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RICHMOND, Ky. – The 2016 EKU volleyball season gets underway Friday, as the Colonels take on Louisiana State University in the Duke Invitational.
The Colonels open the season with Friday's lone match which is scheduled for 5 p.m. before facing Duke University and University of North Carolina Greensboro in Saturday's twin bill. All three matches will be available on the ACC Network Extra and the WatchESPN and ESPN apps.
Returning for the Colonels are five veterans in juniors
Ciera Koons (6-1, MB),
Mallory Maxwell (5-5, DS),
Celina Sanks (5-10, OH), and sophomores
Cassie Knutson (5-10, S) and
Chloe Rojas (5-4, DS). Koons and Sanks combined for 431 kills last season, while Maxwell tallied 362 digs, averaging 3.04 digs-per-set as a sophomore.
Koons and company will be charged with replacing
Rachel Vick who solidified her name in the EKU record books following a decorated four year career. Vick ranks among the program's top-10 in career solo blocks (102) and career hitting percentage (.257). Vick's .307 hitting percentage in 2014 is the seventh best single season percentage in school history.
A team-high 404 digs helped Rojas earn All-Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer honors in her first season in Richmond. Meanwhile, Knutson gained valuable experience last season compiling 571 assists in 101 sets played and will likely be a key contributor again in 2016.
Head coach
Lori Duncan, in her 19th season, welcomes a talented group of newcomers, including a junior transfer and seven freshmen. Freshmen
Rachel Woody and
Viviana Flores were teammates on the 951 Elite Program that earned a silver medal at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships.
"I was impressed with their work ethic and ability to come together in preseason camp," Duncan said. "Our team chemistry will bode well in our approach for an OVC title."
Duncan complimented the team's overall ball control and defense, noting that her squad is simply young and listed the setters and the backcourt as the strengths of this year's club.
Knutson, along with Woody and freshman
Maria Ferragonio provide a deep and talent rich group for the Colonels offensively. Defensively, the Colonels return both Maxwell and Rojas, their experience and their combined 766 digs from last season. Flores will complement the depth of the group in what Duncan called one of the most talented backcourts she's had.
The Colonels open the season this weekend, squaring off against Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.
"This year's schedule is no easy one," Duncan said. "We're young and the next four weeks should tell us a lot."
EKU opens OVC play Sept. 23 at Tennessee Tech and hosts Morehead State at McBrayer Arena on Sept. 28 in its home opener.
Eastern Kentucky holds a league best nine OVC titles and its 612 wins is second in conference history.
