ST. AUGUSTINE – The Flagler College volleyball team opens the 2021 season with the seventh annual Flagler Saints Invitational, which begins Friday (Sept. 3) at Flagler Gymnasium. Joining Flagler in the field this year are Belmont Abbey College, Eckerd College, Lewis University and Valdosta State University.

Each team will play four matches over a two-day stretch. FANS WILL NEED TO WEAR A MASK OR A PROTECTIVE COVERING TO WATCH THE MATCHES AT FLAGLER GYM.

Flagler is coming off a 16-4 season that saw the Saints go 13-1 in the Peach Belt Conference and earned the regular season title. Flagler was picked as the PBC favorite by the league's coaches. The Saints had three players on the preseason all-conference team. Logan Garcia, a junior middle hitter, was a first team All-PBC selection last spring and led the conference in hitting with a .354 percentage. She ranked third in the PBC in total blocks (65.0) and sixth in blocks per set (0.94). Rebekah Machovec, a junior outside hitter, received first team all-conference pick as she ranked second in the PBC in kills (199) and kills per set (2.88). Kennedy Muff, a sophomore setter, was the PBC Setter of the Year and a first team all-conference selection last season. She led the PBC in assists with 693 and was second in assists per set (9.63).  

Belmont Abbey posted a 6-9 record last season, which included a 3-7 mark in Conference Carolinas play. The Crusaders were picked to finish in 10^th place according to the league's preseason coaches' poll. Belmont Abbey is led by second-team all-conference selection Hailey Ryan. The senior libero led the team with 294 digs. Paige Rawlins and Cameron Young joined Ryan on the Conference Carolinas players to watch list.

Lewis is ranked No. 6 in the AVCA Division II Preseason Top 25 poll. The Flyers were picked as the favorite is the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division. Lewis went 17-2 last year and 16-1 in league play. Lewis is led by the GLVC Libero of the Year in Jamie Poppen. The senior collected 369 digs and served up 15 aces. Ava Venema earned first team all-conference honors after finishing with a .319 hitting percentage and 71 total blocks. 

Valdosta State is coming off a 2-8 season where it went 1-4 in Gulf South Conference play. The Blazers were picked to finish in ninth place in the GSC, according to the coaches' preseason poll. Valdosta State is led by junior outside hitter Jessie Mooney. She led the team 120 kills, 118 digs, nine aces, and was second in hitting percentage (.223).

Eckerd will be playing its first match since Nov. 23, 2019 as all of last season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tritons posted a 19-12 overall record and an even 10-10 mark in the Sunshine State Conference. Eckerd was picked to finish in eighth place by the league coaches. Rachel Wisian led the Tritons in blocks in her first two seasons with the program. A pair of NCAA Division I transfers will be counted on this season. Joelle Coulter comes to Eckerd from Marshall University where she tallied 228 kills and 219 digs. Krysten Garrison played at New Mexico State University in 2019.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, Sept. 3
11 a.m.: Valdosta State vs. Eckerd
1 p.m.: Belmont Abbey at Flagler
3 p.m.: Eckerd vs. Lewis
5 p.m.: Belmont Abbey vs. Valdosta State
7:30 p.m.: Lewis at Flagler

Saturday, Sept. 4
11 a.m.: Lewis vs. Belmont Abbey
1 p.m.: Valdosta State at Flagler
3 p.m.: Belmont Abbey vs. Eckerd
5 p.m.: Valdosta State vs. Lewis
7:30 p.m.: Eckerd at Flagler

All matches will be live streamed at pbcsportsnetwork.com/flagler.


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