AUBURN, Ala. – Gamecock volleyball will open its season this weekend at Auburn's War Eagle Invitational. Jacksonville State will play McNeese at 2:30 p.m. Friday to begin the 2023 campaign, then close out the tournament with matches on Saturday against Coppin State and Auburn at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively.
"I am anxious, and if I am then I'm sure the girls are too," head coach
Derek Schroeder said. "I want them to play hard, compete, and be brave. 'Be brave' has been the theme the last couple days of practice."
Jax State is coming off last week's exhibition at Troy in which they dropped four tight sets against a veteran Trojan squad that should rank high at season's end in a competitive Sun Belt Conference. This weekend will likely mark one of the biggest tests of the entire regular season for the Gamecocks, however, as they face SEC power Auburn and a couple of experienced opponents in McNeese and Coppin State.
McNeese is led by second-year head coach Sasha Karelov and return five letterwinners from last year's 17-win squad. The Cowgirls, who finished second in the Southland Conference last Fall, bring back a pair of All-Conference performers in libero Bailey Tillman and sophomore middle blocker Sanni Rantanen. They were picked fourth in the SLC's Preseason Poll and should pose a strong challenge for the Gamecocks in their season-opener.
Coppin State, who is coached by longtime leader Tim Walsh, scored a program-record 23 triumphs last season. The Eagles dropped the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference Championship Match to Delaware State in four sets before earning their first ever postseason appearance with an invitation to the NIVC. CSU, who finished in a tie for first with Howard in the MEAC Preseason Poll, has three Preseason All-Conference athletes in Ashley Roman, Andrea Tsvetanova, and Ammaarah Williams.
Gamecock volleyball fans will not soon forget last year's instant classic against Auburn in the Jax State Invitational. A young Tiger group opened hot at Pete Mathews Coliseum, claiming the first two sets before a senior-laden Gamecock squad responded with victories in the third and fourth sets. Although Jacksonville State fell in the decisive fifth set, that exhilarating showdown proved that Jax State could hang with anyone on their schedule, including an Auburn team that advanced all the way to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Fourth-year head coach Brent Crouch brings back virtually everyone from last year, including 6-foot-6 sophomore Kendal Kemp, powerful outside hitter Akasha Anderson, and dependable libero Sarah Morton.
The Gamecocks are 1-0 all-time versus McNeese after downing the Cowgirls in straight sets in the 2009 Bama Bash. Saturday's match against Coppin State will mark the first meeting with the Eagles, while Auburn holds an 8-2 series advantage against Jax State. They last defeated the Tigers in a five-set thriller on the Plains in 2009.
Saturday night's clash with Auburn will be broadcasted on SEC Network+ with Graham Doty and Kele Eveland on the call. The production will begin at 7 p.m. and first serve is slated for 7:02. Links to watch that contest or follow along with live stats for each of the matches will be provided at JaxStateSports.com. In addition, score updates will be posted on Jax State Volleyball's Twitter account (@JaxStateVB).
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Twitter (@JaxStateVB), Instagram (@JaxStateVB), and Facebook (Jacksonville State Volleyball) accounts.
