NEWS

The 2023 team pre-game in their exhibition vs. Duke.

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson volleyball is ready and raring for another season of action, as the Wildcats are set to start off their year at the College of Charleston Invitational with a three-match slate on the horizon.

The ‘Cats will begin their campaign at 12 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25 against recently-turned Division I Le Moyne College, before taking on host Charleston at 7 p.m. Davidson will then close out the tournament at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26 against West Virginia. 

CATCH UP WITH THE ‘CATS… The Wildcats finished second in the A-10 during the 2022 regular season with a 14-4 mark in league play, including a 7-0 start and back-to-back wins at Dayton, a place no Wildcat team had ever won. After earning a bid to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship, the ‘Cats stunned North Dakota State and Wake Forest with 3-2 victories in the opening rounds before sweeping UTRGV in the quarterfinals.

A PRESEASON NOD… The Davidson volleyball team was picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 Conference’s preseason poll on Tuesday afternoon, in a vote conducted by the league’s head coaches. Loyola Chicago, the reigning A-10 champion, was picked to win it all with seven first-place votes, while league juggernaut Dayton came in at second place with a pair of top votes. After producing one of their best seasons in program history during the 2022 campaign, the Wildcats received one first-place nod in addition to their highest A-10 preseason poll spot.

COACH’S TAKE… “This has been one of the smoothest preseasons I’ve been a part of,” said Head Coach Chris Willis. “Our women came to campus ready to train and prepare for competition. We are physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to maximize ourselves on the court every day. I also like the composition of this team. We have depth at each position and leadership throughout the program. There is talent within each class, and we expect contributions from every individual. Each day we are trying to become the best versions of ourselves, and I think that focus will allow us to sustain a high level of performance over the long season.”

BRADY’S BACK…Bella Brady returns for her senior season in 2023, as she repeated as the conference’s Libero of the Year in 2022 after reaching the 1,000th dig milestone. She also picked up 618 digs on the season, the second most digs recorded in a single season in program history.

‘NEW CATS ON THE BLOCK… Davidson adds three freshman attackers to its arsenal this season, with middle blockers Melanie Tilles and Mia Compas, as well as outside hitter Elena Garcia-Guerrios who represented the Puerto Rican U19 National Team at the World Championships earlier this summer.