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VALDOSTA, Ga. – The 2018 edition of the Valdosta State volleyball team opens the season at the Embry-Riddle Tournament Friday and Saturday in Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
VSU begins the tournament in a 9 a.m. matchup against Lynn Friday morning, followed by a 1 p.m. match against Shaw.  On Saturday, the Blazers battle Wayne State College (Neb.) at 11 a.m., and conclude the tournament at 3 p.m. against the host Embry-Riddle Eagles.
 
Fans can access links to live stats and video streaming at vstateblazers.com and click on the volleyball schedule page.  Fans also can click herefor the official tournament page.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for complete recaps of each game and follow the Blazers all season long on social media.
 
The Blazers are under the direction of first-year head coach Kaleigh Zoucha.  She inherits senior Sara Dandridge who finished sixth in the league in assists with 861, while tying for the league-lead in triple doubles with one and 21^stnationally.  Dandridge was fifth in the Gulf South Conference in assists per set at 8.12.  
 
Along with Dandridge, seniors Katie McInnis, Lindsey Robinson, Chelsea Chavers and Chloe' Chubilleau also return.   Last season, Chubilleau finished second on the team in kills with 235, while junior Kayla Widera led the team in hitting at .269 and Chavers led the team in aces with 36.  In addition, junior Dariah Powell and sophomore Tammy Reyes Perez return for 2018.     
 
Zoucha, who was hired on Mar. 27, 2018, replaced former head coach Mike Swan.  After Swan signed freshman Jessie Mooney, Zoucha added four newcomers for 2018.  They include sophomore Brandie McGee, who most recently played at State College of Florida; freshman Aurora Nero of Crystal Lake, Ill.; South Florida State junior transfer Kayla Wood; and junior Camille Uadiale of North Carolina A&T.  
 
VSU was picked eighth in the preseason Gulf South Conference Poll, while Widera was named to the GSC Preseason All-Conference Team.
 
Lynn finished 9-17 overall and 7-13 in the Sunshine State Conference in 2017.  The Fighting Knights were picked seventh in the SSC Preseason Poll and return four players for 2018, including 2017 SSC All-Newcomer Team selection Sonja Udovcic.  Head coach Adam Milewski is in his fourth year at the helm of the Lynn program.
 
Shaw finished the 2017 season with a 27-5 record and went 15-1 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and was league runner-up.  The Lady Bears return 12 players from last season and lost just one starter from a season ago.  Shaw was picked first in the CIAA preseason poll and had five players named to the preseason all-conference team.  
 
Wayne State College is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Top 25.  The Wildcats were picked fifth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Poll, while WSC senior setter Megan Gebhardt was named the Player to Watch in the NSIC this season.  Gebhardt averaged 9.6 assists per set last season and ranked seventh in the NSIC with six double-doubles.  WSC is coming off a 19-12 season in 2017 and a 12-8 mark in league play. 
 
Embry-Riddle was picked sixth in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Poll earlier this month and will open its second season as full members of the league in 2018.  The Eagles went 13-13 overall last season and 8-12 in league play. s 
 
The Blazers return home to host the Holiday Inn VSU Volleyball Fall Classic, Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at The Complex.