LUBBOCK, Texas – HCU kicks off the 2023 season against Texas Tech, Wichita State and Abilene Christian at the Under Armour Challenge hosted by Texas Tech on Friday, August 25^th and Saturday, August 26^th at the United Supermarkets Arena. The Huskies will open against Texas Tech on Friday at 11:00 a.m. and will play Wichita State and Abilene Christian on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

HCU sits atop the Southland Conference Preseason Poll after going 14-4 in conference play and 23-11 overall during the 2022 season advancing to the finals of the Southland Conference Tournament. The Huskies lead the conference with five preseason all-conference selections. Senior right-side Anna Gadway was selected to the first team as an automatic selection. Gadway enters her fifth year coming off a career-high 381 kill season, and a team-high 427.5 points scored, while averaging 1.78 digs and 0.56 blocks per set. She recorded double-digit kills in 12 of 16 conference matches, including three double-doubles.

After earning second team all-conference honors last year, junior outside hitter Sara Arroyo was selected to the preseason first team. Arroyo finished last year ranked sixth in the southland with a team leading 385 kills and finished ninth in the conference with 413 points scored. During the 2022 season, Arroyo recorded double-digit kills in 25 of 34 matches played and 15 of 18 SLC matches.

Senior libero Kaley Feris was a preseason second team selection after completing her junior season ranked sixth in the league with 4.09 digs per set and totaled 506 digs on the year. Feris recorded double-digit digs 27 times, including 13 of the last 14 matches.

After back-to-back seasons named to the Southland All-Conference Second Team, junior middle blocker Audrey Pearce was selected to the preseason second team. Pearce finished last season ranked third in blocks with 132 blocks in conference play, while hitting .267% with 2.21 kills per set. The Aledo, Texas, native posted 10 double-digit kill matches and five or more blocks 10 times.

Sophomore Grace McLaughlin returns after earning Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year and All-Southland Conference Second Team honors. McLaughlin was selected to the preseason second team after finishing the last year ranking second in the SLC with 9.88 assists per set and averaged 10.36 assists per set in conference play. The Lucas, Texas native recorded 19 double-doubles and recorded more than 50 assists five times.

Texas Tech comes off a seventh-place finish in the Big 12 with a 5-11 conference record, and a 16-13 overall record. The Red Raiders are led by returning middle blocker Maddie O'Brien who recorded 126 kills in the 2022 season and average 1.33 kills per set. Texas Tech added graduate transfer Destiny Cox who played three seasons at Texas A&M recording 581 kills, 176 digs, and 131 blocks while an Aggie.

Wichita State comes off a fourth-place finish in the American Athletic Conference last year with a 13-6 conference record and an 18-13 overall record. The Shockers are led by junior middle blocker Natalie Foster and senior outside hitter Brylee Kelly who were named to the 2022 AAC All-Conference First Team. Foster finished third in the AAC with a hitting percentage of .382% while registering 361 kills (3.01 k/s) and had 21 games with double-digit kills. Kelly finished seventh in the AAC averaging 3.82 points per set and recorded 396 kills (3.27 k/s) with 22 double-digit kill matches.

Former Southland Conference opponent, Abilene Christian, are coming off a 12^th place finish in the Western Atlantic Conference last year with a 4-10 conference record and a 7-19 overall record. The Wildcats are led by Bryley Steinhilber who led ACU with 263 kills and 2.93 points per set including 15 matches with double-digit kills. Braden Bossier finished the 2022 season tied for 7^th in the WAC with a hitting percentage of .309%.

HCU will return home to host the 2023 Molly Howard Gerwig Memorial Tournament on August 31^st through September 2^nd. The tournament features Prairie View A&M, Pennsylvania, Arkansas State, and UTRGV.