Volleyball to open season with Huntingdon Tournament

By Chuck Tidmore

Sports Information Assistant

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon volleyball team will open its season on Friday and first-year head coach Latonia Allen has her team focused on the Huntingdon Tournament.

"This week we have started focusing on getting our stating lineup finalized," Allen said. "We had an injury to one of our starters so it has put a lot of pressure on the freshman to have to step up."

Huntingdon will host a six-team tournament on Friday and Saturday in Roland Arena. The Hawks will play Talladega at 10 a.m. and Sewanee at 6 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, Huntingdon takes on Belhaven at 9 a.m. and will play the final match of the tournament at 7 p.m. against Agnes Scott.

Allen was pleased with her team during the preseason and thought the players handled themselves well.

"We have high expectations and we're trying to run this program like a Division I school," Allen said. "We threw a lot of information at them mentally and physically and I think they've responded to what we're trying to run."

Returning for the Hawks are 13 players including four seniors. Allen added 10 newcomers to the team. Allen had high praise for junior Lauren Condon, who finished fourth in the USA South Athletic Conference last season with 533 digs.

"Lauren is just a bulldog," Allen said. "She holds everyone and herself accountable and she is very disciplined. She understands what the other team is doing and what we need to do to counter. It's like having an extension of the coaches on the floor."

Allen also mentioned sophomore Bria Rochelle and freshman Audrianna Hargitt as players who can make an impact.

"Bria was a big player last year as a freshman and she has a lot of potential to do well," Allen said. "I think the biggest impact player we brought in is Hargitt. She's an athlete who can do anything for us and is just a game changer."

The complete schedule for the Huntingdon Tournament is below. All matches will be played in Roland Arena.

FRIDAY                                                SATURDAY

10 a.m. -- Huntingdon vs. Talladega               9 a.m. -- Huntingdon vs. Belhaven

12 p.m. --Sewanee vs. Belhaven                    11 a.m. -- Sewanee vs. Piedmont

2 p.m.  -- Piedmont vs. Belhaven                    1 p.m. -- Talladega vs. Belhaven

4 p.m. -- Talladega vs. Agnes Scott                3 p.m. -- Agnes Scott vs. Sewanee

6 p.m. -- Huntingdon vs. Sewanee                 5 p.m. -- Piedmont vs. Talladega  

8 p.m. -- Piedmont vs. Agnes Scott                7 p.m. -- Huntingdon vs. Agnes Scott