Shreveport – The Centenary volleyball team will open its 2019 regular season on Friday with a match against Concordia University as part of the Austin College Invite in Sherman, Texas set for 2 p.m.
Friday's match marks the debut of first-year head coach Ashley McDonough, as she comes to Shreveport after serving as the head coach of Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. for the last four seasons.
"Despite going into the season opener with only eight safely active student-athletes, we are confident in our preparation and strategy, "said McDonough. "The team fights as one and we trust that our defense will show up big for us."
The Ladies will then face Paul Quinn at 6 p.m. Friday and will then play two matches on Saturday, facing Nebraska-Wesleyan at 9 a.m. and East Texas Baptist University at 11 a.m.
The Ladies posted an even 18-18 overall record in 2018 and posted a 7-9 mark in conference play, finishing fifth in the conference tournament. Centenary went 8-2 at home last season and the 18 wins were the second-most in program history and the most in the current division III era. Centenary defeated Austin College three times during the 2018 season and claimed an upset victory over Texas Lutheran.
Sophomore Rachel Demerjian, a native of Glendora, Calif., is one of several Ladies to watch this coming season. She was named to the SCAC All-Conference squad, only the second Centenary volleyball player to do so in the division III era. In 2018 she accumulated 924 assists which ranks fifth in school history in assists for the season. Demerjian also led the team with 18 double-doubles, including three straight to end the regular season.
Sophomore Alyssa Davis and Senior Marissa Sandoval team with Demerjian to form a solid trip for the Ladies. Last season, Davis lead the team in kills, tallying 353 (averaging 2.94/set and was named the team "Offensive Player of the Year." Sandoval lead the 2018 squad in digs accumulating 518 (averaging 4.08 digs/set).
The Ladies will travel to California Sept. 6-7 to take part in the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational hosted by Cal Lutheran University in the Los Angeles area. Centenary will face four different opponents over two days in the Golden state.
The first home match of the season is set for Saturday, Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. against St. Thomas in the Gold Dome. The home schedule is highlighted by the SCAC Group A Divisional, a two-day tournament on Sept. 20-21, in which the Ladies will play four total matches.
