GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team will open the 2024 season by hosting the Spartan Classic in Fleming Gym on Friday, August 30 and Saturday, August 31. 
 
The Spartans will welcome Robert Morris, Missouri State and USC Upstate for the two-day tournament.
 
This weekend's tournament is part of the UNCG's Rawkin' Welcome Week. Saturday's contest against USC Upstate will feature autographs from the UNCG volleyball team after the game.
 
Spartan Classic Tournament Central
 

 
ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• Head Coach Felicia Turner enters her second season at the helm of the UNCG volleyball team in 2024. 
• Assistant Coach Trent Dunahoo returns for his second season with the Spartans, while Assistant Coach Justin Paggao was added to the coaching staff in the summer of 2024.
• UNCG was picked to finish ninth in The Southern Conference (SoCon) Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Spartans concluded the 2023 season 1-27 overall and 0-16 in conference.
• The 2023 season was completed in the first round of the SoCon Tournament with the Spartans falling to ETSU in a four-set battle.
• The 2024 squad features seven returners and 10 newcomers (five freshmen and five transfers).
• Aylin Baran and Madeline Timmerman led the team at first and second in kills, respectively, last season.
• Izora Gragg returns with the Blue & Gold after finishing second on the team with 385 assists in her rookie season as a setter last year.
• Avery Sziksai returns as the best server on the team last season with 36 service aces.
• In addition, Mya Wood returns this season after leading the 2023 squad with 224 digs.

SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS

• Head Coach Danny Doherty is entering his third year with the Colonials.
• Robert Morris tallied out the 2023 season with a 7-22 overall record and 4-14 in the Horizon League.
• Natalie Stepanovich returns as the leading hitter for the Colonials after notching 282 kills last season.
• Ashleigh Wallin is back at the net as the best setter from last season with 578 assists.
• Robert Morris competed in one exhibition match prior to the start of the regular season by hosting Kent State on Saturday, Aug. 24 in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.

 
SERIES HISTORY VS ROBERT MORRIS
The Spartans and Colonials have faced each other once in program history with the meeting coming in the 2006 season in a neutral site contest in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. Robert Morris took the match in straight sets.
 
SCOUTING MISSOURI STATE

• The Bears completed the 2023 season with a 16-16 overall record and 9-9 in the MVC.
• Head Coach Steven McRoberts is entering his fourth season with the Bears in 2024.
• Missouri State took one win in the 2023 Missouri Valley Conferene (MVC) Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Illinois State, but fell to the University of Illinois Chicago in straight sets to conclude the season.
• Maddy Bushnell returns as the leader in kills last season with 341.
• Morgan Sprague led the team as the setter with 825 assists.
• Missouri State competed in a 2-2 exhibition match with No. 19 Arkansas in the 2024 preseason slate.
• Freshman Rilynn Finley led all players with 18 kills in the preseason test.
• The 2023 season is the final one for the Bears in the MVC.

 
SERIES HISTORY VS MISSOURI STATE  
UNCG and Missouri State met once with the Bears taking the match in Fleming Gym, 3-0, in the 2008 season.
 
SCOUTING USC UPSTATE

• USC Upstate concluded the 2023 season with a 12-14 overall record and 5-9 in the Big South.
• The Spartans began 2024 with a preseason exhibition matchup with SoCon foe, Wofford.
• USC Upstate is returning 11 players and welcoming five newcomers to the 2024 team.
• Head Coach Ali Skayhan is entering her second season with USC Upstate.
• Ashleigh Nicoll returns as the leader in kills with 277 last season.
• Kayla Spangler is back as the best setter on the team from last season with 865 assists.
• Julia Gladhill returns as the leading libero with 323 digs in the 2023 season.

SERIES HISTORY VS USC UPSTATE   
UNCG is 4-0 overall in the all-time series against USC Upstate. The Blue & Gold took a win from USC Upstate in straight sets last season in a neutral site contest in Boone, North Carolina.
 
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will begin their 2024 road schedule with a short trip to Elon, North Carolina, for the Elon Invitational from Sept. 6-7. UNCG will face North Carolina Central on Friday, Sept. 6 at 4:00 p.m., before returning to Schar Center on Saturday, Sept. 7 to take on Murray State at 1:00 p.m. and Elon at 7:00 p.m.