SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah State University volleyball team opens the 2016 season with a trip to Athens, Ga., for the Benson Invitational this weekend.

The Lady Tigers start the season against the University of San Francisco at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by host Georgia at 1 p.m. and UNC Asheville at 4 p.m. Saturday. 
 
The Lady Tigers return 11 student-athletes from last year's squad and one from the 2014 team and welcomed one newcomer.
 
SSU has the leading kills per set returning in senior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel (1.57 k/s) and added 1.73 digs per set and 0.37 blocks per set, while senior setter Caitlynn Masoe led the team with 4.60 assists per set and added 1.73 digs per set, 1.22 kills per set and 0.28 blocks per set.
 
Also returning is sophomore outside hitter Chinenye Ofodile, who averaged 1.30 kills per set and senior libero Alexis Washington, who led the team with 3.19 digs per set.  Sophomore outside hitter Ayree Gallon, senior outside hitter Jademone Jones, sophomore outside hitter Charlinda Colbert, junior middle blocker Autumn Lipscomb, junior outside hitter and junior defensive specialist Omara Hunter returns from last year's squad.
 
The Lady Tigers welcome one newcomer in Dominic Ingram from Atlanta, Ga., while graduate student Justice Dilworth returned from the 2014 squad. 
 
Savannah State welcomed a new coach in July, Edric Poitier.  The Nassau, Bahamas native has a 192-135 career record in 11 seasons as a head coach in Division II, including a school-best 21-7 record last season at Bluefield State College. 
 
San Francisco went 17-14 overall, including a 4-14 record in the West Coast Conference.  The Dons is sporting a new team this season with six freshmen, including four transfer student-athletes and returns only three student-athletes from last year's team.  USF head coach Victoria Brown will be entering her first season with the team.  
 
Last season, Georgia went 5-25 overall, including a 0-18 record in the Southeastern Conference.  Amanda Dachs led the Lady Bulldogs last season with a 2.80 kills per set and added 2.30 digs per set and 0.41 blocks per set, while Maddie Lobenstein averaged 2.04 kills per set.  Kendall Kazor led the team with 7.32 assists per set and added 0.59 blocks per set. 
 
UNC Asheville went 15-12 last season, including an 8-6 record in the Big South Conference.  The Bulldogs will replace their top kills per set of Christine Lakatos (2.70 k/s) from last season, but Madison Vaughn (1.84 k/s) and Cara Guthrie (2.02 k/s).  UNCA also has to replace both setters from last year and libero Bryn Pfeiffer, who led the team with 4.64 digs per set.
 
The Lady Tigers stay in Georgia traveling to Statesboro for the 'Bash in the Boro on Sept. 1-2 with The Citadel at 11 a.m. and Charleston Southern at 3 p.m. Thursday and host Georgia Southern at 1 p.m. and Jacksonville State at 5 p.m. Friday. 
 
 
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