CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel volleyball team will open the 2017 season in the Campbell-hosted, Hampton Inn-Holly Springs Invitational on Friday in Buies Creek, N.C.
 
This season the Bulldogs welcome six freshmen to the squad: McKenzie Boland, Sharlissa de Jesús, Megan Fuhr, Mellanie King, Emma Strong and Julie Tanner. Head coach Craig Mosqueda and assistant coach Stevi Robinson are excited about the "talented group… and believe they will add experience and depth to every position."
                                                           
The Citadel volleyball team finished the 2016 campaign with eight wins overall and their first Southern Conference win since 2011 coming against Furman in October.
 
Senior Moriah Smith, recently named to the SoCon preseason all-conference team, lead the Bulldogs with 469 kills in 2016 to set a new single-season record for the program. The Durham, N.C., native finished third in conference for kills and landed at the No. 1 spot with 18 double-doubles. Sophomore Sarah Dobrich also returns to the squad after posting the teams' fourth-most kills with 133.
 
This weekend's invitational will be held at Gore Arena in Buies Creek, N.C., and is set to begin at 12:30 p.m. when the Bulldogs face off against North Carolina Central. The Eagles finished the 2016 season 6-7 overall and 5-5 in the MEAC.
 
The Bulldogs will play twice on Friday, later in the evening against Campbell at 7:00 p.m. Friday night. The Fighting Camels (16-16, 10-6 Big South) posted their best record last season since rejoining the Big South Conference after making their way to the semifinal in the conference tournament.
 
For more information on The Citadel volleyball team, follow @CitadelVB or visit CitadelSports.com.