CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern volleyball opens their third season of the David McFatrich era this weekend as they head to Mobile, Ala. for the South Alabama Invitational.

In the abbreviated spring season, the Bucs made history with nine Big South wins as well as a season-opening sweep of rival Winthrop to snap their 16-match streak in conference play. Four Bucs – Paige Reagor, Peyton Thompson, Dayana Chara and Indigo Young – earned All-Big South honors and combined for three Big South Player of the Week awards.

Charleston Southern was tabbed fourth in the Coaches' Poll and Paige Reagor earned All-Big South honors after a team-high 4.10 points/set to go along with 3.41 kills/set, 1.08 blocks/set and hit .335 overall.

The Bucs return 12 student-athletes from their 2021 spring squad including 99% of their kills and 85% of their service aces on the attack and 99% of their blocks on defense. The quartet of Bucs who all finished among the Big South leaders in nearly every statistical category return for another season headlined by Reagor's preseason accolade.

The Schedule
After their lone road tournament this weekend, the VolleyBucs return to the friendly confines of Buccaneer Field House for a pair of home tournaments as they host Jacksonville State, Wyoming, The Citadel, Bethune-Cookman and NIU back-to-back weeks.

The first tournament sees Jacksonville State, Wyoming and The Citadel as the Bucs take on the Gamecocks and Cowboys. The second weekend has the Bucs hosting Bethune-Cookman, NIU and crosstown rival The Citadel.

CSU plays two single matches against Idaho State and South Carolina State before Big South play opens the last weekend of September as Campbell and Hampton make the trek to Charleston.

This Weekend's Scouting Report

Jacksonville – Friday, Aug. 27 at 2 p.m.
2020-21 Record: 3-14, 1-11 ASUN

Head Coach Maggie Couture enters her second season at the helm for the Dolphins looking to build on the experience gained in the spring season. Jacksonville returns eight letterwinners from last season's squad including kills leader Jenna McNamara.
Jacksonville began the season 2-1 but dropped the next 10 before taking down Stetson 3-2 for their lone conference win.

Jacksonville leads the all-time series 8-2 but the Bucs took the last meeting in 2019 by a 3-1 score.

South Alabama – Friday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.
2020-21 Record: 8-13, 7-9 Sun Belt

The host institution, South Alabama, open the Jesse Ortiz era in Mobile after taking the job in March 2021. Ortiz spent one year at Clemson as an assistant before making the jump to head coach at South Alabama.

The Jaguars return six letterwinners from last season's squad that finished 7-9 in Sun Belt action headlined by Hannah Maddox and her 219 kills. Maddox is the lone returner with 100-plus kills last season while Rachel Hickey returns after leading the team with 349 digs.

South Alabama leads a short series 2-1 over the Bucs with CSU earning a 3-2 decision during the 2010 season. Friday night's match will be carried live on ESPN+ from the Jag Gym.

Florida A&M – Saturday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m.
2020-21 Record: N/A

Florida A&M returns three letterwinners from their 2019 roster after opting out of the spring 2021 season due to COVID concerns. The Rattlers took a set off Florida State in an exhibition match on August 18, taking a 25-23 opening set before falling 3-1 to the Seminoles.

Gokhan Yilmaz enters year four of his tenure in Tallahassee but third of competition after not participating in the spring season. Saturday morning's match with the Rattlers will be their second of the weekend and the Bucs' final match before returning to Charleston.

CSU is 1-1 all-time against the Rattlers dropping the first decision 3-1 in 1997 and taking a 3-1 win in the 1998 season.