WILLIAMSBURG, Va.- The William & Mary volleyball team begins the 2019 season with a day-night doubleheader Friday at Morgan State. The Tribe take on Quinnipiac at 10 a.m. before facing the host Bears for a 7 p.m. first serve start time. 
 
Hear from head coach Tim Doyle as he previews the 2019 campaign. Doyle talks about putting an emphasis on attacking, the team's youth, and how the team has grown over the summer. The video feature is available through the above link or by clicking here.  
 
Scouting the Tribe
The 2019 William & Mary roster will feature eight returners joined by six freshmen. Autumn Brenner leads the Green and Gold as the team's only senior. Brenner enters the season ranked ninth in William & Mary history with 1,763 total assists and leads all returning players with 525 career digs. Coach Doyle's team will have experience at the net as middle blockers Julia Brown and Madeleine Bertz return. The duo played 87 and 84 sets respectively in 2018 and accounted for a combined 273 kills and 125 blocks. Sophomores Claire Farrell, Lauren Merrill, and Anne Louise Seekford are back as the Tribe's outside hitters. The trio accounted for 425 kills and 325 digs last season. Kate Dedrick is back as the team's opposite side hitter looking to improve upon an impressive 2018 season that saw the Texas native put down 178 kills. The back row will feature freshmen Gabi Ganley and Anna Porter in defensive specialist roles.
 
Scouting the Bobcats
Quinnipiac is looking to improve upon a 9-21 2018 season that saw the Bobcats go 7-11 in conference play before falling 3-0 in the MAAC Quarterfinal to Fairfield. Quinnipiac returns five of their top six leading attackers led by Morgan Sherwin who racked up 352 kills last season. The offense runs through senior Maria Pansari who ranks second in Quinnipiac history with 3,461 career assists. 
 
Scouting the Bears
Morgan State finished the 2018 season with a 13-15 record, 5-5 in conference play. The Bears lost 3-2 to Florida A&M in the opening round of the MEAC Tournament. Morgan State returns top offensive weapon Zoe McBride. The rising sophomore totaled 329 kills on her way to being named to the MEAC All-Rookie Team. Roi Wallace is back for the Bears following a 943-assist junior season. McBride and Wallace are two of four returning Morgan State players to tally at least 100 digs last season. 
 
Series History
Friday's season opener will mark the first time William & Mary has met Quinnipiac on the court. The Green and Gold are 2-0 in their only two meetings against Morgan State. The Tribe have not faced the Bears since 2000, when they defeated Morgan State 3-0 in College Park, Maryland. 
 
Record Setter
The 2019 season will be the final ride for setter Autumn Brenner. Brenner ranks ninth in William & Mary history with 1,736 career assists, the most of any player under the current scoring format. 
 
Fresh Faces
Six members of coach Doyle's 14-player roster are true freshmen. The back row will be anchored by first-year defensive specialists Gabi Ganley and Anna Porter. Kaitlyn Ferguson and Shiyanna McLeod will look to provide both defense and offense at the net in the middle blocker position, while Kate Van Houten joins the Tribe as a setter. Outside hitter Sydney Taylor rounds out the group of six. 
 
Setting the Slate  
Friday's twin billing will open up a 27-match regular season for the Tribe. William & Mary will begin the season will 11 non-conference matchups before a 16 game CAA slate. The Tribe's first of 11 matches in Kaplan Arena will be on September 13 as part of the Colonial Classic.