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Live Stats vs. Davidson

WILMINGTON, NC – The Winthrop volleyball team kicks off the 2016 season this weekend as the Eagles travel to Wilmington, NC to participate in the UNCW Courtyard by Marriott Classic.

Winthrop will play twice on Friday, first at 2:00 p.m. against Jacksonville and then again at 7 p.m. against the host Seahawks.  Saturday Winthrop will face Davidson at 4:30 p.m.

Under fourth-year head coach Bruce Atkinson, the Eagles were predicted to finish in the Big South Preseason Poll.  Winthrop finished last season with a 14-18 overall record, falling in the semi-finals of the conference tournament.

The Eagles are returning some of their top hitters from last season including senior Emma Weakland who was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.  Weakland led the Eagles with a .313 attack percentage last season.  Also returning is sophomore Lourdes Rosario who led the Eagles in kills last season with 285, a 3.24 per set average.

Despite the strong offensive presences, Winthrop will be working 10 new players including eight freshmen into the team's system.  The Eagles did pick up some upperclassman experience in Katlyn McDaniel, a senior transfer from South Carolina who played two years with the Gamecocks.

Following the weekend tournament in Wilmington, the Eagles will head to Columbia, SC for the Carolina Classic Sept. 2-3.  There, Winthrop will face in-state competition against Furman, Clemson and the host Gamecocks.