FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Getting set to open their third season in the sand, Morehead State beach volleyball makes the trip north to Fort Wayne, Ind. to take on the Principia College Beach Bash. The season-opening two-day event marks the second time that the Eagles have competed in a Principia-hosted event, finishing last season's Principia College Quad 2-2.

"We are excited to get the season started and have the opportunity to face off against someone other than ourselves," said head coach Jaime Gordon. "The team has been working extremely hard in practice and have been making good strides forward each day."

This season's iteration features the hosts (Principia), Stevenson (Md.), Tusculum (Tenn.), and Carson-Newman (Tenn.). The Eagles own an all-time 1-2 record against their event opponents, dropping matches to Principia (3-2) and Stevenson (5-0) in last season's tournament while defeating Carson-Newman (3-2) at last season's Ohio Valley Challenge.

Opening weekend action also marks Morehead State's first season as an associate member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Atlantic Sun play features eight games beginning in late March as the Eagles seek to qualify for the ASUN Championships in their first season.

The opener against Stevenson marks the first collegiate beach volleyball action for a host of Eagles. Freshmen Hannah Keating, Hannah Mabrey, Olivia Montelisciani, Margaret Musselman, Mia Swearingen, and Allison Whitten and graduate transfer Georgia Childers will each competing in the sand for the first time in their careers this weekend.

"This weekend will be a great opportunity for us to compete against some strong teams and gauge the areas that we need to improve," continued Gordon.

To open the season, Gordon will employ the following flight pairings:
1. Freshman Hannah Keating and Freshman Allison Whitten
2. Sophomore Olivia Lohmeier and Freshman Margaret Musselman
3. Graduate Student Georgia Childers and Freshman Olivia Montelisciani
4. Junior Liz Allen and Freshman Hannah Mabrey
5. Junior Chandler Clark and Sophomore Lauren Rokey

The Eagles face Stevenson (12:30 p.m. ET) and Tusculum College (5 p.m.) on Friday before wrapping the weekend facing Carson-Newman (10 a.m.) and Principia College (2:30 p.m.) on Saturday.