MATCHES: Friday - vs. Austin College (4 pm), St. Thomas (8 pm); Saturday - Centenary College (11 am), Paul Quinn (3:00 p.m.)
PLACE: Sherman, Texas (Austin College)
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MARSHALL, Texas – With the Darby Graff era starting on Friday, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team will begin their season at the Austin College Invitational in Sherman, Texas, this weekend. Playing four games, ETBU will be splitting their games playing Austin College and St. Thomas University (TX) on Friday and Centenary College and Paul Quinn College on Saturday.
 
Last season, ETBU finished 14-15 overall which included a five-match winning streak from Sept. 4-8 in which they conceded zero sets. The Tigers would reach the ASC Tournament as the second seed from the East Division before falling in the first round to McMurry University. Offensively, ETBU posted 1249 kills, and 1154 assists while recording 1890 digs (19.1 per set) and finishing with 151 blocks (1.5 per set) defensively for the season.
 
ETBU returns thirteen members of the 2018 team, including Sydney Lopez, who led the Tigers with 243 kills and was third in digs with 241 while recording four double-doubles and earning All-ASC East first team honors. Lopez will be one of four seniors this season along with Bailey Byas, Alexis Contos, and Gabrielle Guy. Byas finished second in kills with 189 and fourth in blocks with 33 while collecting an All-ASC East honorable mention award. Contos was third in blocks with 38 while also finishing with 52 kills. Guy returns to the team after missing last season due to injury.
 
Also returning for ETBU will be Lizeth Flores, Julia De Los Santos, and Cassidy Zellmer. Flores finished as ETBU's block leader with 56. De Los Santos, who was All-ASC East honorable mention, recorded a team-high 317 digs to lead the squad while Zellmer finished second on the team in assists.
 
Joining this year's squad are nine newcomers, which include Sophie Brittain (Florence, Texas), Lauren Chambers (Lawton, Okla.), Carli Morgan (Sunnyvale, Texas), Bailey O'Bannon (Redwater, Texas), Kennedy Peacock (Flower Mound, Texas), Ainsley Reeve (Cuero, Texas), Nicole Sands (Rockwall, Texas), Hope Shipp (Arlington, Texas), and Jessica Williamson (Liberty, Texas).
ETBU's first match of the season is against host team Austin College. Including a sweep of AC last year, ETBU is currently 7-8 all-time against the Roos. AC completed last year 16-18 overall and finished with 1462 kills, 1361 assists, and 2184 digs.
 
ETBU then takes on St. Thomas (TX) later on Friday who is transitioning to NCAA Division III from the NAIA. This will be the first time the Tigers faced the Celts since 2012 when ETBU defeated them in four sets. The Celts finished 25-7 overall last year compiling 1443 kills, 1285 assists, and 1951 digs in total.

Saturday will begin with ETBU taking on the Ladies of Centenary College. Holding a 9-0 record all-time, ETBU recently swept the Ladies last season at Ornelas Gymnasium on Sept. 4, 2018. CC finished 18-18 on the season as they collected 1521 kills, 1444 assists, and 2250 digs.
 
ETBU's final game of the crossover will be against Paull Quinn College. This will mark the first time ETBU will take on PQ in their program history.
 
For Coach Graff, having spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach, the familiarity with players has been nothing more than a positive influence in her first year at the helm. "Honestly, the transition was really easy," said Coach Graff. "I couldn't have asked for a better transition into this role. Being here for two years working with this team already and having these freshman come in and being a part of this recruiting process has made this much easier. The returners know what this program stands for. They know what they want to see from this program, especially their seniors for their senior year. They're super excited. I couldn't have asked for a better group to have my first head coaching job with."
 
Friday's games start at 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM while Saturday's games start at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.