Friday, August 30
Newark, Del.
7:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
at
Delaware
Photo by: Katie MacCrory
WVU Opens 2019 Season in Delaware
August 29, 2019 05:54 PM | Volleyball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In its fifth season under coach Reed Sunahara, the West Virginia University volleyball team opens the 2019 season at the Delaware Classic on Friday, Aug. 31, inside the Bob Carpenter Center, in Newark, Delaware.
WVU opens play against host Delaware at 7 p.m. ET on Friday evening. The squad will then conclude the Delaware Classic on Saturday, as it takes on Coppin State in an 11 a.m. ET matchup, as well as Binghamton in a 4:30 p.m. ET afternoon tilt.
"We're ready to go," Sunahara said. "We had a good preseason. We've been working hard, and we're looking forward to going to Delaware. We're going to take it one match at a time. We just need to focus on our side of the court and good things will happen."
Last year's team was one of Sunahara's youngest squads; featuring no seniors, WVU posted an 11-win season. Despite having a young roster in 2018, the Mountaineers will return 16 letterwinners to the court this season, including five starters and the libero.
"We gained valuable experience in the spring, so hopefully, they can showcase that on the court this coming fall," Sunahara said. "I know we are stronger, both mentally and physically. We are expecting big things out of everyone this season."
Sophomore setter Lacey Zerwas will look to quarterback the Mountaineer offense, as she averaged 9.18 assists per set to rank sixth in the Big 12 Conference last season. Zerwas recorded double-digit assists in 27 matches, including nine 40-plus assist performances. Junior defensive specialist Alexa Hasting will look to run the floor defensively, as she averaged 3.21 digs per set as a sophomore. Hasting led WVU with 359 digs in 2018, reaching double-digits in 19 matches and posting a trio of 20-plus dig performances.
The Mountaineers will square off with the Blue Hens for the seventh time in their 45-year history on Friday, as WVU claimed a 3-1 win its most recent meeting held on Aug. 25, 2017, in Morgantown. Of note, Delaware holds a 4-2 lead in the all-time series.
Delaware posted nine wins in 2018, including a trio of victories against Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponents. Last season, then-junior outside hitter Maria Bellinger averaged a team-leading 4.38 kills per set. The First Team All-CAA selection currently ranks 14th in all of Division I volleyball in career kills among active players.
On Saturday, West Virginia will meet Coppin State for just the second time in program history and the first time since 2005, when the Mountaineers swept the Eagles, 3-0, inside the WVU Coliseum.
Last season, third-year coach Tim Walsh guided Coppin State to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament for the first time since 2015. The Eagles return virtually their entire roster this season, including all-conference performer Miajavon Coleman, who led the squad with 3.55 kills per set as a freshman.
Additionally, WVU will face BU for the first time in 15 years Saturday afternoon, with the Mountaineers previously capturing a 3-0 win in their first-ever meeting at a neutral site.
Binghamton tallied five victories in 2018, averaging 11.2 kills per set, as well as 1.6 blocks per set. Senior Victoria Keghlian enters this season as the team's leading outside hitter, totaling 117 kills a year ago, while sophomore middle blocker Tyra Wilson led the team's blocking efforts with 0.74 blocks per set to rank ninth in the America East Conference (AEC).
West Virginia will remain on the road following the Delaware Classic, as the Mountaineers travel west to San Diego for a three-day tournament at San Diego State, from Sept. 5-7. West Virginia will face Arkansas on Sept. 5, San Diego State on Sept. 6 and Arizona on Sept. 7.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
WVU opens play against host Delaware at 7 p.m. ET on Friday evening. The squad will then conclude the Delaware Classic on Saturday, as it takes on Coppin State in an 11 a.m. ET matchup, as well as Binghamton in a 4:30 p.m. ET afternoon tilt.
"We're ready to go," Sunahara said. "We had a good preseason. We've been working hard, and we're looking forward to going to Delaware. We're going to take it one match at a time. We just need to focus on our side of the court and good things will happen."
Last year's team was one of Sunahara's youngest squads; featuring no seniors, WVU posted an 11-win season. Despite having a young roster in 2018, the Mountaineers will return 16 letterwinners to the court this season, including five starters and the libero.
"We gained valuable experience in the spring, so hopefully, they can showcase that on the court this coming fall," Sunahara said. "I know we are stronger, both mentally and physically. We are expecting big things out of everyone this season."
Sophomore setter Lacey Zerwas will look to quarterback the Mountaineer offense, as she averaged 9.18 assists per set to rank sixth in the Big 12 Conference last season. Zerwas recorded double-digit assists in 27 matches, including nine 40-plus assist performances. Junior defensive specialist Alexa Hasting will look to run the floor defensively, as she averaged 3.21 digs per set as a sophomore. Hasting led WVU with 359 digs in 2018, reaching double-digits in 19 matches and posting a trio of 20-plus dig performances.
The Mountaineers will square off with the Blue Hens for the seventh time in their 45-year history on Friday, as WVU claimed a 3-1 win its most recent meeting held on Aug. 25, 2017, in Morgantown. Of note, Delaware holds a 4-2 lead in the all-time series.
Delaware posted nine wins in 2018, including a trio of victories against Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponents. Last season, then-junior outside hitter Maria Bellinger averaged a team-leading 4.38 kills per set. The First Team All-CAA selection currently ranks 14th in all of Division I volleyball in career kills among active players.
On Saturday, West Virginia will meet Coppin State for just the second time in program history and the first time since 2005, when the Mountaineers swept the Eagles, 3-0, inside the WVU Coliseum.
Last season, third-year coach Tim Walsh guided Coppin State to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament for the first time since 2015. The Eagles return virtually their entire roster this season, including all-conference performer Miajavon Coleman, who led the squad with 3.55 kills per set as a freshman.
Additionally, WVU will face BU for the first time in 15 years Saturday afternoon, with the Mountaineers previously capturing a 3-0 win in their first-ever meeting at a neutral site.
Binghamton tallied five victories in 2018, averaging 11.2 kills per set, as well as 1.6 blocks per set. Senior Victoria Keghlian enters this season as the team's leading outside hitter, totaling 117 kills a year ago, while sophomore middle blocker Tyra Wilson led the team's blocking efforts with 0.74 blocks per set to rank ninth in the America East Conference (AEC).
West Virginia will remain on the road following the Delaware Classic, as the Mountaineers travel west to San Diego for a three-day tournament at San Diego State, from Sept. 5-7. West Virginia will face Arkansas on Sept. 5, San Diego State on Sept. 6 and Arizona on Sept. 7.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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