The Nebraska-Kearney Volleyball team hit the courts for their first fall practice Monday morning, a full week earlier than usual.

"It honestly doesn't feel a whole lot different," said Lopers middle blocker Bailee Sterling. "Everyone's here. Everyone is back together. It kind of feels like normal."

This is a Division II Fall Festival year, meaning several NCAA Championships will be held at the same site in a similar time frame, which forces UNK's entire schedule to shift up a week.

"It actually in some ways probably feels better because Division II always feels like we are the last thing to get going during a normal year," said Lopers head coach Rick Squiers. "It almost feels more normal that we start this year the same time as everybody else."

UNK will play an exhibition match against former rival UNO on August 20th before the season officially begins with the Rosella Meier Fall Classic the following Friday.