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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State volleyball is set to open the 2022 regular season this weekend in Asheville, N.C. The Eagles will face off against a pair of schools in their first Division I seasons - Queens (N.C.) and Stonehill (Mass.).

The Eagles face Queens at 2 p.m. ET Friday and Stonehill Saturday at 3 p.m.

Morehead State is the back-to-back defending Ohio Valley Conference champions, winning the 2020 (spring 2021) tournament title and falling just short in a 3-2 title match battle last fall.

Head coach Dr. Jaime Gordon embarks on his milestone 20th season as the Eagles' head coach, having already earned the most victories of any coach of any sport in Morehead State Athletics' history. The roster includes nine returnees and four newcomers, including Bella Williams. She is suiting up for indoor after playing her first beach volleyball season in the spring.

2021 RECORDS
MOR: 20-12 (14-4 OVC) | QUEENS 16-13 (10-8 DII SAC) | SC 22-10 (10-3 DII NE 10)

SERIES RECORDS
Morehead State has never faced Queens or Stonehill

NOTABLE

- Junior setter Bridget Bessler, sophomore middle blocker Irene Wogenstahl and junior outside hitter Abby Hulsman were named to the Preseason All-OVC squad. Morehead State garnered nine first-place votes and was tabbed to win the league again in a vote by coaches and media relations' personnel.

- Bessler is looking to become just the seventh setter in program history to eclipse 3,000 career assists. The Hebron, Ky., native enters the year with 2,981 successful handouts. 

- Last fall, Bessler had 1,058 total assists and led the conference in assists per set. She was a three-time OVC Setter of the Week and has now won that honor 10 times in her career. Bessler also is looking to become just the third player in program history to earn four consecutive First-Team All-OVC honors. She would join former teammate Olivia Lohmeier (2018-21) and Dayle Hamontree (1987-90).

- Hulsman ranked second on the team with 389 kills in 2021. A consistent threat, Hulsman registered 23 double-digit kill matches. 

- Redshirt sophomore McKenzee Wagener was one of the top blockers in the OVC last fall, coming up with 125 total rejections. Wagener now has 188 career blocks. Not only a threat to turn back attempts, she is also efficient on offense. Wagener led the entire OVC with a .379 attack percentage during the 2021 spring season.

- The Eagles have four newcomers to the program in M.E. Hargan, Sydney Wyman, Shea Hefner and Bella Wiliams. The aforementioned Williams played one season on the sand for Beach Volleyball, fashioning a 13-9 record at Nos. 2-3. Hefner (West Virginia) and Wyman (Nevada) are Division I transfers, while Hargan was a two-time First-Team All-State selection in Kentucky.