HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana volleyball team opens its 2018 season this weekend with three matches at the Troy Invitational in Troy, Alabama.
 
Southeastern will face Southeast Missouri (11-20 in 2017) in its season opener, Friday at 3:30 p.m. The Lady Lions match up with Southern (8-21 in 2017) at 1 p.m. Saturday and, later that afternoon, square off with host Troy (11-22 in 2017) at 4:30 p.m. to conclude the weekend.

Live stats are available for every match in the four-team, round-robin event. Streaming video of all three Troy matches, including Southeastern's final tournament appearance, is available through the Trojans' athletic Facebook account. Links for stats and video can be found on the volleyball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
The Lady Lions begin their sixth season under head coach Jim Smoot, looking for a return to the Southland Conference Tournament after missing out last season (3-27, 1-15 Southland) for the first time in four years. Southeastern is led by redshirt junior Elyssa Purcell, the team's leading point scorer (2.62 points/set) a season ago. She is joined by seniors Haley Baker (5.39 assists/set) and Lexie Torres (3.71 digs/set).
 
LAST MATCH 
Sophomore middle blocker Sam Gomez and newcomer Maddy Katchen turned in double-digit kills in Tuesday's 27-25, 25-15, 21-25 green squad victory in Southeastern's annual Green and Gold match. A native of Mandeville, Louisiana, Gomez topped her previous career best with 12 kills and Katchen, a sophomore transfer from Fox River Grove, Illinois, contributed 11 kills.
 
NOTES

• Southeastern returns 10 players off last season's squad, including upperclassmen Baker, Jodi Edo, Purcell and Torres.
• An experienced sophomore class of Grayce Bateman, Marisa Calvaruso, Gomez, Michelle Mirarchi, Alexis Pratt and Tempestt Vaughn also returns.
• The Lady Lions welcome four newcomers, including three transfers, to the squad. Right side Jo Simovic, a junior from Serbia, joins the program from Garden City (Kan.) Community College.
• Mandeville native Caroline Golden, a sophomore outside hitter, transfers in from William Carey College and Katchen, a sophomore right side, joins the Lady Lions after playing last season at Northern Illinois.
• The lone freshman, defensive specialist Amanda Caluda (Slidell, Louisiana), hails from the Northshore.

 
UP NEXT
Southeastern travels to West Point, New York, next weekend for the Black Knights Invitational. The Lady Lions will face Albany in their tournament opener, Friday at 10 a.m. (CT) and then turn around to face Hofstra later that afternoon a 3 p.m. (CT). The Lady Lions match up with host Army to conclude the weekend Saturday at 11 a.m. (CT).
 
DIGGIN' IT CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the Southeastern volleyball program are encouraged to join the Diggin' It Club. Lady Lion volleyball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. S Club members also gain membership in the Diggin' It Club.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Diggin' It Club and S Club (volleyball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern volleyball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at LAA@Southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Lady Lions Volleyball, follow @SLU_VBall on Twitter, @Southeastern_vb on Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.