MITCHELL, S.D. – A Jackson County Central graduate will be on each undefeated team and two more local graduates will be on the sideline coaching Wednesday when Dakota Wesleyan hosts Northwestern College on the opening night of the Great Plains Athletic Conference season at the Corn Palace.

The host Tigers have an 8-0 record and are 24-4 in sets played, while the NAIA seventh-rated Red Raiders are 7-0 in matches with a 21-4 set record.

JCC grad Natalie Neal is a 5-foot-6 junior defensive specialist for DWU.

Heron Lake-Okabena-Lakefield graduate Lindsey (Voss) Wilber is starting her sixth season as coach of the Tigers and JCC grad Sydney Eddy is a student assistant coach for Wesleyan.

On the other side, Lacey Wacker is a 5-9 junior setter for Northwestern.

Another JCC graduate will be on the court in a GPAC opener Wednesday as Molly Brinkman is a 5-5 sophomore defensive specialist at Mount Marty College, which hosts Briar Cliff. The Lancers have a 4-5 record.

In Madison, S.D., Rachel Johnson is a 5-6 senior setter at Dakota State.

The Trojans have a 3-2 record. Their next match is in Sioux City Friday vs. Morningside College.

JCC grad Lauren Murphy is a 5-5 sophomore setter at Wisconsin-Platteville. The Pioneers have a 3-2 record after a win over Loras Tuesday.

Also, two JCC grads are part of the volleyball program at Augustana University.

Abby Benson is a 6-foot sophomore middle blocker for the Vikings, while Michelle (Van Epps) Aggen is in her second year as an assistant coach.

Augustana opens its season this weekend with two matches Friday and two more Saturday at the Loper Pre-Season Invitational in Kearney, Neb.

Natalie Neal                          Lacey Wacker                     Sydney Eddy

Lindsey Wilber                     Molly Brinkman                   Rachel Johnson

Lauren Murphy                      Abby Benson                Michelle Aggen