STATESBORO – Eighteen home matches, including three early-season tournaments, highlight the 2021 Georgia Southern volleyball schedule, announced today by head coach Chad Willis.

"Well first thing-to be quite frank-we're just grateful to be looking at 27 scheduled matches this upcoming Fall, especially reflecting on the past year and the challenges everyone faced," said Willis. "Our team is coming off a very productive off-season and I know I speak for our student-athletes and staff in saying we're excited about this 2021 fall slate."

The Eagles will open the season by hosting the Bash in the Boro Aug. 27-28, and Georgia Southern also hosts the Eagle Invitational Sept. 10-11 and the GATA Challenge Sept. 17-18. 

The Sun Belt schedule will return to two matches (home and away) against East Division rivals Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, South Alabama and Troy and one match against West Division opponents Arkansas State, Little Rock, Louisiana, ULM, UTA and Texas State. The matches against Arkansas State, Little Rock, UTA and Texas State will be at home this season.

"One of the first things you're going to see with this schedule is a lot of opportunities to see us in Hanner Fieldhouse," said Willis. "Eighteen home matches in front of our home crowd, and we need that Hanner energy on full display. We're looking forward to getting our group back to campus this summer along with a very deep recruiting class coming in as we continue to build and prepare for a Sun Belt Championship."

Georgia Southern returns 13 letterwinners to the 2021 roster and adds newcomers Jordan Christy (Savannah, Ga./Habersham School), Paige Collins (Atlanta, Ga./Holy Innocents), Jillian Gray (New Lenox, Illinois/Joliet Catholic Academy), Logan Jones (Savannah, Ga./Savannah Christian), Ashley Lovett (Shawnee, Kan./St. James Academy), Paige Powers (Woodstock, Ga./Sequoyah), Robin Rosser (Charlotte, N.C./Cox Mill) and Megan Vickery (Anderson, S.C./T.L Hanna).