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ROCK HILL, SC – After starting the season with winning its own Winthrop Classic last weekend, the Winthrop volleyball team will head to Kennesaw, Georgia to participate in the Owl Invitational on the campus of Kennesaw State University. Winthrop will face host Kennesaw State, Oral Roberts and Chattanooga.

In their first match of the Owls Invitation, the Eagles will be taking on host Kennesaw State, who come into this weekend's tournament with a 1-3 record. The Owls are led by senior Justine Young who leads KSU with 44 kills. Following the opening match, Winthrop will be squaring off against Oral Roberts and Chattanooga on Saturday.

Oral Roberts comes into the Owls Invitational with a 1-3 mark, losing all three of the matches at the Nike Invitational in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Golden Eagles are paced defensively by Brazilian native Bruna Silva who has tallied 74 digs this season. ORU is coached Sheera Sirola who is in her eighth season.

The Chattanooga Mocs also come to Kennesaw with a 1-3 record, with their only win coming at the Southern Miss Invitational against Northwestern State. The Mocs are coached by Travis Filar who is in his first season at Chattanooga.

The Julie Torbett era is officially underway and the new head coach could not have asked for a better start. This is the first time the Eagles have started the season 3-0 since 2003, when Winthrop took three matches in the Hilton Garden Invitation held at the Winthrop Coliseum. That year, the Eagles went on the NCAA Tournament where they eventually fell to Florida A&M in straight sets.

Senior middle hitter Becca Toor currently leads the team in the kills category with 45 and took home the Most Valuable Player Award and the Big South Player of the Week last weekend. Defensively, the Eagles were led last weekend by freshman libero Catherine Brusie with 45 digs. Junior defensive specialist Kristin Cruse is right behind Brusie with 41 digs. Sophomore setter Stephanie Palmer showed her versatility finishing the tournament with 21 kills, 31 digs and 114 assists. Freshman Jennica Mullins ended the Winthrop Classic with 26 kills and the Big South Freshman of the Week Award.