The Georgia Southern women’s volleyball team is primed to host three non-conference opponents in the Georgia Southern Invitational this weekend at Hanner Fieldhouse.

The 2-day tournament serves as the season home opener for the Eagles after notching a 2-2 record on the road and a cancelled invitational last week due to Hurricane Dorian.  

Coming off a resounding 3-0 sweep of USC Upstate last Saturday, the Eagles look to carry the momentum into the home building as they square off against UNC Asheville (4-3), Southern Miss (0-7) and Winthrop (3-3).

“Our team is excited about being back in Hanner with our home fans, and we can’t wait to feel that electricity,” Head Coach Chad Willis said.

The Eagles have had a number of standout performances from players so far this season. Sophomores Maddie Bryant and Madison Brown earned All-Tournament honors at the Mercer Bears Classic to begin the year.

Brown ranks second in the Sun Belt in assists , averaging 10.15 per set and Bryant ranks eighth in kills, averaging 3.54 per set.

Junior Landon Jones is tied for eighth in digs in the Sun Belt, about four per set) and sophomore Christina Walton is third in blocks with around 1.44 per set.

Senior Carly Turner and freshman Mya Wilson round out the attack, averaging 3.08 and 3.00 kills per set respectively.

The UNC Asheville Bulldogs have won three of their last four matches and are led by senior Julia Borges who was named second-team All-Big South in 2018. 

Southern Miss, led by senior Ashley Berry, have yet to win a match this season but the Golden Eagles are 2-0 all-time against the home team Eagles. 

The Winthrop Eagles are appearing in their third tournament in as many weeks and have dropped the last three matches after starting the season 3-0. They are led by junior transfer Nikkia Benitez.

The Eagles are set to kick off the home invitational on Friday, Sept. 13 facing UNC Asheville at 11 a.m. and Southern Miss at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, GS will face Winthrop at 1 p.m.

Chuck Paggett, The George-Anne Sports Reporter, gasports@georgiasouthern.edu