ANDERSON, S.C. – High expectations surround the Anderson University volleyball team as the Trojans prepare for their eighth season in the South Atlantic Conference and their first campaign with veteran head coach Todd Hay at the helm of the program.

Hay's roster features 12 returning letterwinners and lists six starters, including the libero spot, and boasts a pair of All-Southeast Region selections from a year ago (Marissa Mitter and Rachel Burts) to go alongside SAC Freshman of the Year and Second-Team All-Conference honoree Emily Conlin.

"We did lose some key contributors from last year," said Hay. "But I really feel that the pieces are in place [for success] and the depth is in place to have a lot of talent at every position."

Hay noted his squad's height and potential when asked about the upcoming campaign. "We are a physical team. This is one of the tallest - if not the tallest - team that I've ever coached. We have the size, but we also have the athleticism to go along with the size."

An 11-year veteran of the collegiate sidelines, including five in the South Atlantic Conference, Hay is looking to unleash his players' untapped potential. "The players believe they have so much more to give and there is a higher level that we can reach. Our job as a team and my job as a coach is to figure out how to pull that out of them. I see a wealth of opportunity this season."

Hay believes the optimism surrounding the Abney Athletic Center is justified. "We listed our goals in the spring and we want to win a championship. That might be the regular-season conference. It might be the conference tournament championship or it might be the NCAA Regional, but we want to win a championship and I do believe that is a very realistic goal. We want to continue to improve each week. We want to be better at the end of the season than we were at the beginning of the year. Expectations are high. We are expecting a lot out of ourselves."

SETTER
Conlin returns for her sophomore campaign after ranking second in the SAC and posting the sixth-highest single-season tally in school history with 1,246 assists a year ago. The Glendale, Ariz., native became the first Trojan to earn SAC Freshman of the Year honors since AU joined the league in 2010. She paced the conference in assists per set and aces, while wrapping up the regular season with 10 consecutive double-doubles.

"One of our biggest strengths we are going to rely on is {Emily} Conlin," added Hay. "I am glad we have Connie. She is a physically strong setter and she has great hands. She can dish out a variety of sets. We are going to be more aggressive offensively this season and that's an advantage."

With just one setter owning collegiate experience, Hay will look to true freshman Christina Stacy to help set the table for the Trojans this season. "Christina will do a great job," added Hay. "She is very athletic and very fast.
"She has club and high school experience as both a setter and libero, but going forward in her career, she is going to be a defensive specialist/libero."

MIDDLE BLOCKER
Burts is also back for her second season with the Black and Gold after transferring from North Greenville prior to last year. The hometown native had an impact in 2016 after ranking second on the squad with 269 kills and leading the league with 121 total blocks and 36 solo blocks, while equaling the second-highest number of solo blocks in a season in school history with 85. Burts was named Second-Team All-SAC, while garnering regional attention by capturing Second-Team All-Region accolades.

"Rachel has a great physical presence, good lateral movement and an amazing vertical," added Hay. "She is definitely a blocking presence. We want to move all our middles around more this year and give our opponents different looks and we continue to work with her on developing a variety of hits."

A Second-team All-SAC selection as a sophomore, veteran Serena Jackson has played in 82 matches during her collegiate career and will likely move into the school's top-10 for blocks early in the season.
"She hates to lose and brings a lot of competitiveness," Hay said. "Serena is very determined. She brings a very good slide attack and is very good behind the setter. We want to run her in a variety of patterns this season."

After sitting out last season, redshirt freshman Hailee Wilhelm "is excited about being able to compete for playing time and has a great attitude," noted Hay. "Hailee did some good things in the spring. She is good hitting off one foot, as well and also likes hitting behind the setter."

One of five true freshman this season, Hannah Worsham impressed Hay during the summer. "We saw some good things when she attended camp. She filled the role as a middle blocker for this class and will be in the mix for playing time. We'll see how quickly she adapts to college game."

Outside/Rightside Hitter
"The best teams in the league, year-in and year-out have a strong right side. The right side will define how good we will be," noted Hay. "We are one of the tallest teams in the conference and with the experience we have returning, we have our depth chart pretty well set."

Buoyed by the return of All-Southeast Region and two-time All-SAC performer Marissa Mitter, Hay believes the outside/right side will be one of several strengths of the team in 2017.

"Marissa is a team captain and we are looking for her to have a great year," added Hay. "A leadership role has been thrust upon her and we look to Marissa as a leader. If Marissa is on her game – offensively, defensively and mentally – if she's having a good year – and a good match – then the team is probably having a good year – and a good match. This isn't pressure – its expectations. She's an all-conference and all-region performer and we need her to be that leader."

Mitter, a senior, is poised to move into the school's all-time top 10 for kills after knocking down a career-high 390 kills a season ago. She was one of only two players in the league to post more than 300 kills and 300 digs during the season.

Junior Jayln Knight started all 31 contests a season ago and was fourth on the team with 325 digs, including a season-high 23 at Queens in November and reached double-figure digs in 16 matches.

"Jayln is one of our best all-around, highest volleyball IQ players on the team, added Hay. "I've always been a fan – just the way she plays. She has excellent ball control, a good serve and she's a very smart hitter. She fills the role of a second outside perfectly. You want your second outside to be good at ball control and a smart attacker and she fills all those roles. I believe she could get us two kills a set, which is great for your second. She's fearless, smart, a good defender, a good passer and a good attacker."

Kaitlyn Grube, the lone freshman listed on the outside also attemded camp this summer. "I love what I've seen in her," noted Hay. "She a good, athletic player with a big upside. She has good power and just looks like a player. She has the tools to be successful. Going into the season, I see Kaitlyn pushing both Marissa and Jayln to get on the court."

Hay looks for another senior, Mallory McFerron to continue working hard. "I'm excited for Mallory. She is one of the most positive and encouraging teammates and her dedication is starting to pay off. I am really proud of her. Mallory had a great spring and I saw some high-level play from her. She's going to battle with Kathryn (Hughes) and Regan (Duty) for that right side job.

After playing primarily playing on the left side last year, sophomore Kathryn Hughes will make a position change this year and move to the right side.

"She is much more comfortable on the right," added Hay. "Kathryn has good physical size and power. We are excited to have the personnel on the team that will allow for that change. [The move] will help her and the team."

Freshman Regan Duty "had a really good camp, said Hay. "I have seen her play and develop over the last two-three years in high school and club and I am so glad that she's here. I have seen tremendous improvement over the past year. Regan is hitting the ball with authority and I couldn't be more pleased to have her on the team."

Another sophomore, Rachel Mackey, returns for her sophomore year after seeing action in 29 matches last season. "She brings good power and good ball control," added Hay. Rachel is a hard worker and will be in the mix for playing time."

LIBERO/ DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
A trio of juniors and a true freshman will supply the Trojans with talent and depth, as Hay noted "We have good competition at the position and if we are good in ball control, the sky is the limit."

"At this point, it is Emily Conard's job to hold on to," said Hay. "We will continue to work with her on being stronger in serve/receive but I know that Emily is going to bring a lot of intensity to the back row. I like the way she plays and I love her serve. She has a very effective serve and I want to use that to our advantage. Emily has good quickness and intensity. Our ball control has to start with her and her ownership of the backline."

Conard led the team and ranked sixth in the SAC with 589 digs last season, including a season-high 38 at Mars Hill. She tallied double-figure digs 28 times and came up with at least 20 digs in 15 matches.

Katie Lloyd saw action in 25 matches in 2016 and tied for fifth on the team with 11 aces, including a season-best two against Clark Atlanta and at Newberry.

"Katie is one of our stronger passers," added Hay. "She was a primary server last year and I want her to push for the starting libero position. She has a great attitude and brings an element of positive energy. We've seen a big improvement in her footwork."

Freshman Abby Elliott "is very high-energy" added Hay. "She played at a high level with the Upward Stars and she brings a winning mentality. We are excited to have her here. I like everything I've seen about her. She's fearless and goes after everything. She brings intensity, loves the sport, and wants to be the best."

"I expect Megan [Embry] to push Emily for the libero jersey," added Hay. "I don't want them to just be satisfied with 'she was the starting libero last year'. I want them with the mindset of "I want that jersey'. That only makes the team stronger. Megan brings a lot of quickness to the back row and has excellent defensive awareness. She got faster in the spring and she is strong with her hands and can also serve as our emergency setter."

SCHEDULE
AU will be looking for its sixth consecutive appearance in the South Atlantic Conference Championship and second appearance in the NCAA Tournament in four seasons when the Black and Gold begin the season in Milledgeville, Ga.

The Trojans open the campaign with a seven-match road swing, including back-to-back tournaments at Georgia College and USC Aiken, including just the second meeting with Lees-McRae since the 2009 season, when both were members of Conference Carolinas. A week later, challenging contests against Lander and host USC Aiken highlight the Trojans' appearance at the Pacers' Invitational. Lander is coming off its third straight 20+ win season and has made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Southeast Regional after going 21-12 last season, while USCA went 31-5 and advanced to the NCAA's Elite Eight before falling to second-seeded Palm Beach last season.

"We are excited that we get to go on the road for a couple of weeks to open the season," said Hay. "Not only will we see good competition, but it's also a good time to bond. We will get to see some of the better teams from the region. Georgia College may be the marquee matchup that first weekend and we are excited to see Emmanuel and Lees McRae. It will be challenging, as we will see four of the top five Peach Belt teams in the first two weekends of the season. If we are able to win those games it'll pay huge dividends down the road for the strength of schedule. It'll set the tone regionally and we'll see how we stack up."

Anderson opens its home slate by playing host to South Atlantic Conference nemesis Lenoir-Rhyne at the Abney Athletic Center on Sept. 12.

The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Trojans, who will then go on the road to face perennial regional powerhouse Wingate (Sept. 15) - the 11-time defending SAC regular-season champion. AU claimed just its second win in school history over the Bulldogs - and the first since 1999 - last October. Queens, which posted 22 victories a year ago and knocked off Wingate in the opening round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament is next up for the Trojans, with AU closing out the three-match road swing at arch-rival Erskine on Sept. 19.

Our conference schedule is top-loaded," concluded Hay. "Based on last year's standings, I feel like we have some of the potentially tougher teams in the earlier part of the schedule. We jump right into the fire and it will give us a great indication of where we stand."

Anderson returns home to host Hay's former squad, Newberry (Sept. 22) and Coker on Sept. 23 before going back on the road for their second three-match road swing in two weeks. The Trojans visit Catawba on Sept. 26 and close the month of September at Carson-Newman (Sept. 29) and Lincoln Memorial (Sept. 30). The Eagles are just a season removed from posting a school-record 29 wins and the program's first-ever NCAA Southeast Region title in 2015. The Lady Railsplitters notched a school-record 25 overall victories last season, while earning a program-best 17 conference wins on their way to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012.

Tusculum invades the Abney Center on Oct. 6, with the Trojans wrapping up the first half of the league's double round-robin slate by playing host to Mars Hill a day later.

The 2017 South Atlantic Conference Championship will feature the top eight teams in the league squaring off on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at the home sites of the top four seeds, with the tournament semifinals and championship slated to be held on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17-18, at Carson-Newman.