University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Asheville Opens 2016 Season with Benson Hospitality Invitational in Athens
08.25.2016 | Women's Volleyball
THE MATCHUP
Teams: Asheville (0-0, 0-0 BSC)
University of Georgia (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Location: Ramsey Center, Athens, Ga.
Time: Friday, August 26, 7:00 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO (WatchESPN) - LIVE STATS
ATHENS, Ga. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team will make their 2016 debut in Athens, Ga at the Benson Hospitality Invitational. The Bulldogs will play three matches this weekend with the first against the Bulldogs of the University of Georgia on Friday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m.
NOTABLES
Bulldog Breakdown: Asheville begins the season as a young team with 10 newcomers and four returners. The 2016 team is made up of eight freshmen, three sophomores, a junior and two seniors.
Big in the Big South: Senior, Madison Vaughn was voted to the 2016 Big South Preseason All-Conference Team by the Conference's head coaches. She led the team in blocks with 105, averaging 1.05 blocks per set. She was third on the team in kills with 182, (1.84 per set). She was also third for the Bulldogs in service aces, recording 20 aces on 305 attempts in 2015.
Conference Countdown: This weekend's tournament marks just under a month before the Bulldogs open conference play against Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. on September 23. Asheville was voted to finish sixth in the Big South Coaches' Preseason Poll after finishing fourth in 2015.
Battle of the Bulldogs: Georgia leads the all-time series between the two teams 5-0. Their last meeting was in 2014 when Georgia swept Asheville 3-0.
QUOTABLES
“We are very excited about our first match of the year. Looking forward to embarking on this season's journey with this hard-working group of players.” - Head Coach Frederico Santos
UP NEXT
-Following Friday's match, the Bulldogs will have two additional matches in the Benson Hospitality Invitational on Saturday, August 27. Asheville will face San Francisco State at 10:00 a.m. and Savannah State at 4:00 p.m.
