JACKSON, Tenn. – After being selected fourth in the GSC Preseason Coach's Poll, the Union University volleyball team looks to begin the 2023 season strong.
The Lady Bulldogs are now led by former Union volleyball player and assistant coach Kristen Blackburn. Blackburn competed at Union from 2016-2019 and served as the assistant coach in 2022. This will be her first year as the head coach of the Lady Bulldogs.
Serving as her assistant is Nate Shadoan, who coached at Bryan College from 2018-2021 as varsity assistant coach and junior varsity head coach of their men's volleyball team.
Blackburn and Shadoan are looking to build off the Lady Bulldogs historic 2022 season, where Union finished second in the regular season as well as in the conference tournament. The Lady Bulldogs lost five impact seniors following the 2022 season, but for the 2023 season, Blackburn and Shadoan have brought in five new faces to bolster the roster.
The new volleyball roster consists of three freshman, four sophomores, seven juniors, and two seniors. The lack of experience will be filled by three new transfers. Jordan Moore, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker, joins the Lady Bulldogs from NJCAA Walters State Community College. Vanja Stevanovic, 5-foot-10 right side/outside hitter, is a transfer from NJCAA Monroe College. Hope Harrington, a 6-foot middle blocker, brings her talent to Union from St. John River State College.
The senior class is headlined by two returners from last year's squad, defensive specialist Lauren Burrel and right side/outside hitter Hannah Hampel. Both players have spent their entire careers here at Union. Not only do both of these seniors lead by example on the court, but they also lead by example in the classroom. Both of these outstanding seniors were named to the GSC honor roll the previous three years of their collegiate careers.
The returning junior class includes defensive specialist Bailey Hughes, setter Gracie Tacker, and outside hitters Chloe Steen and Reese Owens. Owens is a key player coming back to the team in 2023 for the Lady Bulldogs. During the 2022 season, she tallied 100 sets played, 208 kills, 97 digs, and 39 blocks. This group of juniors along with two new transfers will help fill the void in experience for the Lady Bulldogs.
Looking to make a larger impact on the volleyball program with a year under their belts are the four sophomores returning from the 2022 team. This group of girls is headlined by right side Sydney Whittaker, middle blocker Natalie Supine, outside hitter/defensive specialist Marie Torosian, and defensive specialist Davey Slaughter. Slaughter played 105 sets as a freshman and accumulated 195 digs, 40 aces, and 21 assists.
The freshman class is made up of three new faces. Setter Ashley Pruitt, right side Cortlynn Rose, and setter Dylan Tolliver all join the Lady Bulldog with aspirations to make an instant impact on the 2023 Lady Bulldog season.
Union will begin GSC play in their home opener Sep. 19th against Christian Brothers.
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