PREVIEW: Volleyball at Austin College Classic (8/31-9/1)
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CHECK OUT THE FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE HERE
http://www.acroos.com/sports/wvball/2018-19/ac-classic-18
BACK ON THE COURT
The University of Dallas volleyball team opens the 2018 season on August 31-September 1 in the 23rd Annual Austin College Classic. The Crusaders will have four matches over two days starting with Hardin-Simmons University at 2 p.m. Later that evening Dallas will take on the Wildcats of Louisiana College from f the American Southwest Conference (ASC). On Saturday Dallas will wrap up the tournament by playing Hendrix College (AR) at 9 a.m. and Concordia University, Texas at 11 a.m.
Head Coach Kelli Trautmann will be starting her second year as head coach with the Crusaders. Dallas looks to improve on a 10-20 record in 2017 and a 2-12 mark in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). They were picked T-7 in the preseason polls.
UD NOTES
Dallas is returning ten players from last season and have eleven true freshman for the 2018 campaign.
The Crusaders have four setters on this year's roster that will all challenge for playing time. Senior Elizabeth Smith ranks sixth all-time in UD assists with 1,938. She was second on the team in assists last year. Junior Stephanie Janysek led the team in assists last season with 332. A late season helper in assists was Mary Goodykoontz. Goodykoontz started six matches last year. Sophomore Samantha Garza will compete for the setter role along with the other three. Garza led the team with 137 kills last season. She now will transition to the setter role this season.
To read more on the Crusaders, check out their 2018 Season Preview
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
(Hardin-Simmons University)
-The Cowgirls are coming off a 16-13 record in 2017. A 10-4 conference mark in the American Southwest Conference (ASC).
-Sabrina Bingham will enter her 11th season as head coach.
- Alison Kuster returns for her senior season after leading the team with 292 kills in 2017.
-The Cowgirls hold a 21-4 record all-time.
- The two teams last met in 2015 at the Austin College Invitational. The Cowgirls won that matchup 3-1. Elizabeth Smith tied a season high with 41 assists in that game.
(Louisiana College)
-The Wildcats are coming off a 2-23 record in 2017. A 0-16 conference mark in the American Southwest Conference (ASC).
-The Wildcats head coach will be Brittany Salloum.
-Sophomore Jaslyn Bright led the Wildcats with 224 kills last season. She also added 207 digs in 2017.
- These two teams have never faced each other.
(Hendrix College (AR)
-The Warriors are coming off a 13-17 record in 2017. A 8-6 conference mark in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA).
-Brittany Newberry enters her first season at the helm. She previously was an assistant coach at Mississippi State.
-Junior Lauren Dwyer led the team with 284 kills, 2.45 K/Set.
-Senior Amber Melcher led the team with 624 Assists in 2017
- The Crusaders lead the all-time series 13-5. The two teams last met in 2011. The Wildcats swept the match 3-0.
(Concordia University, Texas)
-The Tornados are coming off a 19-14 record in 2017. A 10-16 conference mark in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA).
-Nicole McCoy enters her fifth season at Concordia.
-Junior Kelly Farina was second on the team in kills in 2017. She looks to improve on that performance in 2018. The Tornados are also returning Georgia Quiroz, who led the team with 837 assists in 2017.
-The Tornados lead the all-time series 11-3. The two teams met last year at the Austin College Invitational. Concordia swept the match 3-0
UP NEXT
Dallas is back on the road for another major non-conference tournament on Sept. 7-8 at the Millsaps/Belhaven Tournament. The Crusaders will face Loyola (La.), Dillard University, Belhaven University, and LaGrange College.