CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina volleyball team will open its 2022 season against Davidson, Virginia Tech, and host UNCW at the UNCW Seahawk Volleyball Classic in Wilmington, N.C. on Friday, Aug. 26-27.
COASTAL'S WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 Coastal vs. Davidson 3 PM ET
Aug. 27 Coastal vs. Virginia Tech Noon ET
Aug. 27 Coastal at UNCW 6 PM ET (FloSports $)
ABOUT COASTAL
The Chanticleers finished 19-9 last season and second in the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. CCU was voted to finish atop the East Division once again.
Coastal Carolina returns veterans
Brigitta Petrenko,
Lina Perugini, and
Ella Saada from last season's squad and mixes in a wealth of newcomers in transfers and freshmen. Petrenko, a 2021 All-Sun Belt second-team member, tallied her 2,000th-career assist while leading the Sun Belt with 48 service aces last year. The senior from Eger, Hungary, paced the team with 699 assists. Perugini, a senior defensive specialist, picked up her 1,000th-career dig while leading the team with 445 digs (6th in SBC) and posted a .953 service reception percentage on the year. Saada returns to the court after a medical redshirt. The Kfar Masaryk, Israel, native saw action in 22 sets in 2021, finishing with 52 kills, 33 digs, 12 total blocks, six service aces, and four set assists before missing the rest of the season due to an injury.
ABOUT DAVIDSON
The Davidson Wildcats return 10 players from last season's 14-13 squad, including the Atlantic 10 Co-Libero of the Year Bella Brady and A10 All-Rookie team member Isabel Decker. Led by the 2021 Atlantic 10 Co-Coach of the Year Chris Willis, the Wildcats were selected to finish in fifth place in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Brady's Co-Libero of the Year and first-team all-conference selection comes after the sophomore had one of the strongest defensive seasons in program history. The five-time A-10 Defensive Player of the Week had 24 double-digit dig performances last season, including eight 20-plus dig efforts, and three 30-plus performances highlighted by a career-high 36 digs against Idaho State. The Winter Park, Fla., native averaged a league-best 5.4 digs per set in the regular season, totaling 526 total digs and 742 career digs before the end of her sophomore year.
As a rookie, Decker accounted for 2.73 kills per set and earning 224 kills in her first season. The Illinois native started in nearly every match for the Wildcats last year and recorded nine double-doubles during the regular season.
ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH
The Virginia Tech Hokies enter play with one of the highest ranking classes in school history, as the new group joins a young Hokie squad after losing seven seniors to graduation. The 2022 signing class was ranked 30th last November by Prep Volleyball. VT wrapped up the 2021 season with a 12-18 overall record.
Returning for the Hokies, Cera Powell was third on the team with 203 kills on the year, while Mara Perry was second in assists with 230. Defensively, Logan Mosley led the team with 409 digs and a .960 reception percentage.
ABOUT UNCW
The UNCW Seahawks wrapped up the 2021 season with a 3-13 record and an eighth-place finish in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). UNCW returns 12 members from the 2021 team including CAA Preseason Honorable Mention outside hitter Katie Lanz. Lanz led the Seahawks in kills with 261 last season, averaging 2.56 kills per set. She also collected 162 digs and 32 blocks.
UNCW was picked to finish tied for ninth in the CAA.
For complete coverage of CCU women's volleyball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalVball (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.
