VOLLEYBALL

Troy volleyball is looking to continue its recent success this season under the direction of sixth-year head coach Josh Lauer. Lauer will be looking to become the first coach in Trojan volleyball history to lead the Trojans to four consecutive winning seasons in conference play after going 9-7 last season.

The 2021 season saw the Trojans take down Power Five teams in the same season, with wins over Alabama, LSU, and Virginia Tech. Troy will match up with four Power Five teams this season.

Our team is looking forward to the tremendous competition in front of us this season,” Lauer said. “Our goal is to be our best in November, and I’m extremely proud of our team’s hard work so far. I’m looking forward to being a part of the continued growth we will have all season long and every opportunity we get to compete together this fall.”

The postseason is always the goal, and the Trojans made their second consecutive postseason appearance last season in the NIVC and hosted a postseason match for the first time in program history. Troy went on to beat Middle Tennessee in the first round.

This year the Trojans are led by Julia Brooks and Amara Anderson. Brooks, an All-Sun Belt First-Team honoree last season and the only Trojan named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team this year, was one of four Trojans to start all 31 matches and play in all 113 sets. In addition, she was the only player in the conference to be ranked in the top 10 in four statistical categories (hitting percent, kills/set, blocks/set & points/set). She returns to lead the Trojan offense after finishing with 353 kills and 3.12 kills per set last season.

The junior from St. Louis, Mo., along with her offensive capability, currently ranks fourth in the program, with 66 solo blocks, only needing 18 to become the all-time leader at Troy. Her 252 total blocks rank seventh as well.

Anderson recorded 1,166 assists in 2021, making it her third season, finishing with over 1,000 assists, and ranked second in the Sun Belt with 10.52 assists per set. She surpassed the 4000-career assist mark for her career and is the all-time assists leader in the rally score era at Troy. Anderson needs 223 assists this season to become the all-time assist leader in Troy history.

Key returning defensive specialists include senior Isabella Mitchell and sophomore Caroline Darracott. After 30 matches and 107 sets in her freshman season, Darracott averaged 1.99 digs per set and finished with 213 digs on the year, seeing eight matches recording at least 10 digs. Mitchell last season totaled 111 digs in 65 sets played, averaging 1.71 digs per set with a .944 reception percentage.

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