Get to Fremont Friday Night for Awesome Volleyball, Atmosphere and Celebration

<p>FREMONT - Got any plans for Friday night? Well, you do now!</p> <p>Just a 30-45 minute drive from Omaha or Lincoln, Midland University in Fremont will get the volleyball season kicked off Friday night on an evening in which two of the best NAIA teams in the nation will compete in front of a packed house of roughly 2,000 people. On top of that, it's a night in which the community of Fremont and the school are honoring the heroes of the Spring of 2019 Floods that ravaged the Fremont area and a big portion of the state.</p> <p>Midland University, which reached the NAIA Final Four a year ago and has been to the Sweet 16 each of the past four years, has been ranked in 64 consecutive NAIA polls, dating back to the 2013 preseason poll. The Warriors are ranked #8 to start this season and will face Grand View - the #3 ranked team in the nation - at 7 p.m. Friday night at the Wiekert Event Center on the schools' campus. </p> <p>"I think the poll really speaks to the respect that past Midland teams have earned over the years,"Midland coach Paul Giesselmann said. "We graduated a lot of talent off last year's team. This team will have to go out earn its ranking and because of our schedule will have numerous opportunities this season to be tested by some of the very best teams in the country."</p> <p>The match is part of the Nebraska Strong Invite this weekend, which also includes Saint Ambrose and Briar Cliff. Midland will face both of those teams on Saturday. </p> <p>Not only are two of the top teams in the nation playing on Friday night, but it should be a packed house as the team draws a higher average attendance than most Division I programs and last season its home opener drew roughly 2,000 people.</p> <p>A tailgate sponsored by First National Bank of Fremont will begin at 6 p.m. Friday night outside of the Wiekert Event Center with the first 400 people receiving free pulled pork sliders from Huey's Smokehouse BBQ. Between sets at the volleyball matches, many local heroes from the spring flooding will be recognized for their efforts as well and there will also be a video tribute for the way the community rallied together during the floods to protect the community. </p> <p>Under Giesselmann, Midland has become a national power by building its roster primarily with local in-state talent. Of the 26 players on the roster this fall, 22 are home-grown players. Not only that, but they are dang good players as well.</p> <p>Midland landed one of the best all-around players in the past few years from Nebraska when former Papillion-LaVista South standout Taliyah Flores transferred to the Warriors after a year at North Dakota. Giesselmann also brought in three high-profile in-state recruits in setters Hope Leimbach of Lincoln Lutheran, Bree Burtwistle of Stanton and right side Maddie Wieseler of Hartington Cedar Catholic. </p> <p>Those four combine will some standout returning players such as outsides Taylor Petersen of Auburn and Brooke Frederickson of North Bend along with transfer Teisa Tuioti from Hawaii-Hilo, middles Sydney Morehouse of Papillion-LaVista South and Maggie Hiatt from Louisville, </p> <p>Prep Dig's social media accounts will have all kinds of updates from the event Friday night, but this is a great opportunity for fans to get out and experience what NAIA volleyball is like in a high-caliber match and also support so many of the people who helped during the terrible flooding. Hope to see many of you in Fremont on Friday night!</p>