NEWS

The Wildcats won last year’s Wildcat Classic – no pressure going into this weekend.

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Davidson volleyball program’s 2024 season gets underway on Friday night, as the ‘Cats play host to Elon at 7 p.m. in game one of their annual Wildcat Classic tournament. 

The Wildcats will then take on Marshall at 12 p.m. and ETSU at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. 

A LOOK BACK AT 2023… The Wildcats finished the 2023 campaign with a 19-10 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the Atlantic 10 with an 11-7 ledger. Davidson began the year with seven-straight victories, including a 3-0 sweep at its annual season-opening event. 

COACH’S CORNER… “The excitement within the Davidson program is electric,” said head coach Chris Willis. “We have several new faces, including two new coaches and five new players. The spirit and objectives of the team remain the same, becoming the best versions of ourselves and winning the Atlantic 10. We’ll rely a lot on the senior leadership of seniors Isabel Decker, Xuan Nguyen, and Kayla Davis, and know that several new athletes will step up into big roles with the team. The A-10 is the best it’s been in years and we’re ready to meet that challenge. If we can stay healthy and improve each day, I feel great about the tangible successes of the Wildcats this fall.”

VETERANS AT THE CORE… Led by the senior trio of Decker, Nguyen and Davis, the Wildcats return eight attackers from last season’s roster, who combined for 1,234 of Davidson’s 1,446 kills. A middle blocker, Davis also accounted for a team-best 81 block assists and 19 solo stuffs. Elena Garcia-Guerrios, a 2023 All-Rookie honoree, and junior Jackie Bardin are also back on the outside for the Wildcats, while 2022 Rookie of the Year Emma Slusser and Anna Withee return as dominant right-side hitters.

DISH IT OUT… A three-year starting setter for the Wildcats, Nguyen has appeared in 87 career matches while dishing 1,754 assists. Setting a new season-best during her junior year with 633 assists, Nguyen also recorded 209 digs during the 2023 season, including nine double-doubles.