Charleston Southern volleyball returns to Buccaneer Fieldhouse in North Charleston this week to host the three-day Playa Bowls Invitational, welcoming three visiting programs beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10.
The Bucs open the tournament against in-state rival The Citadel at 6 p.m. Thursday, then take on Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m. Friday and close against Cal State Fullerton at 2 p.m. Saturday. Every match will be streamed on ESPN Plus.
The Citadel enters play at 2-4 overall with a 1-2 home mark. The Bulldogs opened their season at the Seahawk Classic in Wilmington, splitting matches with Kennesaw State, Le Moyne and UNCW, then hosted The Lowcountry Volleyball Championship at McAlister Field House, where they dropped a straight-set match to the College of Charleston, swept South Carolina State and lost to Charleston Southern in four sets on Sept. 5. Junior middle blocker Luci Lippelgoos leads the Bulldog front line after transferring in from Austin Peay and pacing the team in total blocks a year ago. Junior setter Greta Pleuss, from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, took over the starting job this fall and directs the offense. Sophomore Jordyn Sims and graduate transfer Elizabeth Miller anchor the pin and middle rotations, and head coach Dave Zelenock is in his ninth season leading the program.
Bethune-Cookman arrives from Daytona Beach as a Southwestern Athletic Conference member. Cal State Fullerton comes in from the Big West with hitter Bella Risling recently earning a conference offensive player-of-the-week nomination and Marisa Nakata among the visiting lineup.
Buccaneer Fieldhouse is the on-campus home of Charleston Southern athletics. The Playa Bowls Invitational marks the last non-conference home stretch before the Bucs open their league schedule later this month.
