Volleyball aims to repeat as Comfort Suites champs
8/26/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Bearkats will be out to defend their tournament championship from 2009. Sam Houston rolled up four victories in last year's event, defeating Southern Utah, Texas-Pan American, Delaware State and Louisiana-Lafayette for the title.
The action for 2010 starts Friday when the Eastern Michigan Eagles take on the Prairie View Panthers at 9:30 a.m. The Marist Red Foxes meet the Ragin' Cajuns from Louisiana at 11:30 a.m.
Sam Houston State plays its first match of the event at 2 p.m., facing Prairie View.
Eastern Michigan and the Ragin' Cajuns battle at 4:30 p.m. The Bearkats wrap up Friday's action with a 7 p.m. match versus Marist.
Saturday's schedule calls for Prairie View vs. Marist at 9 a.m., Eastern Michigan against host Sam Houston at 11:30 a.m., the Ragin' Cajuns against the Panthers at 2 p.m., Eastern Michigan vs. Marist at 4:30 p.m. and SHSU against Louisiana-Lafayette at 7 p.m.
Sam Houston returns three starters and eight letter winners from its 20-14 squad that finished as runners-up in the Southland Conference West Division last year.
Preseason All-Southland performers outside hitter Carli Kolbe and libero Kaylee Hawkins lead the Kats.
"We have a younger group this season with no seniors," SHSU head coach Brenda Gray said. "But there's an enthusiams that comes with young players that is invigorating. We're anxious to get out on the floor and see what they can do."
The Ragin' Cajuns from Louisiana, runners-up in last year's tournament at Sam Houston, return five starters from their 2009 squad that went 9-24 and placed sixth in the Sun Belt West Division.
Marist produced an 18-13 record last year, placing fourth in the MAAC. Eastern Michigan compiled a 5-28 record last season while Prairie View reached the semi-finals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference post-season tournament.
The complete Comfort Suites SHSU Volleyball Invitational schedule:
| Friday Aug. 27 | ||
| 9 a.m. | Prairie View | vs. Eastern Michigan |
| 11:30 a.m. | Marist | vs. Louisiana-Lafayette |
| 2 p.m. | Prairie View | vs. Sam Houston |
| 4:30 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | vs. Louisiana-Lafayette |
| 7 p.m. | Marist | vs. Sam Houston |
Saturday, Aug. 28 |
||
| 9 a.m. | Prairie View | vs. Marist |
| 11:30 a.m. | Eastern Michigan | vs. Sam Houston |
| 2 p.m. | Louisiana-Lafayette | vs. Prairie View |
| 4:30 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | vs. Marist |
| 7 p.m. | Louisiana-Lafayette | vs. Sam Houston |
All 10 matches of the Comfort Suites SHSU Invitational will be streamed live on www.gobearkats.com. You must purchase the monthly video subscription for $7.95 to watch.
Tickets to Sam Houston volleyball matches at Johnson Coliseum at $5 for adults and $3 for youth. Sam Houston students are admitted free with presentation of their Bearkat One card.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.gobearkats.com or fans may visit the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
