LAKE CHARLES—McNeese volleyball will open its season this weekend-Friday and Saturday at the Robert Morris Sheraton Invitational in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.

The Cowgirls will face off against Elon at 2 p.m. (CT) on Friday in their first match of the 2019 season. Saturday's schedule has the Cowgirls taking on Manhattan at 10 a.m. before concluding tournament play against Robert Morris at 4 p.m.

Fans can follow live stats at McNeeseSports.com as live updates will be available on Twitter at @McNeeseVball. The McNeese-Robert Morris match will be streamed live and that link can also be found on McNeeseSports.com.

QUICK HITS

• It's the season opener for all three teams

• This will be the first match against Elon, Manhattan and Robert Morris in program history

• Head coach Ashleigh Fitzgerald enters her sixth season at McNeese

• McNeese returns four starters from 2018

• Eight new players (4 transfers, 4 freshmen) will be wearing a McNeese jersey for the first time

• Senior Katelyn Elliott has medically retired due to an injury

• Fitzgerald will be coaching against her former boss when the Cowgirls play Robert Morris Saturday afternoon. Dale Starr who is in his 10^th season at Robert Morris. Starr served as head coach of the Cowgirls from 2004-2009 posting a 96-78 record with four Southland Conference Tournament appearance. Fitzgerald served as Starr's assistant from 2006-2008 before being named head coach at Drury University in 2009.  

QUOTING HEAD COACH ASHLEIGH FITZGERALD

 "We are excited to go to Pittsburgh to compete in our opening weekend tournament. We see this weekend as an opportunity to improve and to solidify our lineup as we face Southland caliber teams. Specifically, we really want to see improvement in our middle offense and our serving game and want to see chemistry develop on the floor with a starting group."

FITZGERALD ON FACING HER FORMER BOSS

 "It will be really fun to see and play against my former boss, Dale Starr. He was a great boss and really included me in his family."

ELON NOTES

• From Elon, North Carolina

• Member of the Colonial Athletic Association

• 13-15 in 2018; finished 7^th in CAA with a 4-12 record

• Picked 8^th in preseason poll

• Head coach Mary Tendler is in her 17^th season with the Phoenix

MANHATTAN NOTES

• From Riverdale, New York

• Member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

• 5-27 in 2018; finished 9^th in MAAC with a 3-15 record

• Picked 9^th in preseason poll

• Head coach Lora (Sarich) Egbert is in her third season with the Jaspers

ROBERT MORRIS NOTES

• From Moon Township, Pennsylvania

• Member of the Northeast Conference

• 11-18 in 2018; finished 6^th in NEC with a 5-9 record

• Picked 5^th in preseason poll

• Head coach Dale Starr is in his 10^th season with the Colonials

 

NEXT MATCH

McNeese will host Houston at 6:30 p.m. in its home opener next Tuesday, Sept. 3 at the Health and Human Performance Complex