CHENEY, Wash. -- The Eastern Washington University volleyball team will be heading to the Magnolia State to open the 2016 season, as they'll participate in the three-match, two-day Bulldog Invitational at Mississippi State University. The Eagles open the year and the Invitational with Lamar University on Friday, Aug. 26, at 3 p.m. PT then faces No. 5-ranked Kansas at 8 a.m. PT on Saturday, Aug. 27. Later on Saturday, EWU will conclude the weekend with host school Mississippi State at 5 p.m. PT live on the Watch ESPN App.
Eastern is entering its first full season under head coach Michael King, as he has previously spent part of the last two season in an interim position before being elevated to head coach last October. EWU is coming off a 14-14 2015 campaign that saw them reach the Big Sky Tournament for the first time since 2009, thanks to a 9-7 finish in league play. The Eagles return three starters from last season and brings in four newcomers, as the team looks for its second-straight appearance in the Big Sky Tournament.
All-Time Series
Remarkably, this weekend will mark the first time that Eastern Washington has faced all three schools on the volleyball court.
EWU is 4-1 all-time vs. the Southland Conference, which Lamar comes out of. They are 6-9 against teams from the Southeastern Conference and 3-6 against the Big 12 all-time.
Watch ESPN
Saturday's contest against Mississippi State will air live nationwide on the Watch ESPN app. Download the app for free in your ITunes or Google Play stores. You may need your TV provider sign-in information.
Road Tripping
Eastern Washington will have to adjust to life on the road over the next four weeks, as they'll be playing in three tournaments in Mississippi, Arizona and Wyoming. Eagle fans will have to wait until Sept. 29 to see their favorite team in action at Reese Court, as they host Northern Colorado for their Big Sky and 2016 home opener.
Looking to Get Back into the Big Sky Tourney
EWU made its first appearance in the Big Sky Tournament since 2009 last season. Eastern would appear to be on track to make its second-straight tournament, as they were projected as the No. 8 team in the 2016 Big Sky Preseason Volleyball Poll. If the Eagles do indeed qualify for the tournament it will be the first time since 2008, 2009 that they've made the Big Sky Tourney in back-to-back seasons.
American Made, European Tested
Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Gilbert brings back a team-best 227 kills from last season and a .233 hitting percentage. But head coach Michael King believes she can be better this season thanks to a unique summer trip. Gilbert, and several other college players from the Northern California area, embarked on a three-week trip to Europe to challenge some of the top club teams on the continent. That experience has enhanced Gilbert's already impressive attacking rapture, as King states he has already seen a significant improvement in her game in practice this season.
Back to Where it Began
Senior Sophie Miller has been the ultimate team player during her time at Eastern. The Federal Way, Washington native was recruited to Eastern as a setter, but after two seasons at the position, she switched to the right side in 2015 to help the team feel a need. Now, entering her final year, she returns to setting. Miller will give the Eagles a much needed boast of experience in the position, as she brings 783 career assists into 2016.
Season Opening Matches
Friday will open the 35th season of Eastern Washington volleyball. The team is 16-18 all-time in season openers. The Eagles are 9-7 all-time in season openers played in a neutral location, which will be the case this Friday against Lamar.
Knowing Your Opponent – Lamar
The Cardinals are entering their third season under head coach Alan Edwards. After going through a 5-21 season in his first season, Lamar made an incredible nine-win improvement in Year Two under Edwards and went 14-16 last season. Lamar was selected 11/12 in the two official Southland Conference Preseason Polls.
LU will be led by All-Southland first team selection, Chelsea Grant, who ranked second in the conference in blocks per set (1.25) and third in hitting percentage (.352). She blocked a total of 140 attempts last season, which was a career-best for Grant. She also finished second on the team in kills per set with 2.70.
Last season, Lamar hit .217 as a team and averaged 11.9 kills per set. On defense, the Cardinals averaged 12.9 digs per set last season and had 245.5 total blocks as a team. Teams hit .209 against Lamar last season.
Knowing Your Opponent – No. 5 Kansas
The Jayhawks are coming off its best season in program history, as they made their first appearance in the NCAA Final Four last season. Kansas is again expected to have a big season, as they enter 2016 ranked No. 5 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Preseason Poll. This season marks the highest-ever ranking for Kansas in the Preseason AVCA Poll. Despite being ranks inside the Top Five nationally, KU is projected to finish second in the Big 12 behind No. 2 Texas.
Kelsie Payne, a 6-3 junior, is expected to be Kansas' best player. The right side hitter was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year after leading the conference in kills per set (4.4) and set a school single-single record for total kills with 496. The All-American was named to the espnW 12 Players to Watch List this season.
Kansas hit an efficient .299 last season and averaged 15.1 kills per set. The Jayhawks were great defensively a year ago, as they limited teams to just a .163 hitting percentage and averaged 14.9 digs per set. Kansas only dropped 20 of their 113 sets in 2015.
Knowing Your Opponent – Mississippi State
The Bulldogs will be a veteran squad in 2016, as they return a total of 14 players in a 2015 season that saw them go 17-15 overall but just 6-12 in the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State was tied for 10th in the SEC Preseason Poll.
2014 All-American libero Payton Harris will be headline the Bulldog back row, while Evie Grace Singleton will be back in the front row after leading Mississippi State in kills (378), aces (46), and points (441.5) last season. The team's top blocker from a year ago will be back in fold, as Jazmyne Johnson returns her 89 total blocks to the rotation.
MSU hit .194 as a team a year ago and averaged 12.5 kills per set. Defensively, teams hit the exact same mark as Mississippi State last season at .194. The Bulldogs averaged 13.4 digs per set and 2.2 blocks per set last season.
For more information on the Eastern Washington volleyball team, follow @EWUVolleyball on Twitter and like Eastern Washington Volleyball on Facebook.
