GLENVILLE, W.Va. - The Glenville State Volleyball team will be at the Cedarville Invitational this Friday (Sept. 1) and Saturday (Sept. 2) to kickoff the 2023 season. GSU will play four games in two days on the campus of Cedarville University. 

GAME INFORMATION 
Friday (Sept. 1) 
Glenville State vs UNC Pembroke | 11:30 a.m. 
Glenville State vs Palm Beach Atlantic | 4:30 p.m. 

Saturday (Sept. 2) 
Glenville State vs Shepherd | 9 a.m. 
Glenville State vs Cedarville | 2 p.m. 

Watch Live on GMAC Network | Live Stats | CU Invite Website 

THE OPPONENTS 
UNC PEMBROKE BRAVES 
UNC Pembroke finished (21-14, 15-2 Conference Carolinas) in 2022, winning their first conference championship in nearly 30 years and earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. 

Newly hired Head Coach Jaleese Harper enters hir first season after spending the last five seasons as an assistant on the Braves' staff. Harper has been a part of the back-to-back 20+-win seasons that UNCP have enjoyed as the top assistant to former HC Carly Wehling, who stepped down from her position in January 2023. 

The Braves return four key contributors from last year's squad in seniors Katie Pressley, Vanja Przulj, Hope Turbyfill and junior Precious Daley. Przulj led the team in kills last season with 384 and earned Second Team All-Conference honors. Pressley filled the stat sheet in another offensive category, finishing the 2022 campaign with 564 assists which was second on the team. Precious Daley saw action in 23 games, putting together 138 kills on the year. 

PALM BEACH ATLANTIC SAILFISH 
Palm Beach Atlantic went (12-16, 6-12 SSC) last year and were picked to finish 8th in the Sunshine State Conference this season. The Sailfish made the NCAA Tournament in 2021 but missed any sort of postseason play in 2022. 

Doug Walters enters his fifth season leading PBA volleyball. In his first four years with the 'Fish, Walters gathered three seasons above .500, including the 2018 season where Palm Beach Atlantic went 29-5 and was the runner-up in the NCAA South Region. Prior to taking over PBA, he spent 10 seasons leading Cedarville University. While at CU, he won five GMAC Championships with 220 wins (84-22 in GMAC play). 

The Sailfish return All-SSC Third Team honoree senior Kaileigh Ammons, a 6-1 middle hitter who finished the season with 190 kills. Sophomore Abbie Zylstra is back after leading PBA in kills last season with 260. She also had 199 digs which was good enough for fourth on the team. Graduate student Jayden Otto is another key returner as the setter closed out the 2022 season with a whopping 915 assists. 

SHEPHERD RAMS 
Shepherd concluded the 2022 season (21-7, 12-2 PSAC), losing in the semifinal round of the PSAC Tournament. In 2021, the Rams went (24-5, 12-2 PSAC) and made the NCAA Tournament. 

Alex Hoekstra is in his ninth season leading the Shepherd program after spending three years as an assistant at Western New Mexico University and one season as an assistant with the Rams. In total, Hoekstra is 148-74 overall and has three NCAA Tournament appearances under his belt. 

The Rams return Joi Fairweather, a 5-10 junior who was second on the team last year with 205 kills. Junior Renee Killough is back after being fourth on the team in kills (129) and third in points (214). One of the biggest returners for Shepherd is senior setter Victoria Nicholes. She had a great season in 2022, totaling 630 assists to lead the Rams while also having 205 digs. 

CEDARVILLE YELLOW JACKETS 
Cedarville went (13-15, 11-6 GMAC) in 2022, having their season end in a GMAC Tournament Quarterfinal loss. The Yellow Jackets are projected to finish 2nd in the league this year. 

Greg Smith enters his sixth season as HC of the Yellow Jackets. Smith has one season of over .500 play, going 16-11 in 2019. He has qualified for the GMAC Tournament in four of his five seasons and coached two Midwest Region Players of the Year. Smith spent nine seasons leading the Toledo Rockets volleyball program, winning 102 games over those nine years and earning a bid into the MAC Tournament four times. 

2022 kills leader Cassi Shields is back after putting together 293 kills in her freshman campaign. Cam Davenport is another key returner who also had a strong freshman season, totaling 182 kills and 22 assists. Shields and Davenport will have their setter back as sophomore Kaley Matney led the team in assists with 1,043 and was on the All-GMAC Second Team. 

Fans can follow Glenville State Volleyball on Twitter (X) @GSU_VB, Instagram @GSU_VOLLEYBALL and liking 'Glenville State University Volleyball' on Facebook for news and score updates plus many more all season long.