BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University volleyball team will gear up for the first time of the 2016 season when the team plays host to Indiana State, Nicholls State and South Alabama the weekend of Friday, August 26, and Saturday August 27, inside the Pete Hanna Center.

The Bulldogs will hit the court with a renewed vigor under first year head coach Keylor Chan. Their first match will be against Nicholls State at noon on Friday and then will follow up with a nightcap against Indiana State at 7 p.m. (CDT).

Coach Chan spent 15 seasons in the heart of Big Ten country at the helm of the Northwestern University program. While there he led the Wildcats to four NCAA Tournament appearances and captured the program's first ever first round victories in 2005 & 2010.

Prior to his stint at Northwestern, Chan spent one season as the head coach of Furman University in 1999.

Anchored by a veteran group of student-athletes, Samford is led by six seniors. Erin Bognar, Gabbi Greenwald, Kiahna Wicks, Erika Pifer, Mattie Newson and T.J. Russell will bring a wealth of experience the Bulldogs can draw from this season. Russell, technically a redshirt junior on the court, will graduate with the rest of the seniors this year.

Samford was picked to finish 3^rd in this year's SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll behind Chattanooga and Furman respectively. Bognar was tabbed as the only Bulldog to make the All-SoCon Preseason Team for 2016.


Scouting Nicholls State

• Samford is 0-1 all-time against the team from Thibodaux, Louisiana.
• The only meeting between the two squads came on September 11, 1992 when the Colonels defeated the Bulldogs 3-1 (13-15, 15-11, 15-6, 15-10).
• Senior outside Kaci Eaton was named to the 2016 Southland All-Preseason First Team for Nicholls State. Last season she averaged 4.04 points per set, 3.52 kills per set and 11.34 attacks per set.
• In 2015, Nicholls State finished with a 9-19 overall record and a 4-12 mark in Southland action.

Scouting Indiana State

• This will be the first meeting ever between the two programs on Friday, August 26, at 7 p.m.
• Indiana State was picked to finish 7^th overall in the Missouri Valley Conference coaches' poll.
• The Sycamores are led by a trio of attackers as senior Kynedi Nalls, Bree Spangler and Melody Burdette each tallied over 250 kills during the 2015 season.
• Defensively they are led by junior defensive specialist Stephanie Bindernagel who recorded a team-high 483 digs and 20 service aces last year.
• Last season Indiana State finished with a 17-16 overall record and 6-12 in Missouri Valley Conference play.

Scouting South Alabama

• The Bulldogs and the Jaguars are deadlocked at 10-10 all-time record against each other heading into this weekend's Marriott Tournament.
• Last season Samford and South Alabama faced each other in Mobile, Alabama at the Jaguar Invitational. USA came out on top with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-17) victory over Samford.
• Senior Mechell Daniel was named to the 2016 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team. The three-time All-SBC selection ranked fourth in the league in kills per set (3.58) and was third in kills per set (3.81) in SBC play only.
• South Alabama is picked to finish 3^rd in the SBC East Division. Last season the squad finished with a 13-15 overall record and 7-9 mark in Sun Belt action.

Fans are encouraged to park in the south stadium parking lot this weekend due to Samford students moving back onto campus Friday and Saturday. The easiest way to access the south stadium lot is to enter campus through the west gate entrance off of Lakeshore Drive and make an immediate left hand turn through the gates.