Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop Volleyball is set to begin their season this weekend as they play Virginia Tech in back-to-back matches.
 

Winthrop Volleyball Game Information
vs. Virginia Tech	Friday, Aug. 30 | 6 p.m. (EST) | Video | Live Stats | Tickets
at Virginia Tech	Sunday, Sep. 1 | 3 p.m. (EST) | Video | Live Stats
Location	Rock Hill, S.C. | Winthrop Coliseum Blacksburg, Va. | Cassell Coliseum
Shop	Find all your needs for Winthrop gear– ShopWinthropeagles | ShopWinthropGear
Promotions	Presented by Comporium | Free Shirts and Fanny Packs for the First 100 Fans
Social	Twitter - @WinthropVolley / @WUEagles | Instagram - winthropvolleyball | #ROCKtheHILL | #EverStand

SERIES HISTORY VERSUS VIRGINIA TECH
This is the second meeting between the programs. The only other meeting between the Eagles and the Hokies was on Oct. 1, 1982 with the Hokies winning 2-1. Virginia Tech went 13-16 (3-15 ACC) in 2023.
 
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES

• The Eagles return 10 players from last year's roster that saw action in at least one game, eight of which played 10 or more games
• Winthrop welcomes six freshman to the team: Paige Bennett, Edie Powell, Giselle Little, Sophia Matthews, Maeve Rehmann and Stevie Henderson and assistant coach Kyle Ferguson
• Senior setter Isabella Murray and junior outside hitter Avery Jolley were also named to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Although the Eagles lost several key players off last year's roster, several standouts return. Junior outside hitter Karli Shepherd, Murray, senior defensive specialist Rylie McMahen, junior middle blocker Lexie Vick and Jolley all played big roles last season and will be counted on for production this fall
• Last season, Jolley was named second team all-conference in a season in which she had 15 matches in double figures in kills, 11 matches in double figures in digs and eight matches with double-doubles in kills and digs. Her best match of the season came at USC Upstate on Nov. 4, posting a season-high 19 kills, three aces and 15 digs. Jolley led the team in kills. Jolley was also second on the team in digs, fourth in aces and fifth in both assists and blocks. She was named to the Gator Invitational All-Tournament Team on Sep. 9. Jolley finished the season with 283 kills, 19 assists, 18 aces, 227 digs, 31 blocks and 319 points
• Murray was also named second team all-conference for the second straight year. Last year Murray had two matches with more than 50 assists and eight matches with more than 40 assists. Murray also had 11 matches in double figures in digs. Her best match of the season came at Presbyterian on Oct. 7, in which she had a season-high five aces and 52 assists. Murray led the team in both aces and assists. She also finished second on the team in blocks, third in digs and fifth in kills. She won the Big South Player of the Week Award on Nov. 13 and finished the season with 64 kills, 897 assists, 24 aces, 227 digs, 44 blocks and 112 points
• Murray is currently 10^th in school history in assists with 1942
• Teagan Sychterz earned a spot on the all-freshman team. She had her best match of the season at Presbyterian on Oct. 7, notching 11 kills and two digs. Sychterz finished the season with 54 kills, 22 blocks and 68 blocks
• Shepherd was named to the all-academic team for the first time in her career in addition to her honorable mention all-conference awards she won in 2021 and 2022 and being named to the all-freshman team in 2021. Last year she had 10 matches in double figures in kills, two matches in double figures in digs and in double doubles in kills and digs. Shepherd was at her best vs. South Carolina at home on Sep. 16, posting a season-high 16 kills and 16 digs. Shepherd was third on the team in kills. Shepherd finished the season with 215 kills, 118 digs, 13 aces and 24 blocks
• Winthrop finished 14-14 (12-2 Big South) in 2023, finishing second in the regular-season standings, advanced to the championship match of the Big South tournament. The Eagles also made their first post-season appearance since 2019 with a berth to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC)
• Heather Gearhart enters her third season as the head coach for the Eagles after spending the 2022 campaign in an interim role
• The Eagles have played 1,802 matches all-time as the program holds a mark of 1,073-729
• Since Winthrop and the Big South Conference were elevated to Division I status in 1986-87, the Eagles are the winningest program in Big South history with 637 victories overall

GET YOUR SEASON TICKETS TODAY
General Admission tickets will be sold for all volleyball games in the 2024 season. Season tickets are currently on sale for $25. Single-game tickets are $8. Get your season pass today by visiting https://vivenu.com/seller/winthrop-university-d5oj/volleyball-tk6q or call the ticket office at (803) 323-2345.
 
WATCH THE EAGLES ON ESPN+
All but one of the home games during the 2024 season will air live on ESPN+. You can also catch select road games in Big South Conference play on ESPN+. To watch Big South games on ESPN+ you must have a subscription to ESPN+. For more information on how to subscribe, click here.
 
PROMOTIONAL NIGHT
The home match this Friday vs. Virginia Tech will feature a T-Shirt and Fanny Pack Giveaway for the first 100 fans.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Winthrop will travel to Blacksburg, Va. on Sunday, Sep. 1 for a re-match with the Hokies at 3 p.m. The games will be streamed live on ACCN+.
 
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