FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After opening up its 2019 season with a 4-0 outing at the 12th-Annual Shark Invitational, the Nova Southeastern volleyball team will look to do just that again this weekend in the Shark Invitational II, hosted in the Rick Case Arena on Friday, Sept. 13 and Saturday, Sept. 14. The Sharks will compete against Valdosta State, Southern New Hampshire, Grand Valley State and Belmont Abbey while welcoming No. 22 Wayne State and fellow Sunshine State Conference member Florida Tech, who will play in a few neutral-site games.
CHECK OUT THE SHARK INVITATIONAL II TOURNAMENT PAGE FOR THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE AND MORE
NSU's first match of the tournament will be against South Region foe Valdosta State, who came out of Tampa's Courtyard By Marriott/Terrace Hotel Classic with a 1-3 record after falling to No. 17 Central Missouri, No. 5 Concordia St.-Paul and No. 1 Tampa. The Blazers are led offensively by Jessie Mooney, who averages 2.77 kills per set after the first weekend of play. Dariah Powell follows closely behind Mooney with her 2.46 kills per set.
Southern New Hampshire is coming off of a 2-0 opening weekend, topping both Saint Michael's and Merrimack in straight sets. Jaclyn Maguire leads the squad with her 3.67 kills per set, averaging 4.2 points per set.
Grand Valley State holds a 2-2 record after their first weekend of competition, and will enter the Rick Case Arena for the first time in program history. Fernanda Spengler will be the one to watch, as she currently averages 3.13 kills per set and 3.13 points per set. Ali Thompson is not far behind with her 2.93 kills per set, but averages 3.50 points per set as she leads the team with her seven service aces.
Belmont Abbey is the one team the Sharks will face who has yet to win a game this season, entering the Shark Tank with an 0-4 record. The Crusaders look to senior middle blocker Andie Meredith to steer their offense, as she averages 2.80 kills per set, as well as senior outside hitter Mackenzie Chrapliwy, who puts up 2.5 points per set.
The tournament will kick off at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 13 with a match between Belmont Abbey and No. 22 Wayne State.
For updates throughout the tournament and the rest of the season, be sure to follow @NSUSharks and @NSU_VBALL on Twitter.
