.) and Natalie Danielson (Sr., MB, Kennewick, Wash.) were Second Team All-NWC choices.

Illinois Wesleyan finished 22-15 overall and 5-2 (3rd place) in the Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin last year. The Titans drive for a CCIW title in 2005 will be led by 2004 CCIW Player of the Year Molly Mann, a senior middle hitter. Whitworth and IWU have never met in volleyball before.

Washington University was the 2004 national runner up, following a national championship in 2003. The Bears are the top-ranked team in the 2005 AVCA/CSTV preseason poll. They were 32-7 overall and 7-0 (1st place) in the University Athletic Association in 2004. Two-time All-American setter Kara Liefer returns to lead the squad for her final season. The only other time Whitworth and Washington met on the volleyball court was in 2002 at Colorado College's tournament. The Pirates dropped a three-set match to the Bears.

Dominican University is transitioning to the Lake Michigan Conference in 2005, out of the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference. The Stars finished 20-17 overall in 2004 and won the regular season NIIC title with a 6-0 mark. But they finished third in the NIIC tournament and did not make the NCAA tournament. Sophomore outside hitter Melanie Hach will try to return Dominican to the top of the standings after earning NIIC Player of the Year honors as a freshman in 2004. Whitworth and Dominican have never played.

Rhodes College is a contender for the Southern Collegiate Athletics Conference crown in 2005. The Lynx finished 25-11 in 2004 and 13-5 (3rd place) in the SCAC. They are picked fourth in the 2005 preseason coaches poll. Rhodes will rely on the outstanding defensive play of Amanda Swanstrom, the 2004 SCAC Co-Backrow Player of the Year. This will be the first ever meeting between the Lynx and the Pirates.

Tournament results will be available on the Washington University web site.