ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson University volleyball team will wrap up more than three weeks of preseason workouts when the Trojans open the regular season with three matches at the Cedarville (Ohio) Yellow Jacket Invite, Friday and Saturday at Cedarville's Callan Athletic Center.
This weekend's appearance in the Buckeye State marks the beginning of a season-high, six-match season-opening road swing for the Black and Gold.
Anderson opens this weekend's event by facing Indianapolis in the season opener for the second consecutive season, Friday at 11 a.m., then squares off against the host Yellow Jackets at 7:30 p.m. AU will go up against Northwood at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, then make the 500-mile trek back to the Electric City.
YELLOW JACKET INVITE TOURNAMENT PAGE
Indianapolis
The Greyhounds, who posted a 19-12 overall record a season ago, including a 12-6 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), were a preseason pick to finish fifth in the GLVC this season – up three spots from their eighth-place prediction a year ago.
The Greyhounds finished fifth in the league a year ago and concluded last season by falling to nationally 25th-ranked Rockhurst in the first round of the GLVC Tournament in their 19th consecutive trip to postseason play.
UIndy junior outside hitter Katie Furlong is the program's first all-region player since 2014, while senior setter Alyssa Spears was named to the All-GLVC squad a season ago.
The Series vs. UIndy
Friday afternoon's matchup marks just the second meeting in school history between the two programs. AU defeated the Greyhounds, 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-23, 25-19) in the 2018 season opener.
Cedarville
The Lady Jackets, who went 13-18 a season ago and fell to Walsh in the quarterfinals of their conference tournament, were a preseason selection to finish sixth this season in the 10-team Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Coaches' Poll.
This weekend's two-day event marks Cedarville's first volleyball invitational since 2010.
The Series vs. Cedarville
Friday night's matchup marks the first meeting in school history between the two programs.
Northwood
The Timberwolves, who posted a 10-18 overall record a season ago, including a 4-12 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), fell to 24th-ranked Michigan Tech in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC Tournament a year ago.
Northwood was predicted to finish fifth in the North Division in the 2019 GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Timberwolves lost All-GLIAC libero Brenna Murphy from the 2018 team and will look to returner Loren Westlake and newcomer Lauren Bell to fill that spot, while returning their top four attackers from a year ago, led by junior Mackenzie Kepler. She averaged 2.63 kills per set last season, while junior middle blocker Mary Gallagher was second on the team in kills (1.99 per set) and led the team in total blocks (66). Sophomores Grace Rekeweg and Venera Kadriu are also back, while fellow sophomore Macy Lintz played in all 28 matches for the Timberwolves a year ago and recorded 969 assists.
The Series vs. Northwood
Saturday morning's contest marks the second meeting in school history between the two programs. Northwood defeated the Trojans, 3-1 (19-25, 27-29, 25-22, 22-25) at the 2013 Florida Southern/Terrace Hotel Classic.
