The Matchup
Thursday:
Converse (0-0) at Lander (0-0), 6:00 p.m.
 
Saturday:
Converse (0-0) vs UVA Wise (0-0), 12:30 p.m.
Converse (0-0) vs Lee (0-0), 3:00 p.m.
 
Location: Greenwood, S.C. | Finis Horne Arena
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The Tournament:
This will be the 15^th consecutive season the Converse University volleyball team will be traveling to start the year. The Redderson Invitational will be the first of two tournaments for the Valkyries this season. This weekend the Valkyries will battle against Lander, UVA Wise and Lee.
 
Converse Notes:

• The Converse Volleyball team is coming off their second consecutive 20-plus win season.
• The Valkyries won their second straight Conference Carolinas Northwest Division Championship and were the No. 2 seed in last year's conference tournament.
• Converse finished with an overall record of 21-8 and 16-4 (a new program record) in Conference Carolinas action.
• This season the Valkyries were picked to finish fifth in the Conference Carolinas preseason polls.
• Alysha Arroyo, Ariel Bryant and Alayah Robertson were all named Players to Watch by Conference Carolinas this season.
• Also returning to the Valkyries this season was All-Conference selection Bree Lyons and All-Tournament selection Samiya Bolton.
• Lyons led the team with 276 kills last season, Robertson was second on the team with 273 kills and Bryant was third on the team with 235 kills. Robertson also led the team with 87 total blocks last season.  
• Arroyo led the team with 979 assists and finished second on the team with 47 service aces. The Valkyries will have to replace their starting libero and DS from last season, Lyons is the top returner with 227 digs.
• Converse also returns, Emilia Estrada, Emma Blackstar, Ella Ruckman, Landon Garbade, Hannah Johnson, Arianna Almonte, Ariana Bryant.
• Joining the Valkyries this season are Blair Mull, Scarlett Xiong, Daisy Woods, Aubree James, Camila Celi Canedo, Gabrielle Leigh, McKayla St. Clair and Jaden Walker.
• Converse is 7-23 all-time against Lander, 2-0 all-time against UVA Wise and this will be their first meeting against Lee.

 
Lander Notes:

• Lander went 20-11 overall last season and 10-5 in Peach Belt action. The Bearcats were picked to finish fifth in the Peach Belt this season.
• The Bearcats made a run to the NCAA Tournament last season and was eliminated by Lenoir-Rhyne in the opening round. Lander also played for the Peach Belt Championship but fell just short to Flagler in five sets.
• Karson Browning was named to the PBC Preseason All-Conference Team after finishing second on the team in both kills (272) and blocks (83).
• Other key returners include middle blocker Amelia May who led the team with 103 total blocks and 90 block assists. Sam Alwardt returns and will look to take on starting libero duties as a junior this season.
• The Bearcats are 23-7 all-time against Converse and they have won 19 straight matches, including 47 straight sets. Against Wingate they are 3-7 all-time against the Bulldogs and they are 1-0 against UVA Wise.  

 
UVA Wise Notes:

• UVA Wise finished 14-15 overall last season and 8-10 in South Atlantic Conference played.
• The Cavaliers made a run to the SAC Tournament Quarterfinals last season, where they were swept by Carson-Newman.
• This season the Cavaliers are predicted to finish fifth in the South Atlantic conference preseason polls.
• Abigail Curtis, Mable James and Riley Brandon were all named Preseason Players to Watch by the South Atlantic Conference.
• The Cavaliers are 0-8 all-time against Lee and this will be there first meeting since 1995. They are 0-2 against Converse and 0-1 against Lander.

 
Lee Notes:

• Lee went 17-14 overall last season and 12-8 in South Atlantic Conference played.
• The Flames made a run all the way to the Gulf South Conference semifinals before losing in five sets to West Florida.
• Lee was picked to finish third in the Gulf South Conference this season and even received one first place vote.
• Esthefany Rabit, Sophia Lippert and Payton Danley were all named to the GSC Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Emmi Black and Avery Sample were both named to the GSC Newcomers Watch List.
• Lee is 0-1 against Wingate, 8-0 against UVA Wise and this is the first ever meeting against Converse.

 
 
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