The Midwest Thunderbirds are on the hunt again. The U23 all-star team is returning to the Las Vegas Invitational and looking to defend its college 7s title. Roger Riley and Steve Murra have also returned as coaches, and noted that this year's competition will produce new challenges.

“It is definitely a new-look team and, for many of them, the first time they will have played sevens,” Riley said. “There are few 7s tournament in the Midwest for collegiate women as yet.

“It appears that most of the teams in the collegiate division are Canadian,” Riley added. “The Canadian teams were tough last year.”

2015 will be no different. Eight of the 16 teams currently registered are Canadian and include UBC, coached by renowned international Maria Gallo, and UVic, which is coached by current Canada 7s and 15s player Brittany Waters (stayed tuned for previews). The U.S. will be well represented by teams like BYU, which is attempting to play both 7s and 15s simultaneously this season, and Army, which is debuting at the LVI.

The Thunderbirds have experience against Canadian teams, in addition to last year's LVI competition. This year's 7s squad was chosen from last year’s 15s trip to Manitoba, Canada. Both coaches have three players each from their home club. Northern Iowa has sent feisty fullback Mel Janss, tough inside center Angie McCardle, and the versatile Talia Carrasquillo, who is a 15s hooker/back row. Winona State will be represented by Lanoira Duhart, who pulled double duty at prop and center; wing/fullback Nicky Linberg; and one of two LVI returners, Nadia Nassif.

The most familiar Thunderbird is Grace Hovde, who is aging out of the program. The former USA U20 player currently plays for the Wisconsin Women. UW La Crosse’s Kristin Kaderabek is the only other LVI veteran; lock Naomi Ayodele from the University of Illinois made a name for herself during the Manitoba tour; former Armstrong High School (Minn.) standout Rachel Aufdembrink, now of the University of Minnesota, is the only flyhalf on board; and UM Moorhead scrumhalf Breanna Bucklin makes her debut after emerging out of the NSCRO playoffs.

Midwest Thunderbirds U23s
Rachel Aufdembrink – University of Minnesota
Naomi Ayodele – University of Illinois
Breanna Bucklin – UM Moorhead
Talia Carrasquillo – Northern Iowa
Lanoira Duhart – Winona State
Grace Hovde – Wisconsin Women
Kristin Kaderabek – UW La Crosse
Mel Janss – Northern Iowa
Nicky Linberg – Winona State
Angie McCardle – Northern Iowa
Nadia Nassif – Winona State

True to the Thunderbirds’ reputation, the LVI will not be the program’s only outing this year. Riley and Murra plan to take two teams to the Costa Rica 7s in July or returning to Wales for 15s, akin to their tour in 2013.