University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Volleyball Team to hold Scrimmage
8/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 22, 2008
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss volleyball team will kick off the 2008 season with a preseason scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 23, at 2 p.m., in Reed Green Coliseum. The scrimmage is open to the public.
Head Coach Ricci Luyties enters his fifth season at the helm of a Golden Eagle volleyball program returns that only six letterwinners from last year's team.
The returnees include seniors Ashley Petrinec and Stevi Cherry, as well as juniors Maia Ivanova and Angela Hlavaty. These four are the only upperclassmen to play, while sophomores Katie Matlock and Lauren Broom are the other returning letterwinners from a year ago.
Luyties welcomes eight newcomers to the squad, including Sarah Jane Bowden (Sioux City, Iowa), Caitlin Clarke (New Orleans, La.), Amelia Hendrickson (Belle Chasse, La.), Lisa Knecht (Metairie, La.), Lauren Sears (Ashburn, Va.), Kelsea Seymour (Long Beach, Calif.) and Bridget Whalen (Littleton, Colo.). The incoming class is expected to contribute significantly in their first season.
"I'm excited about the upcoming season," Luyties said. "We have a solid recruiting class coming in, however, it remains to be seen when we all get together what the team is going to be or the team dynamics of them."
The Golden Eagles open the 2008 season at the Air Force Academy Tournament, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, against Buffalo, Air Force and Kennesaw State. The team opens its home portion of the schedule, Sept. 3, against Southeastern Louisiana at 7 p.m., in Reed Green Coliseum.
