Georgia Southern (0-0) at Mercer Bears Classic
Field: Campbell (0-0), Mercer (0-0), Nicholls State (0-0)
Dates: Aug. 30-31
Site: Hawkins Arena - Macon, Ga.
Live stats: vs. Campbell | at Mercer | vs. Nicholls State
Probable GS Lineup (based on last match):
#7 Mya Wilson
#10 Maddie Bryant
#11 Carly Turner
#13 Baylor Bumford
#18 Madison Brown
#21 Maddi Ruble
#22 Landon Jones

Georgia Southern opens the 2019 season with plenty of new faces, including on the sidelines as the Chad Willis coaching era begins at Georgia Southern. 

It has been nearly two weeks since the Eagles took the floor and fell 3-2 to College of Charleston an exhibition match in Hanner Fieldhouse. Returners Carly Turner (6 kills), Madison Brown (32 assists) and Landon Jones (21 digs) were solid. Newcomers Baylor Bumford (6 kills, 4 blocks), Mya Wilson (6 kills, 2 blocks) and Haley Fuller (6 kills) put together nice debuts. 

Georgia Southern returns 13 letterwinners and four starters to the 2019 team, and the Eagles were picked sixth in the East Division in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, a point behind in-state rival Georgia State.

Sophomore setter Madison Brown ranked fifth in the Sun Belt in assists with 9.3 per set last season, and junior Skylar Ball ranked second on the team in kills per set (2.37/gm) and hitting percentage (.206). 

Campbell was picked fifth in the Big South Preseaon Poll, Mercer was picked second in the SoCon poll and Nicholls State was picked 12th in the Southland.

Following the weekend, Georgia Southern travels to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the Bash at the Beach, hosted by Bethune-Cookman. The Eagles will take on USC Upstate and Texas Southern along with the host Wildcats.

The Eagles play their home opener against UNC Asheville Sept. 13, as part of the Georgia Southern Invitational, a four-team tournament that features five matches.

Season tickets for home matches are $50, and single-match tickets are $5-8 and $3-5 for youth ages 4-12. Group tickets for groups of 15 or more are available for $3 each and must be purchased prior to game day.