COMMERCE– The No. 20 Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team will begin the 2019 season on the road in Arkansas.
 
LION VOLLEYBALL AT REDDIE-TIGER INVITATIONAL (Arkadelphia, Ark.)
Friday, September 6
1 p.m. – No. 20 Lions vs. St. Edward's
6 p.m. - No. 20 Lions at Henderson State
 
Saturday, September 7
Noon - No. 20 Lions at Ouachita Baptist
4 p.m. - No. 20 Lions vs. Mississippi College

For live stat and video links for the tournament, click HERE.
 
After a 2018 campaign that included a LSC Tournament Championship and the Lions second consecutive berth into the NCAA Tournament and a trip to the Regional Final match, head coach Craig Case is excited to get the team back on the court to begin the 2019 season. After reflecting on one of the most successful seasons in program history, Case marvels that volleyball season is again on the doorstep.
 
"It's one of those deal where you don't know where the time went," he said. "It feels like just yesterday we were talking about the Regional Championships in the NCAA Tournament and now here we are starting a new season. It is just an exciting time of the year.
 
"Our returners have been working since January and all of our newcomers have been working all fall to get ready. We said it this morning in practice. If you are not excited about things right now, you are in a lot of trouble. We are excited to play some other people. I think you get sick of playing yourselves. We have to see where we are at compared to other volleyball team."
 
The Lions return a large portion of their starters from a season ago. While having lost some key contributors from last year's team, Case is excited to see where the returners have come in, and also is excited for some of the players from last year who are going to get more opportunities this season.
 
"I think the thing that is really exciting is we had several players that we were able to redshirt last year because our team was so strong," Case said. "And a lot of those redshirt freshmen have exceeded our expectations. I'm really excited about that bunch of redshirt freshmen and some of the sophomores that didn't play last year to get their opportunity to play this year. It's really exciting because you watch those players put in so much work and as a coach, you know it's worth it. I'm really excited for those guys."
 
Case is also excited for his core of upperclassmen. While the team lost a few players from last year, Case is confident in the team he and his staff has put together. He knows the players will need to step up and fill the holes left from last year's graduating class. He is also excited about the new student-athletes who have joined the team.
 
"I think the biggest thing with the returners is that we have some consistency," he said. "They've kind of picked up where they left off. They are playing really good volleyball. I think the thing that's great about our team this year is I think those guys have picked up where they left off but some of the players we have lost because of graduation, we've been able to hopefully fill those gaps with returners."
 
Now entering the first week of the season, Case is looking forward to seeing how it all comes together in real matches.
 
I'd like to see us develop some consistent play, and then I'd like to see players step up and fill some of the holes we have from last year," he said. We are not going to be able to replace some of the players we had last year. They were great volleyball players. But we have to try our best to do that. I think win or lose, if we can walk out of this weekend with more answers than questions, I think that will go a long way."
 
After the first two weekends on the road, the Lions will play their first home match of the season on Sept. 20. A&M-Commerce will host 12 home matches during the regular season, including 11 matches against LSC opponents. Season tickets for Lion Volleyball home matches can be purchased at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756, or by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office inside the Field House during business hours.