University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Opens Season at Capital One Classic
8/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 23, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- - The Lady Eagle volleyball team opens the regular season at the Capital One Classic hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette, Aug. 25-26. Southern Miss plays in-state rival Mississippi State in the first match, followed by matches with Louisiana-Lafayette and Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
"We are excited to play," Head Coach Ricci Luyties said. "Everyone is ready to play, especially, after the three weeks we've just had. We are still learning how to play together as a team, but we are getting there. Everyday during practice we can see the improvement. We have the players to do all the things we want to do, it's a matter of getting on the same page."
Southern Miss is coming off a 6-19 season under third-year coach Ricci Luyties. The Lady Eagles, led by senior outside hitter/libero Amanda Blunck, return three starters. Also returning with Blunck are junior Morgan Johnson and sophomores Ashley Petrinec and Stevi Cherry. Blunck led the team in digs (304), while Petrinec led the team in kills (232). Johnson was second on the team in kills (201) and total blocks (73).
Also returning is senior Nicole Rock. Southern Miss welcomes nine newcomers, including junior college transfers Amanda Huntoon (Encinitas, Calif.), Kristen Metz (Saskatchewan, Canda) and Cassie Lavery (Arma, Kan.). Junior Mari Ruddick joins the Golden Eagle team after transferring from Utah State. Five freshmen are among the newcomers, including Amy Flarity (Mobile, Ala.), Megan Gable (Mobile, Ala.), Angela Hlavaty (Lincoln, Neb.), Maia Ivanova (Sofia, Bulgaria) and Jennifer Peyton (Houston, Texas).
"We have a real tough first match against Mississippi State, who we've opened up with the last two years," Luyties said. "We lost to them both times, but we are looking forward to seeing the improvement in our team. We don't know much about Louisiana-Lafayette, but we had a chance to play against Southeastern Louisiana in the spring and it was a close match."
Mississippi State is coming off a 15-12 year. Head Coach Tina Seals, beginning her third season with the Bulldogs, returns three starters.
Louisiana-Lafayette is coming off a 5-20 season. Head Coach Amy Kraljev begins her second season with the Ragin' Cajuns. UL Lafayette returns five starters.
Southeastern Louisiana is coming off a 6-21 season. Head Coach Julie Langford is in her first season and returns four starters.
Following the Capital One Classic, Southern Miss travels to Huntsville, Texas, for the Sam Houston State Invitational, Sept. 1-2.
