HICKORY, N.C. -- The Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball Team opens up its 2022 campaign with a pair of contests at USC Aiken on Saturday with the first against Barton at 2:30 p.m. and the finale at 7:30 against the hosts from USC Aiken. 

Nicole Barringer will take the reigns for her first contest as the Bears take on the Bulldogs. Barringer was hired on January 7 and comes to Hickory after a successful run at William Peace where she owned an 81-29 mark in her four seasons with the Pacers. 

The Bears are coming off one of their most successful seasons in program history in 2021 with a 24-8 mark and the No. 1 overall seed in the Southeast Region of the NCAA Tournament. The Bears advanced to just the second Sweet 16 in program history and captured the South Atlantic Conference Tournament title. 

LR will look to replace a pair of All-Americans in Taylor Prall and Rachel Bewick but plenty of talent returns and has been added to the squad. Emma Clark and Colette Romp were named to the Preseason All-SAC Team and Braelyn Faust had a tremendous season for the Bears. Ashley Hawkins and Mackenzie Hulsey also return as five of the seven starters from 2021 are back. 

The Bears were tabbed to finish fourth in the preseason SAC poll but teams 1-4 in the league standings were separated by only one game in the regular season standings in 2021. Despite finishing fourth in the league, LR earned the top seed in the region by winning the league tournament, showing the strength of the SAC in this region. 

First serve from Aiken is set for 2:30 and live stats and live video are available for both matches. Following Saturday, LR hops into league play when they take on Coker on Tuesday night.