The Carson-Newman volleyball team opens its 2013 campaign this weekend with three games in the Carson-Newman Classic. The Eagles will play Converse Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., UNC Pembroke Friday evening at 5 p.m. and Palm Beach Atlantic Saturday at noon.

Converse was selected to finish tenth in the preseason Conference Carolinas poll after finishing 0-31 last season. The Valkyries have added five new players, including three who earned All-Region honors during their high school careers. Sophomore outside hitter Katie Butler is looking to build off of a 2012 season that saw the Spartanburg, S.C. native lead the team with 262 kills on 900 total attacks. 

UNC Pembroke tallied a 5-26 mark in 2012. The Braves return senior Marissa Baker, who notched a team-best 229 kills and senior Sawyer Gray, who finished third on the roster with 199 kills. UNC Pembroke has to replace 713 assists from setter Ashlyn Rebok after her graduation.

Palm Beach Atlantic has garnered national attention prior to the upcoming year. The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Coaches ranked the Sailfish No. 25 in the preseason polls, the program's first national preseason ranking since moving to Division II in 2007. Coming off of a 35-4 record, Bob White's team returns four starters and a libero from the 2012 squad. The Fish are led by AVCA All-American Honorable setter Becca Acevedo after averaging 10.56 assists per set in 2012.

The Carson-Newman Classic will feature five total games on Friday on two courts with the first game beginning at 11 a.m. and four games Saturday with first set slated for 10 a.m.

FRIDAY 2 courts

Court 1                                                

11 a.m. Palm Beach vs. UNCP (Live stats, Box score)

2 p.m. C-N vs. Converse (Live stats, Box score) 

5 p.m. C-N vs. UNCP (Live stats, Box score)  

Court 2

2 p.m.  Palm Beach vs. TC (Live stats, Box score)

5 p.m. TC vs. Converse (Live stats, Box score)

10 a.m. UNCP vs. Converse (Live stats, video, Box score)

12 p.m. PBA vs. C-N (Live stats, video, Box score)

2 p.m. PBA vs. Converse (Live stats, video, Box score)

4 p.m. UNCP vs. TC (Live stats, video, Box score)