Winthrop volleyball was picked fifth in the 2018 preseason conference polls, announced by the Big South office. Last season, the Eagles went 8-8 in conference play and 18-14 overall. They beat Campbell 3-1 at the Big South Tournament before falling to eventual champions, Radford, 0-3.
This is the first season as head coach at Winthrop for Chuck Rey, who was the associate head coach at Miami University of Ohio from 2012-2017. Rey was an assistant coach at Winthrop from 2009-2012.
“It is an exciting time as we embark on a new era of Eagles Volleyball while we strive to uphold the championship tradition set by our great alumnae,” Rey said. “We are encouraged by the team’s revitalized commitment and the effort they have put in this past spring and summer. We have a lot to prove to ourselves and look forward to the challenges of the upcoming season.”
Junior setter Siani Yamaguchi was voted to the 2017 Big South Conference All-Tournament team after tallying 65 assists in just two matches. She also registered 18 digs and three block assists for the tournament.
Savannah Roper, a sophomore defensive specialist on the Winthrop volleyball team, has high hopes for the season. “The season has been very fun and exciting. All of us have been working really hard on and off the court and in the weight room,” Roper said. The coaches giving us the opportunity to play a challenging preseason schedule made us prepared for conference play”.
The volleyball program has hired a whole new coaching staff for the Lady Eagles and the girls have been adjusting and adapting to the new coaches this season. “The coaches have been using positivity to motivate and empower us to be the best that we can be,” Roper said.
The Eagles opened conference play with a 3-1 road win over Gardner Webb. The Lady Eagles then traveled to High Point University dominating with a three set victory, (25-13, 25-19, 25-21). “The big win on the road against High Point gave us motivation and proved to ourselves that we can be a threat in this conference,” Roper said. “Our initial goal this season is to win conference and our other goal is to protect the nest.”
Winthrop faced Presbyterian College Friday Sept. 29 and fought a tough battle. The Lady Eagles went to 5 sets with the scores of 24-26, 25-18, 25-21, 23-25 and 18-20. But the team bounced back on Saturday with a sweep against Charleston Southern 3-0 (25-15,25-8,25-19).
The Eagles’ overall record is 7-10 and are currently 3-2 in the Big South Conference.
The Lady Eagles next volleyball game will be Saturday Oct. 13 @ 2 p.m. against the Hampton Pirates. Come out and support.
For more information on the Lady Eagles Volleyball team visit winthropeagles.com
