FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Volleyball serves up the 2023 season this Friday as the Lions travel to South Carolina for the Newberry Classic September 1-2.
UAFS will play its four opponents for the first time, taking on Lander University on Friday at 9 a.m. and Belmont Abbey College at 4 p.m. Saturday the Lions will face host Newberry at 11 a.m. and Francis Marion at 2:30 p.m. All times listed are central.
Live coverage links will be available at uafortsmithlions.com. A subscription to FloVolleyball will need to be purchased to view the live streams.
NOTES:
LAST SEASON: The Lions went 16-14 a year ago and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Outside hitter Caelyn Gunn, middle blocker Hannah Watkins and setter Chloe Price were all named to the LSC Preseason Players to Watch list for this upcoming season. Price led the Lions in assists a season ago while Gunn was named to the All-LSC Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
KEY RETURNERS: In addition to the three players named to the watch list, the Lions return nine others from a year ago, including starters Reagan Macha, Lauren Weber and Kaelyn McDonald. Seniors Paola Fragalle, Taylor Lintz and Angelina Hardison are also expected to have an impact this season.
NEW FACES: The Lions brought in five in the 2023 recruiting class including two transfers and three freshmen. UAFS will also have the services of outside hitter Nyia Anderson after redshirting last season.
SEASON OPENERS: UAFS is 9-5 in season openers as an NCAA II member.
HEAD COACH: Jane Sargent enters her 26th season leading the Lions with a career record of 727-192.
SCOUTING LU: The Bearcats were picked third in the Peach Belt Conference preseason poll and are led by third-year head coach Jeff Reynolds. Lander went 21-10 a year ago and won a first-round NCAA Tournament match. Lander is led by All-Region libero Patricia Pantoja and reigning PBC Freshman of the Year and honorable mention All-American outside hitter Katie Miller.
SCOUTING BA: The Crusaders were tabbed 10th in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll after finishing 6-26 in 2022. Toni Fox is in her sixth year leading Belmont Abbey, who is led by outside hitter Mia Samaha as the Crusaders look to replace many of their top contributors from last season.
SCOUTING NC: The host of the tournament, the Wolves went 14-15 in 2022 and were picked seventh in the South Atlantic Conference. The Wolves are led by first-year head coach Kiko Santos and return All-SAC performers in right-side hitter Samantha Shaffer and outside hitter Taylor Hall.
SCOUTING FMU: Francis Marion went 16-12 in 2022 leading to a fifth-place prediction in this season's Conference Carolinas preseason poll. Seventh-year head coach Lauren Baufield-Edwards will be relying on all-conference setter Kaylee Gillespie to lead the Patriots this season.
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