Belmont (0-0, 0-0 MVC) vs. Auburn (0-0, 0-0 SEC)Â
Friday, Aug. 26 | 9:30 a.m. CT / 10:30 a.m. ETÂ
Belmont (0-0, 0-0 MVC) vs. Marist (0-0, 0-0 MAAC)Â
Friday, Aug. 26 | 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ETÂ
Belmont (0-0, 0-0 MVC) at Georgia State (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)Â
Saturday, Aug. 27 | 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ETÂ
GSU Sports Arena | Atlanta, GeorgiaÂ
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Belmont University volleyball team opens the 2022 season at the Panther Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia, this weekend, taking on both Auburn and Marist on Friday, August 26, before facing the host school, Georgia State, on Saturday, August 27. Â
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Live stats for all three matches will be available on BelmontBruins.com, and Saturday's match against Georgia State will be streamed on ESPN+. In-game updates will be posted to Twitter by @BelmontVB.Â
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What's BruinÂ
- Head coach Katelyn Harrison enters her fourth season at the helm, and welcomes two new assistants to the staff—Aaron Hastings and Riley TaylorÂ
- The Bruins graduated five players from a team that gathered nine wins last season, their most since 2017, while going 7-5 at the Curb Event Center and earning seven conference wins on the way to their first appearance at the OVC Tournament since 2017Â
- Belmont also beat Murray State for the first time since 2015 and secured their first-ever road win at SIUEÂ
- Belmont averaged 2.01 blocks per set last season, their second-highest mark since 2005Â
- Belmont is 1-2 in season openers in the last three campaigns, with the lone victory coming last year at home against Alcorn State in three setsÂ
- Six freshmen and one transfer join the squad in 2022Â
- Belmont was picked to finish 11th in the 2022 MVC Preseason Coaches Poll
- The Bruins are making their first trip to the Peach State since 2014, when they competed at the Bulldog Invitational, hosted by the University of GeorgiaÂ
- With the departure of two-time All-OVC selection Taylor Floyd, Laura Shoopman and Lauren Walsh will be the primary attacking options on the outsideÂ
- Shoopman was dynamite in the Bruins' only exhibition of the fall, a tight three-set loss at Tennessee last weekend, gathering 20 kills on 33 total attacks with a .485 attack percentageÂ
- Syracuse transfer Peyton O'Brien will orchestrate the offense at setter, with the sophomore from Libertyville, Ill., taking over starting duties after the departure of Carly Mason and an injury to Izzy SchauerÂ
- Junior libero Rachel McBride was one of the best in the OVC last season, finishing in the top five in the conference in digs per set. The native of Decatur, Ind., has missed only one match in two seasons as a Bruin while anchoring the back-row, and assumes captain duties this year along with Shoopman and WalshÂ
- Junior middle blocker Kristen Clemons returns to the squad after being apart from the team in 2021. As a freshman during the shortened fall 2021 slate, Clemons finished second on the team in total points (133.0)Â
- Freshman outside hitter Emily Warmenhoven was in the starting rotation in last weekend's exhibition at Tennessee, and will look to complement the Bruin attack alongside Shoopman and Walsh. The native of West Linn, Ore., was rated the No. 1 player in Oregon by Prep Dig.Â
- Junior middle blocker Sydney Willis will join Clemons on the front row and hope to impose an intimidating presence at the net. The native of Old Hickory, Tenn, has averaged nearly a block per set in each of the last two seasons.Â
About the TigersÂ
- Auburn was picked to finish 12th in the 2022 SEC Preseason Coaches Poll, after going 13-15 overall and 5-13 in conference play in 2021Â
- Outside hitter Rebekah Rath led the SEC in kills per set last season and set Auburn's single-season kills record (485)Â
- Auburn and Belmont met for the first time last season in Auburn, Alabama, with the Tigers taking the match in three sets, 25-8, 25-12, 25-12Â
- Belmont is 1-8 against SEC opponents all-time, with the one win coming against Mississippi State in 2013 at the Bruin ClassicÂ
About the Red FoxesÂ
- The Red Foxes were picked 4th in the 2022 MAAC Preseason Coaches PollÂ
- Marist went 17-13 in 2021, including a 12-6 mark in MAAC playÂ
- Two players were named to the Preseason All-MAAC team, including junior outside hitter Jordan Newblatt and graduate student setter McKinley FoxÂ
- Marist and Belmont have met once before, in 2003, with the Red Foxes winning in five sets at the William & Mary Tournament in Williamsburg, VirginiaÂ
- Sean Byron is in his 13th season as the head coach at MaristÂ
About the PanthersÂ
- Georgia State was picked to finish 6th in the East Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, edging out Appalachian StateÂ
- The Panthers welcome five transfers in 2022, coming from Tennessee, Mississippi State, and UC Irvine, among othersÂ
- Terry Hutchinson is in his first season as head coach after spending five seasons as an assistant at TowsonÂ
- Georgia State went 8-20 in 2021, including 4-12 in Sun Belt playÂ
- Georgia State represents an old Atlantic Sun Conference rival for Belmont—the Panthers and Bruins battled as Atlantic Sun opponents from 2000-2004, and met in the 2004 Atlantic Sun semifinals, with Belmont winning, 3-1, to advance to the championship match against JacksonvilleÂ
- Georgia State and Belmont first met in 2000, with the Panthers winning, 3-0.Â
- The Panthers lead the all-time series, 6-4. Â
- The two teams last met in 2016 at the Bruiser Showcase, hosted by Belmont. The Bruins won, 3-0Â
Follow Belmont volleyball on social media - @BelmontVB on Twitter and @belmontvball on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.     Â
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#ItsBruinTimeÂ
