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THE ENCORE STARTS NOW
Following a historic 2017 season that culminated with the first-ever NCAA Tournament berth and victory in program history, the Southern Connecticut State University volleyball team opens the 2018 campaign with four matches in five days. The season opener is on Aug. 23 at Bridgeport. Two days later, the Owls will welcome Dominican and Nyack to Pelz Gym for a pair of matches. The stretch concludes on Aug. 27 with a home contest against Post.

ALL-TIME VS. BRIDGEPORT
The Purple Knights have a 17-12 lead in the all-time series. The Owls claimed a 3-0 win at home last year for their first win in the series since 1999.

ALL-TIME VS. DOMINICAN
Southern Connecticut leads the all-time series over Dominican, 10-1. The Owls claimed a 3-0 win over the Chargers in last year's meeting.

ALL-TIME VS. NYACK
Nyack leads the all-time series with the Owls, 16-9. However, SCSU claimed a 3-1 win over Nyack in last year's meeting.

ALL-TIME VS. POST
The Owls bring a 14-4 advantage in the all-time series with Post into the contest, including a 3-0 win last year in Waterbury. 

THE CAPTAINS
For the second year in a row, senior Leanna Jadus will serve as a team captain. In addition, classmate Alyssa Gage and junior Jennifer Dawson will also fill this role in 2018.

RETURNING TO THE COURT
The Owls have eight student-athletes returning from last year's team, including Anna Venard, Tea Carter, Gabriela Vazquez, Jennifer Dawson, Jillian Chambers, Leanna Jadus, Alyssa Gage and Kirstin Colwell.

OWLS WELCOME EIGHT NEWCOMERS
The Owls welcome eight student-athletes to the team this year: Erika Benson, Xia'ian Carrasco, Sophia Castellano, Natalie Fineman, Kylie Fisher, Megan Mercer, Tyra Smith and Kailyn O'Neal.

THRIVING IN THE CLASSROOM
The American Volleyball Coaches Association recognized Southern Connecticut State University for the third year in a row with its Team Academic Award during the summer of 2018. In addition, the Owls were also the 2018 recipients of SCSU's Academic Team of Champions Award for having the highest team grade point average of any Owls' squad. This marked the second straight year that the team claimed this department honor.

IN THE NE10 PRESEASON POLL
Southern Connecticut was selected third in the NE10 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, as voted on by the league's coaches.
2018 NE10 Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. New Haven - 179 (6)
2. American International - 169 (1)
3. Southern Connecticut - 168 (4)
4. Bentley - 162 (1)
5. Adelphi - 161 (3)
6. Saint Anselm - 122 
7. Pace - 120
8. LeMoyne -100
9. Stonehill - 96
10. Southern New Hampshire - 91
11. Franklin Pierce - 72
12. Saint Rose - 42
13. Assumption - 40
14. Merrimack - 38
15. Saint Michael's - 15

THREE OWLS HONORED BY NE10: JADUS NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR
A new chapter to a historic season was added with the announcement that Leanna Jadus of the Southern Connecticut State University volleyball team was named the 2017 NE10 Conference Player of the Year, as voted on by the league's coaches. In total, three Owls were recognized for their play, with Alyssa Gage also named to the First-Team and Kirstin Colwell selected to the All-Rookie Team.
• This was the first time in program history that an Owl has received the NE10 Player of the Year honor, and also the first time that two Owls were recognized with First-Team honors.

JADUS, GAGE NAMED ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
Alyssa Gage and Leanna Jadus were both named All-Region selections by the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association. 

JADUS LAUDED BY AVCA 
Leanna Jadus added a final athletic accolade onto her resume in 2017 with a selection as an Honorable Mention All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

VENARD EARNS COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS
Anna Venard of the Southern Connecticut State University volleyball team was named to the 2017 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team, as voted on by the region's sports information directors. 

JADUS EARNS NE10 ALL-ACADEMIC HONOR
For her work on the court and in the classroom, Leanna Jadus was selected to the 2017 Northeast-10 Conference Volleyball All-Academic Team.

TWENTY WINS AND A TOURNEY BERTH
With 24 victories in 2017, the Owls posted the seventh 20-win season in program history. SCSU previously won 20 or more games in 1975, 1978, 1980, 2008, 2009 and 2012. The final four occurrences have come under the guidance of current Owls' coach Lisa Barbaro. The school single-season record is 33 wins, set by the 1980 team.

QUITE A RUN BY THE OWLS
In order to secure their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth, the Owls notched NE10 Tournament victories over American International (3-1) and Saint Anselm (3-2) to reach the NE10 Tournament final for the first time in school history. AIC was ranked No. 5 in the region at the time of that game, while St. Anselm was No. 6.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
In 2017, the Owls finished the regular season with 13-3 home mark. The single-season record for home wins is 14, set during the 2009 season.

ON DECK
The Owls will travel to Miami Shores, Fla. on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 for the Barry University Tournament, which includes the host school along with the University of Bridgeport, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Saginaw Valley State.