Volleyball Hosts Gardner-Webb Friday Night in Home Opener

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville volleyball team opens Big South Conference play and plays its home opener Friday evening at Justice Center when the Bulldogs host Gardner-Webb starting at 7 p.m. The match will be video-streamed and can be seen at www.uncabulldogs.com for a small fee.

The Bulldogs (6-6) defeated North Carolina Central 3-0 on Tuesday night. Asheville has played just two matches over the last 11 days.

"We've had some time to heal up as we had some bumps and bruises," admitted Bulldog coach Frederico Santos. "This has been a good break for our team but now we're ready to play a home match and get into conference play."

The match will be a special one for Santos as he makes his Justice Center debut. He was an assistant coach for the Bulldog program from 2000-07.

"I have such great memories of Justice Center when I coached here before," declared Santos. "To be the head coach of UNC Asheville volleyball at Justice Center is a real thrill. I am incredibly excited about tomorrow's match."

Santos expects a very tough match with a much-improved Gardner-Webb squad from last season. The Runnin' Bulldogs are 4-7 on the year but knocked off Western Carolina in three sets Tuesday night. Asheville and Gardner-Webb played earlier this year at the Gamecock Classic with the Bulldogs winning in five close sets.

"Gardner-Webb is much, much better than last year's team," stated Santos. "We will have to be at our best tomorrow night when we play them. I have been impressed with them from the start of the season. Ever before we played them, I could tell how much better they were from last season."

BULLDOG NOTES

UNC Asheville has won its last three Big South Conference openers

The Bulldogs are 16-3 at Justice Center over the last two seasons.

Asheville has won seven straight in the series against Gardner-Webb.

Jaimie Dorfman leads the Big South Conference in services aces with a 0.42 per set average.

The Bulldogs are 2-0 in five-set matches this season.

Asheville is 24-8 in BSC matches over the past two seasons.

The Bulldogs leads the Big South Conference as a team in kills (12.05) and assists (11.02).