THE BASICS
 Date/Time: Friday-Saturday vs. UMES (Noon, Friday); Ohio State (5 p.m., Friday); Rider (10 a.m., Saturday); William & Mary (2:30 p.m., Saturday)
Location: Williamsburg, Va.  
Webcast: http://www.tribeathletics.com/files/vb/video/watchvolleyball.htm

A NEW BEGINNING
Toni Conway makes her debut as the Aggies head coach this weekend. Conway did a marvelous job in turning around the Bowie State program, and will look to do the same for the Aggies. Conway is a part of the proud tradition of Aggie volleyball, so she has the determination to turn the Aggies back into a contender in the MEAC.

AGGIES OPEN MEAC PLAY, SORT OF
The Aggies will open the William & Mary tournament against fellow conference member Maryland-Eastern Shore. Of course, the match will not count against the conference standings, but it will give the Aggies a chance to see how they match up against a school that made to the MEAC finals last season. Ever since the MEAC went away from playing the MEAC Roundups, teams from the MEAC North division have not readily played teams from the South. The last time the Aggies played the Fighting Hawks was Oct. 14, 2006, a match N.C. A&T won 3-0.  

THE PLAYER TO WATCH
Janae Mitchell comes into this season with a brand new role. Team leader. Over the first two years of her career she was a reserve. Last season, she stepped to the forefront and became a valuable offensive weapon for the Aggies. This season she will be asked to do much more. As the team captain, she must provide leadership on and off the court as well as come up with big points in tight matches. Mitchell’s response to her new role could go a long way in helping the Aggies improve over last season.

THE BIG 10 CHALLENGE  
After going four years without playing a Big 10 school, the Aggies have two on their schedule this season starting with Ohio State on Friday, August 28. The Aggies will also play Indiana in Bloomington for the Hoosiers’ tournament from Sept. 18-19.