TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team opens its 41st season and fourth under head coach Don Metil this weekend by heading south to take part in the 2016 ISTAP Collegiate Cup Challenge hosted by Alabama State in historic Montgomery.
 
While spending time in Alabama's capital city, the Tigers will face a quartet of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponents in Jackson State and Texas Southern on Friday before taking on the host Hornets and Alabama A&M on Saturday.
 
LOOKING AT THE TIGERS: The Tigers return 11 letterwinners from last year's team that went 26-6 overall and 12-4 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action. The Tigers will be led by reigning CAA Rookie of the Year Jocelyn Kuilan, reigning CAA Defensive Specialist of the Year Anna Holehouse in addition to seniors Jessica Lewis, Lindsay Flaherty and Candace Steadman. Joining the returners will be a cast of 10 newcomers. Players that could contribute immediately include freshmen setters Marrisa Wonders and Mallory Svoboda along with middle blocker Emily Russell and outside hitter Annie Ertz.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS: Jackson State is coming off a 2015 season in which it went 15-22 overall but was 7-1 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action. The Lady Tigers won the conference title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Preseason All-SWAC First Team selection Kianna Shelton had 85 kills and 75 blocks last season. The Tigers face another SWAC opponent on day one of the tournament in Texas Southern. Last fall, Texas Southern won the Western Division Title but fell to Alabama State in the SWAC Tournament. Kali Fluke was named the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after posting 333 kills and a .312 hitting percentage. Alabama State went 21-15 last fall and advanced to the SWAC Championship game before falling to Jackson State. The Hornets are led by SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Jamie Coleman. Coleman led the team with 214 digs and 62 assists. Alabama A&M is coming off a 2015 season when they posted an 8-19 record. Alabama A&M will be led by the SWAC Player of the Year Ashundria  McNeal who had 422 kills and 228 digs.
 
SERIES HISTORY: This weekend will mark the first ever meeting between the Tigers and all four of the opponents. In fact, this weekend will mark the first meeting between Towson and a member of the SWAC.
 
I'M HONORED: A trio of Tigers have been tabbed as members of the Preseason All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Team, voted on by the league's head coaches. Sophomore Jocelyn Kuilan, redshirt sophomore Anna Holehouse and senior Jessica Lewis all received the accolades, as the Tigers tied Hofstra for the most players on the team. Kuilan is coming off a season in which she earned CAA Rookie of the Year honors and an AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention nod. She led the team with 426 kills and 36 service aces last season. Holehouse was named the CAA Defensive Specialist of the Year after posting the second most digs in single-season history with 596. Lewis earned First Team All-CAA honors after recording 349 kills and 225 digs.
 
HOMECOMING: The weekend visit to Montgomery will also be special for Lewis, who is from Huntsville, the fourth largest city in the state of Alabama. Lewis starred at Huntsville High School, which is 191 miles from Montgomery in the northern part of the state.
 
UP NEXT: The Tigers continue their 13-match road trip to start the season next weekend in New Jersey. Towson will participate in the Seton Hall Tournament on Sept. 2-3. The Tigers will face Canisius, George Washington and Seton Hall. Towson will finally play its home opener on Sept. 20 when it hosts VCU at 6 p.m.