The women’s volleyball team will begin their season on Sept. 2 against Lubbock Christian University at Texas Woman’s University in the Hilton Garden Inn Classic.

“(Last season) was a lot of newness and transition,” coach Meredith Fear said. “It was a lot of new people learning our system and getting used to each other… I think the group is responding really well this season and they have come back very motivated.”

Fear said that this year has gone smoothly, and that the team was able to jump into more difficult things quickly.

“This year we’re putting on the finishing touches and perfecting everything (from last year) and being able to step up as a team,” senior middle blocker Sara Smith said. “We have talked about our goals and having that big picture in mind in everything that we do.”

Smith added that one of their biggest goals is to play well and win Conference.

The Lady Bisons have added one freshman, Alex Nolan, and one junior transfer, Selena Foster, to the roster this year.

“Everyone has been really welcoming,” Nolan said. “It’s very homey — we’re all like a family.”

Winning the Great American championship is something that Fear says is feasable.

“It’s something (the girls) want and are willing to work for, but they know that they’ve got to put in a lot of hard work and they’re willing to do it.”

The Lady Bisons will go to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to play Henderson State University on Sept. 13 before returning to begin their games at home. The first home game will be Sept. 17 against Missouri Southern State University.

“Last year, we didn’t have a great start, and I think that stunted us a little bit from the beginning,” Fear said. “So getting a better start in our first two tournaments over these next two weekends is going to be important to have that confidence roll into conference play.”