Waxahachie, Texas – August 16, 2017- The 2017 Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) volleyball team will have a very familiar look as the Lady Lions didn’t graduate anyone from the 2016 squad. As part of the team full of returners, SAGU will welcome back two All-American players in senior’s Jessica Sodich and Paulyae Dawkins .
Sodich, which was an All-American Honorable Mention her junior year in 2013, has been picked as a co-captain for her final season of eligibility. “We will be a very deep team this year. With the addition of Jessica, we just became much more athletic and a lot of fun to watch,” explains Head Coach Hank Moore .
In addition to Sodich, All-American Paulyae Dawkins will be another top returner for the Lady Lions. As a junior, Dawkins was also a First Team All Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) pick. In addition to Sodich and Dawkins, SAGU’s leader in kills for the previous two seasons, Kali Shaw , will be back for her junior season
.Three other starters will be returning for the Lady Lions. Libero Celi Bruce , setter Sophia Ivy and three-year starting outside hitter Summer Skillern . Mollie McBride will be returning for a junior season after having to take a medical redshirt last year.
SAGU has added five other new players to this year’s squad, all of which should add depth to the returners; Brianna Wells, Nikki Almaguer, Autumn Jackson, Jasmine Jackson and MeKaylee Todd .
Last year, SAGU ended the season with a record of 16-17, going 7-9 in the tough Sooner Athletic Conference . The coaches in the SAC have chosen the Lady Lions to finish sixth in the preseason poll.
With the returning talent and the newcomers, Coach Moore believes that finish is a little low. Moore is expecting big things from his crew, “This is going to be a very special team and I’m excited about the season and the potential that lies ahead.”
SAGU will officially begin their season on Friday, August 18 when they host the SAC/Red River Athletic Conference Crossover Tournament.
8/18 SAGU vs. Wiley College – 12:00pm
8/18 SAGU vs. Univ. of Southwest – 6:00pm
8/19 SAGU vs. University of St.Thomas – 11:00am
8/19 SAGU vs. Jarvis Christian College – 4:00pm
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.
Contact: Natalie Tristan, SAGU SID, [email protected]
