LAKELAND, Fla.—The Southeastern University volleyball team will host the first Fire Classic volleyball tournament on campus on Friday, August 28 and Saturday August 29
th at The Furnace. In addition to Southeastern, Pensacola Christian College, Warner University, and Columbia College will participate.
The Fire open up their 2015 season with the first game of the tournament against the Eagles of Pensacola Christian. They will also close the tournament, playing host to Columbia College of South Carolina. Last season, the Fire were 17-13, and finished fourth in The Sun Conference.
Pensacola Christian went 21-13 last season, and return First Team NCCAA Division II All-American Asupa Leota. The junior from Pensacola had 636 assists, 66 blocks, and 235 kills last season. Jessica Greer also returns after recording 230 kills as a sophomore.
Columbia College went 18-11 last season, finishing fifth in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. In 2014, they boasted one of the premier service games in the NAIA, totaling 260 aces, and averaged 2.48 per game; both of which ranked in the top 10 in the country. Juniors Mackenzie Wood, Richelle Prijic, and Kara Anderson each had better than 40 aces each last season.
Warner comes in with a 1-3 record, but all three losses are to teams ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll. This includes a narrow five-set loss to Ashford University, falling 15-13 in the deciding set. After their match with Pensacola Christian Saturday morning, the Royals will take on the top ranked NCAA Division II squad in the country, Tampa, in an exhibition.
All games will have live streaming video at portal.stretchinternet.com.
2015 Fire Classic Schedule
Friday
3pm Southeastern vs. Pensacola Christian
5pm Columbia College vs. Warner University
7pm Columbia College vs. Pensacola Christian
Saturday
9am Warner University vs. Pensacola Christian
11am Southeastern vs. Columbia College
