CANYON, Texas – SWOSU Volleyball opens up their season this weekend at the West Texas A&M Buff Classic in Canyon, Texas with double headers on Friday and Saturday. 
 
The Bulldogs will take a slate of Lone Star Conference opponents with Texas Permian Basin at 9:00 am and Arkansas–Fort Smith at 4:30 pm on Friday and then the hosts West Texas A&M at 11:30 am and then St. Edward's at 4:30 pm on Saturday. 
 
SWOSU was picked to finish fourth in the Great American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll with a slew of major contributors coming back for the 2021 season. Head Coach Josh Collins has the likes of senior Allie Hoang, the school's record holder for service aces, All-GAC honorable mentions Lacy Mott and Chezney Nielsen, and 2019 GAC Freshman of the Year Maicee Morgan who makes her return after missing almost all the spring season due to injury. 
 
In the first match against Texas Permian Basin, the Bulldogs will meet an opponent they last played in 2019. The Falcons were picked to finish 10^th in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll after bouncing out during the quarterfinals of their conference tournament last season. 
 
Later that Friday SWOSU will take on Arkansas–Fort Smith, who came in at fifth in the LSC Preseason Poll and who made it to the conference tournament semifinals last year and finished with an 11-3 record. 
 
The Bulldogs will start their Saturday double header against the home team, West Texas A&M. An old rival from SWOSU's time in the LSC, West Texas A&M will be a tough opponent who typically competes at the national level and who finished 23^rd in the country at the end of last year's season.
 
SWOSU's final opponent will be the St. Edward's Hilltoppers. The Bulldogs last faced off with the Hilltoppers in 2018 and come out with a three sets to two victory. St. Edward's brings back the majority of their starting lineup from a squad that finished 6-7 last year.