STATESBORO – The Georgia Southern volleyball team completed its first week of practice yesterday, and the Eagles will play a Blue vs. White scrimmage in Hanner Fieldhouse Saturday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m.  

Most years, volleyball preseason resembles an NFL training camp. Student-athletes report back to campus a couple weeks before the student population, and their days consist of multiple practice, film and strength and conditioning sessions until classes begin. This year, the confluence of new NCAA legislation that pushed the practice start date back to Aug. 9 coupled with Georgia Southern classes beginning a day later has caused a departure from the norm.

"That's probably the strangest thing coming in is that we don't have a true preseason, this will be the first time, in my 18 years of coaching, where we're not planning any double days," said Georgia Southern coach Chad Willis. "We had practice on the 9th and classes started on the 10th, so we essentially got into our normal routine two weeks prior to competing."

Having less practice time is a good recipe for extra anxiety for any coach, but with 15 letterwinners returning, a plethora of veteran leadership and only two freshmen on the roster, the Eagles have demonstrated the maturity to be able to handle it. In addition to spring practice, the entire roster was on campus for five weeks in the summer taking classes, working out and participating in player-run practices. On top of that, the entire team made a commitment to come back Aug. 1 to get settled in.

"They wanted to be here a week before we got going so they could get in the weight room on their own and get some player-run practices before we hit the later start date," said Willis. "I think it'll be good for us from a health and performance standpoint, but I'm glad we're doing it with the group we have because they are dialed in, understanding that we're missing out on practices. I mean look what they did - coming back on Aug. 1 so they can get on the ball and be ready to go."

Willis admits that despite maybe feeling a little pressed, the non-traditional preseason could very well turn into a positive because of the way the Eagles are approaching it. 

"With what we have returning and the work they did this past spring and the five weeks of summer, the reality is we have a veteran group that is committed, motivated, and more unified than any other group I've coached," said Willis. "They have shown they are going to maximize the opportunities we're putting in front of them, regardless of the number of practices we get or miss out on."

Admission for Saturday's scrimmage is free, and the team rosters can be found below.

Georgia Southern finished the 2021 campaign with a 17-11 record, the most wins for the program since the 2013 season, and their nine Sun Belt victories were the most since joining the league in 2014. One of the returning letterwinners is Baylor Bumford, who was named Preseason All-Sun Belt in the league's Coaches Poll, which was released Tuesday. The Eagles were picked third in the East, behind Coastal Carolina and Sun Belt newcomer James Madison which are tied atop the East Division. Defending champion South Alabama is picked to win the West Division with 92 points and eight first-place votes. 

The Eagles are slated to open the 2022 season by hosting the Bash in the Boro Aug. 26-27, in Hanner. Season tickets for the Eagles' 14 home matches can be purchased for $50, and single-game tickets are on sale for $8 for adults and $5 for youth ages 4-12. All seats are general admission.
 

Blue	White
#18 Kirsten Barrett, S	#20 Callaway Cason, S
#11 Megan Vickery, M	#14 Grace Underwood, M
#7 Emily Jarome, OH	#13 Baylor Bumford, M
#9 Chamblee Russell, OH	#21 Paige Powers, OH
#15 Robin Rosser, RS	#10 Maggie Sale, OH
#1 Ashlyn Lovett, L	#5 Jordan Christy, RS
#2 Meredith Eckard, DS	#4 Jillian Gray, RS
#3 Abby Strong, DS	#6 Rebekah Farthing, L
#12 Paige Collins, DS	#8 Ainsley Clifford, DS
Coach: Grace Slader	#22 Logan Jones, DS
	Coach: Madison Brown