GLENVILLE, W.Va. – Glenville State Volleyball is scheduled to open up the 2024 season this weekend at the Ram Rumble on the campus of Shepherd University. The Pioneers will play four games in two days, squaring off with Edinboro and Mars Hill tomorrow (Sept. 6), followed by matchups with Shepherd and Bowie State on Saturday (Sept. 7).

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Friday, September 6
Glenville State vs Edinboro | 1 p.m.
Glenville State vs Mars Hill | 7 p.m.
Watch on PSAC Digital Network | Live Stats

Saturday, September 7
Glenville State vs Shepherd | 1 p.m.
Glenville State vs Bowie State | 7 p.m.
Watch on PSAC Digital Network | Live Stats

THE OPPONENTS
EDINBORO
2023 Season
The Fighting Scots went (14-12, 9-7 PSAC) in 2023, placing tied for 4^th in the PSAC West but losing the tiebreaker to Pitt-Johnstown to earn a bid into the PSAC Tournament.

Quick Look at 2024
Edinboro is led by Missy Soboleski, who is in her 18^th season leading EU, amassing over 500 career wins and nine NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Tournament berths. The Fighting Scots were picked to finish fifth in the PSAC West preseason poll.

Sophomore Makayla Neelands returns the most production from last year, recording 199 kills in 24 matches played. Laney Burns was second on the team in assists with 456 in 2023 as the sophomore will now take over as the primary setter. Defensively, Carly Pry (449 digs in '23, first on team) and Erika Lindqvist (73 blocks in '23, second on team) are key returners.

MARS HILL
2023 Season
The Lions were (14-12, 8-10 SAC) in 2023, qualifying for the SAC Volleyball Tournament, where they'd be defeated by Wingate in the quarterfinals.

Quick Look at 2024
Mike Smith is in his fourth season at the helm for Mars Hill, already becoming the program leader in wins with 58. MHU was picked to finish seventh in SAC preseason poll.

Jade Cannon is back after leading the team in kills last season with 256 and 21 service aces, which was second-best on the squad. Laela Jimenez had 103 assists (second on team in '23) but was a star on defense, racking up 533 digs and earning D2CCA All-Southeast Region Second Team and All-SAC First Team.

SHEPHERD
2023 Season
The Rams went (14-15, 9-5 PSAC) in 2023, qualifying for the PSAC Tournament before being eliminated by East Stroudsburg in the quarterfinals.

Quick Look at 2024
Shepherd is led by Alex Hoekstra, who is in his 10^th season at the helm. SU was picked to finish second in the PSAC East preseason poll.

The Rams bring back their top-3 offensive players from last year in Jordan Pryor (276 kills, 37 service aces), Amya Davis (275 kills, 25 service aces) and Joi Fairweather (266 kills). Shepherd did lose their leading assist getter from 2023, but return Macy Buso, who tallied 173 assists. Fairweather (82 blocks in '23, second on team) and Sophia Ryan (72 blocks in '23, third on team) will head the front row for SU.

BOWIE STATE
2023 Season
The Bulldogs finished (6-26, 4-13 CIAA) in 2023, earning a spot in the CIAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.

Quick Look at 2024
Edric Poitier is in his third season leading the BSU Volleyball program. Bowie State was picked to finish eighth in the CIAA preseason poll with Nina Edwards landing on the CIAA All-Preseason Team.

The Bulldogs bring back key returners in the previously mentioned Nina Edwards and Madyson Brinson. Edwards (All-CIAA First Team in '23) and Brinson (All-CIAA Second Team in '23) were also named to the CIAA All-Rookie Team last year. Edwards led the team in blocks with 74 while Brinson was the team leader in kills with 233.

THE PIONEERS
GLENVILLE STATE
2023 Season
The Pioneers finished the 2023 campaign (12-17, 5-10 MEC), missing out on the Mountain East Conference Tournament after finishing fourth in the MEC South Division.

Quick Look at 2024
Kiara Perkins is in her second season leading the Pioneers, coaching two All-Conference selections during her first season as a HC in 2023. GSU was picked to finish 4^th in the MEC South Division preseason poll.

Rita Kelly is the leading returner in kills (227) from last year's team while Malerie Ross (81 kills) is also back. The Pioneers lost Sarah Grainger, who led the nation in service aces and led GSU in assists last year, but brought in Barton College transfer Sadie Hill to takeover setter duties as the junior tallied 135 assists in 2023.

Defensively, Kelly was second on the team in blocks with 75 and Ross was fifth on the squad with 22. Morgan Stephenson (229 digs in '23, fourth on team) and Bryanne Tustin (122 digs in '23, fifth on team) return for the backend of the Pioneer rotation. In total, Coach Perkins brought in eight new faces, with four coming from the transfer portal and four out of the high school ranks.

MEDIA
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