The Matchup
 
Friday:
Converse (0-0) at USC Aiken (0-0), 12:00 p.m.
Converse (0-0) vs Lincoln Memorial (0-0), 3:00 p.m.
 
Saturday:
Converse (0-0) vs Carson-Newman (0-0), 3:00 p.m.
Converse (0-0) vs Embry-Riddle University (0-0), 6:00 p.m.
 
Location: USC Aiken, Aiken, S.C.
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The Tournament:
For the tenth consecutive season the Converse University volleyball team will be traveling to start the year. The USC Aiken Invitational will be the first of two tournaments for the Valkyries this season. This weekend the Valkyries will battle against host USC Aiken, Lincoln Memorial, Carson-Newman and Embry-Riddle.
 
Converse Notes:

• Converse is coming off their first ever top-five finish in Conference Carolinas play.
• The Valkyries were picked seventh in the preseason coaches poll this season.
• Elizabeth Yohe (Summerville, S.C.), Kiara Cannon (Simpsonville, S.C.) and Jasmine Finkley (Blythewood, S.C.) were all selected to the preseason watch list by Conference Carolinas.
• Savanah Ducote started all 11 matches and played in 42 sets last season for the Valkyries. Ducote led the team with 423 assists (4th in the Conference) and tallied 109 digs on the court. On her way to a First Team All-Conference nod, Ducote led the Conference with 10.07 assists per set.
• A First-Team All-Conference selection, Yohe played in all 11 matches in a COVID shortend season for a total of 42 sets...registered 14 assists, 12 service aces and produced a team best 230 digs...Averaged a team high 5.48 digs per set and had a .916 reception average...Had a season high 35 digs against Chowan (3/26) which ranks 2nd All-Time in four set matches.
• Cannon Started all 11 matches and played in all 42 sets this past Spring...Finished third on the team in total points (141.5), kills (123), second on the team total attacks (386) and hitting percentage (.241)...Finished second on the team in block assists (29) and total blocks (33.0)...Cannon's .241 hitting percentage ranked 10th all-time on the single season list...Cannon recorded a career high 21 points this season against Southern Wesleyan (4/6/21)...and her 5 block assists against Erskine (3/6/21) is tied for the 3rd best in program history.
• Finkley Started all 11 matches for a total of 42 sets...Registered 145.5 points, 128 kills, with a .313 hitting percentage, 15 digs and 24 total blocks...Her .313 hitting percentage is the second highest in school history...Had a career high 21 kills against SWU (4/6/21) which ranks 7th on the individual match list...Finkley's 23 points against SWU (4/6/21) ranks sixth all-time.

 
Coaches Quote:
"We know that this is going to be a really hard tournament," Converse University head volleyball coach Amy Bomar said. "We made it hard early on so that we would be prepared for our Conference Carolinas schedule."
 
USC Aiken Notes:  

• Went 9-5 in the Peach Belt Conference last season.
• Alie Smith returns for her senior season, led the Pacers with 291.5 total points, 262 kills and 5.35 kills per set.
• Caroline Foster led the team last season with 445 assists and averaged 10.60 assists per set.
• Kari Mercer led the team with 313 total digs and averaged 6.26 digs per set a season ago.
• As a true freshman, Alisha Pitt led the team with 10 solo blocks, 33 assisted blocks and 43 total blocks.

 
Lincoln Memorial Notes:

• Went 4-6 in the South Atlantic Conference and finished the season with a sweep of Newberry.
• Gabriela Abreu led the team with 140.5 points last season and 124 kills.
• Emily Walter led the team with 310 assists and averaged 8.16 assists per game.
• Sarah Jones led the team with 176 total digs and averaged 4.63 digs per set.
• Yileen Ng He led the team with 5 solo blocks, 17 assisted blocks and 22 total blocks.

 
Carson-Newman Notes:

• Went 7-4 in the South Atlantic Conference and is two years removed from an Elite Eight run.
• With the departure of Megan Oldenburger, Erin Edwards returns as the Eagles top kills leader 114. Edwards also led the team in total blocks last season with 28.
• Taylor Rohr led the team with 222 assists and averaged 5.29 assists per game last season.
• Hayden Barton led the team with 202 total digs and averaged 4.81 digs per set.

 
Embry-Riddle Notes:

• Has not played since they went 19-9 during the 2019 volleyball season.
• Jordan Schumacher led the team with 327 total kills and 380.5 points on the season.
• Alyssa Rudd led the team with 1,178 assists and averaged 10.71 assists per set.
• Olivia Roa led the team with 638 digs and 5.80 digs per set.
• Jenna Bishop led the team with 17 solo blocks, 106 assisted blocks and 123 total blocks.

 
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