BROOKLYN, N.Y. --- LIU Brooklyn Volleyball will begin its 2017 campaign this weekend as the Blackbirds take part in the University of Georgia's Benson Hospitality Invitational from August 25-26. LIU is scheduled to play a pair of doubleheaders - against UNC Asheville & Presbyterian College on Friday and George Mason & Georgia on Saturday.
SCHEDULE
Friday
UNC Asheville | 9 a.m. | Live Stats
Presbyterian | 4:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday
George Mason | 10 a.m. | Live Stats
Georgia | 7 p.m. | Live Stats
BLACKBIRD OUTLOOK
LIU, the 2016 Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament champions and
preseason choice to repeat, returns eight players from last year's title team and adds five newcomers to a squad looking to win back-to-back NEC titles for the first time since claiming three straight from 2012-14. The young yet veteran squad will be led by Second Team All-Team selections
Viktoria Fink and
Amanda Hubbard while the incoming class will include three true freshmen and a pair of junior college transfers.
THE OPPONENTS
UNC Asheville
2016 Record: 12-16 (6-10 Big South, T-6th); Lost in first round of Big South Tournament
Top Returners: Junior Cara Guthrie (3.14 kills/set), sophomore Kailey Hackett (5.22 assists/set), junior Madisen Zyburt (3.93 digs/set)
Presbyterian
2016 Record: 5-26 (3-13 Big South, 9th)
Top Returners: Junior Sierra Davis (2.88 kills/set), Erin Eulitz (2.81 digs/set)
George Mason
2016 Record: 7-20 (3-11 A-10, 9th);
Top Returners: Senior Kelly Schaller (6.32 assists/set), junior Catie Espinoza (4.60 digs/set), sophomore Mikala Wells (2.23 kills/set)
Georgia
2016 Record: 13-18 (1-17 SEC)
Top Returners: Senior Kendall Kazor (2.12 kills/set), senior Cassidy Anderson (3.64 digs/set), sophomore Meghan Donovan (9.86 assists/set)
NEXT UP
LIU will continue its season opening road slate next weekend with a trip to Washington, D.C. for the George Washington Invitational from September 1-2. The Blackbirds are scheduled to take on Hofstra, the host Colonials and Indiana at the tournament.