Henderson State opens the 2014 volleyball season this weekend as the Lady Reddies play host to the HSU Classic, beginning Friday, Sept. 5 at the Duke Wells Center.
The Lady Reddies will begin their four-game weekend schedule when they face McMurry University at 2 p.m. HSU will then take on Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, the Lady Reddies square off against Fort Hays State at 11 a.m. and finish the tournament with a match against Union University at 3 p.m.
Head coach
Rhonda Thigpen enters her 25th season leading the Lady Reddies and is expecting big things from seniors
Jessica Moss (Garland, Texas) and
Sophia Cansigno (Irving, Texas).
Moss finished ninth in the Great American Conference in blocks with 67 last year. Moss also totaled 122 kills in 2013.
Cansigno totaled 126 defensive digs in 96 games played a year ago.
Sophomores
Jessie Jacoby and
Zara Loye also return from last year's squad, and hope to make a solid contribution at outside hitter and defensive specialist, respectively.
Thigpen brought in several junior college transfers this season, such as outside hitters
Nayeli Colunga and
Andjela Reljic.
Setters
Mariah Delavega,
Ryleigh Thompson,
Samantha Sawyer, and middle blocker
Carli Owens also transferred in from other colleges.
Freshman middle blockers
Haylee Herndon and
Violet Williams look to make an impact on the net, as both sport ideal height at 6-1.
Other freshmen who aim to contribute this season are
Brianna Reband,
Alexa Oestmann,
Charlai Francis,
Kaylie Pyles,
Shelbie Tucker, and
Jaylan Luster.
Following this weekend's tournament, Coach Thigpen's team will begin a four-match road swing, traveling to Russellville for their first conference match against Arkansas Tech on Sept. 9.
On Sept. 11, the team travels to Walnut Ridge to take on Williams Baptist, followed by matchups with Philander Smith and Austin College on Sept. 12.
The Lady Reddies return home for their second GAC contest, taking on Arkansas-Monticello on Sept. 16.
On Sept. 19, the team plays host to non-conference opponent Texas-Permian Basin before a trio of home GAC contests against Ouachita Baptist (Sept.23), Southwestern Oklahoma State (Sept. 26), and Northwestern Oklahoma State (Sept. 27).
Williams Baptist comes to Arkadelphia for a non-conference matchup on Sept. 29, and then the Lady Reddies hit the road once again for a four-game stretch.
On Sept. 30, the team travels to Denton, Texas to face Texas Woman's University.
A conference match at Southern Nazarene opens a new month for the Lady Reddies on October 4, and then the team will travel to Magnolia to take on Southern Arkansas.
The final match of the road stretch will be played at Harding on October 9.
The next day, the Lady Reddies play host to Oklahoma Panhandle State before hosting two more GAC contests against Arkansas Tech (Oct. 14) and Southeastern Oklahoma State (Oct. 17).
A tri-match on Oct. 18 with non-conference opponent Alabama Huntsville and GAC member East Central finishes out the five-game home stretch.
On Oct. 21, the Lady Reddies will once again play in a tri-match at the University of Arkansas at Monticello against UAM and Mississippi Valley State.
The Lady Reddies return to Arkadelphia to face off against Harding (Oct. 23), Ouachita Baptist (Oct. 28), and Christian Brothers (Oct. 30.)
The team opens November on the road as they take on East Central in Oklahoma (Nov. 1) and Texas A&M Commerce (Nov. 4).
The regular season will conclude with a conference matchup at home against Southern Arkansas (Nov. 6).
