BOWIE, MD -- The Bowie State women's volleyball team will officially begin its 2023 campaign on Friday, Sept. 1 through Saturday, Sept. 2 at the Frostburg State Tournament held at the Bobcat Arena. The Bulldogs will take on Pitts Johnstown and Walsh on Friday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., followed by a match with Frostburg State and East Stroudsburg on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

When: Friday (9/1) and Saturday (9/2)
Where: Bobcats Arena (Frostburg, MD)
Live Stats: BSUBulldogs.com
Video: WATCH
Bowie State Athletics Social Media: @BSU_Sports_Info (Twitter), @bowiestatebulldogs (Instagram)

A New Look
Friday's match will be the second season for head coach Edric Poiter who came on board to lead the program in June of 2022. The Bulldogs roster is composed of 17 newcomers including 14 true freshman. Additionally, BSU has two returners from the 2022 squad in sophomores Charity Harris and Nadira Avery. Harris led the team in services aces (36) while Avery ranked second on the team in blocks at 37. The Bulldogs finished 11-12 overall and 6-10 in conference play.

Preseason Poll
The Bulldogs was voted eighth out of 13 teams in the 2023 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Conference Preseason Poll announced Monday afternoon by the league office. Atop the preseason poll sits Shaw, Elizabeth City State and Fayetteville State as rankings one through three, respectively. 

Pitt-Johnstown
Led by Justin Haupt in his second season, Pitt-Johnstown finished 10-20 last year and 3-13 in the PSAC. Of those 20 losses, 11 of those setbacks came from being on the road (0-11). However, on neutral sites, the Mountain Cats were 5-3. Amongst the Preseason Polls, UPJ was selected to finish seventh in the PSAC Western Division.

Walsh
Walsh 16-12 overall and 10-8 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) in 2022 but the Cavs were 6-2 at neutral sites a year ago. Walsh most recently introduced its new head coach in Brett Holt back on June 16. 

Frostburg State
Frostburg finished with an even 16-16 record last year, going 4-12 in MEC play led by head coach Kylie Heyne who will enter her fourth season at the helm. The Bobcats welcome back 12 returners and eight newcomers that feature seven freshman. Frostburg State was picked to finish fifth in the Northern Division of the Mountain East Conference.

East Stroudsburg
ESU enters this weekend's tournament after a 15-14 overall record and 8-6 mark in the PSAC led by third year head coach Tricia Melfy. The Warriors have 11 returners from last year's squad, including All-PSAC East First Team selection Anna Coulter as well as Second Team honorees Makayla Baca and Kaylee LoPresto. East Stroudsburg has a handful of newcomers that are highlighted by two graduate students and three freshman. The ESU team was picked first in the PSAC Eastern Division preseason poll. Garnering four first-place votes, the Warriors claimed the top spot in the poll followed by Shepherd in second and Shippensburg in third with two first-place votes apiece.

Up Next
Following the Frostburg State Tournament, the Bulldogs will remain on the road for match with Georgian Court on Friday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, visit BSUBulldogs.com.