CHARLESTON, S.C. --- All the nets are strung, the sand is groomed with precision and in just a few short hours, the College of Charleston beach volleyball team will take the court for the first time in 2020 at the Hilton Head Island Invitational in Hilton Head, S.C.
 
The Cougars will begin the 2020 campaign with four matches against nationally-ranked opponents this weekend. Charleston will take on No. 4 Southern California and No. 10 Grand Canyon on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. respectively. A 10:30 a.m. matchup with No. 3 Florida State will kick off the Cougars' Sunday schedule followed by a bout with No. 17 South Carolina at 4:30 p.m.
 
"The team and I are excited to officially start our season this weekend," head coach Jason Kepner said. "The team will definitely be challenged playing against four of the top teams in the country. I look forward to watching us compete and grow as players and as a team."
 
Charleston returns five starters from last year's squad including seniors Lauren Freed and Mandy Napierala as well as junior Logan Manusky. Freed combined with departed senior Kennedy Madison for an 18-6 record in the top flight last season after the duo opened the campaign with 12 straight wins. The Troy, Ohio native enters the 2020 season ranked fifth on the program's all-time wins list with 54 career victories and was named to the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Preseason Watch List.
 
Napierala and sophomore Amani Dunston paired in the third flight last season and posted an 8-6 record through the first 14 matches. Manusky returns for her junior campaign with a 34-15 career mark after combining with Allison Beckman for a 17-6 record last season. Sophomore Sky Benjamin is expected to claim a starting spot as well after partnering with Dunston for a 4-4 mark in 2019.
 
Seniors Kayla Demari, Meghan Murphy and Peyton Eisnaugle return for their final season with eyes on nailing down a spot in the lineup but are likely to face stiff competition from a young and talented group of underclassmen. Junior Ella Ridinger posted two wins in two matches split between five's and sixes last season and is expected to compete for playing time as well.
 
Sophomores Brooke Harris and Claire Campbell, along with freshmen Caroline Bower, Tori Carpenter, Mikaela Dougherty, Emma Falk, Caroline Pender, Logan Pope and Kyra Thompson are all anticipated to challenge for time on the court.