LAKE CHARLES—After nearly a month of preseason workouts, McNeese volleyball will open the 2017 season this weekend by taking part in the Texas-Arlington Maverick Classic at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.
 
Fourth year head coach Ashleigh Fitzgerald and the Cowgirls will open the season playing 12 of their first 15 matches on the road and this weekend's tournament is the first of four regular season tournaments.
 
McNeese will open the season by taking on The University of Houston at 4:30 p.m. Friday before facing host UT-Arlington at noon Saturday. The Cowgirls will conclude tournament action with a 5 p.m. match against Southern Saturday.
 
Live stats will be provided for all tournament matches with live streaming only available for the match against UT-Arlington. All links are located on the McNeese volleyball schedule page on mcneesesports.com.
 
McNeese returns nine letter winners who saw a good bit of playing time last season and include four starters. The returnees are Ebony Lewis, Adison Giambrone, Rae Myers, Angela McGownd, Haley Schneider, Katelyn Elliott, Alexandra Aguilera, Keegan Nelms and Jenny D'Alessandro. In addition, redshirts Shanna Spree and Allison Lippert will return to give the Cowgirls added depth.
 
Four newcomers will make their debut this weekend as a member of the Cowgirl squad, they are freshmen Alyssa Oswald, Caitlin Sharrock, Madison Fontenot and Avery Kelly.
 
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Up-to-date information on Cowgirl volleyball can be found on mcneesesports.com as well as @McNeeseVball on twitter and McNeese Volleyball on Facebook.