Cougars Set to Host Season-Opening Hampton Inn Charleston/West Ashley CofC Classic

Friday, August 30

TD Arena

7:00 PM

College of Charleston

Stanford

Cougars Set to Host Season-Opening Hampton Inn Charleston/West Ashley CofC Classic

8/29/2019 5:33:00 PM | Volleyball

How to Follow the Cougars
Twitter: @CofCVolleyball
Live Stats: CofCStats.com
Video: FloSports.TV ($)

Tournament Schedule
Friday, August 30
4:30 pm: Michigan State vs. Duke
7:00 pm: Charleston vs. Stanford

Saturday, August 31
4:30 pm: Stanford vs. Duke
7:00 pm: Charleston vs. Michigan State

CHARLESTON, S.C. --- The lines have been painted, nets have been strung and jerseys hang ready to greet a new season as the College of Charleston volleyball team prepares to host Michigan State, Duke and defending national champion Stanford in the Hampton Inn Charleston/West Ashley CofC Classic this weekend in TD Arena.

The Cougars return four seniors and eight letter-winners from the 2018 squad which advanced to the semifinal round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). Senior outside hitter Lauren Freed and three-year starter headlines a deep and talented roster alongside fellow seniors Mandy Napierala, Peyton Eisnaugle and Kayla Demari. Freed collected Preseason All-CAA honors last week and is the Cougars' active career leader in both kills (824) and digs (800).

Charleston welcomes an additional four letter-winners back to TD Arena this fall, led by junior Logan Manusky who is expected to slot in as the Cougars' libero. Sophomores Amani Dunston, Molly Russell and Sylvia Duggan will look to fill several spots in the rotation as the Cougars bring a promising freshman class into the fold. Freshmen Caroline Bower, Tori Carpenter, Emma Falk, Caroline Pender and Logan Pope are each expected to compete for playing time alongside Demari, junior Meghan Murphy, sophomore Brooke Harris and redshirt freshman Claire Campbell.

THE OPPONENTS

Stanford returns five All-Americans – including First Team selections Jenna Gray, Morgan Hentz and two-time AVCA Player of the Year Kathyrn Plummer. The Cardinal, fresh of its record eighth national title in 2018, are ranked No. 1 in the nation to begin the 2019 slate. Third-year head coach Kevin Hambly led the Cardinal to a 34-1 record last season and owns a 64-5 mark since his arrival at Stanford.

Michigan State welcomes back 14 letterwinners from last season's squad that posted a 17-16 overall record and a 5-15 mark in Big Ten action. The Spartans return all but one starter and were picked ninth in the Big Ten preseason poll. Head coach Cathy George enters her 15^th year at the helm and carries a 273-188 record in her tenure at Michigan State.

QUOTABLE
"I think we are looking to really focus on being mentally tough against two very quality opponents that are going to put a lot of pressure on us. I'm hoping that we can handle that pressure and play at a really high level. That's really the hope for me – to see at what level we are we're capable of playing and trying to figure out how to maintain that level for long periods of time." – head coach Jason Kepner

"Everyone has been putting in a lot of work these past few weeks of preseason. I think everybody is really excited to play two really high-level teams and show off what we've been working on." – senior outside hitter Lauren Freed

NOTABLES

Senior Lauren Freed ranked third on the team in both kills (2.98) and digs per set (2.81) last season to earn a Preseason All-CAA selection.
Three of the Cougars' top five hitters from last season return, including Freed, Napierala, and Eisnaugle.
Kepner, the Cougars' all-time wins leader, needs 12 victories to reach the 300-mark for his career.
The Cougars return eight letter-winners from last year's squad that advanced to the semifinal round of the NIVC.
Charleston is picked third in the CAA Preseason Poll behind Hofstra and preseason favorite James Madison.
The Cougars combined for 16 service aces – led by freshman Caroline Bower's four – and cruised to three comfortable set wins in a preseason exhibition at Georgia Southern on August 18.