CONWAY, Ark.- As a new formatted season approaches, the University of Central Arkansas goes back to the basics with two old school rivalries to start the volleyball season. 

The first two games of the Sugar Bear's season may seem eerily familiar as they face off against former rival Texas State University and current rival Stephen F. Austin in the opener Friday.

UCA will have its work cut out for them as they head to Nacogdoches Friday, knowing they face two tough early-season challenges. Kicking off an early morning, the Sugar Bears will face the two-time defending champions of the Sun Belt Conference, the Texas State Bobcats. The game will start at 10:30 a.m., giving UCA just enough time to recuperate before they face off against Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin at 2:30 p.m. Just like the Bobcats, the Ladyjacks host an impressive string of success as of late as they have claimed the last three Southland Conference titles. 

These challenging tasks will prove essential in determining the type of season the Sugar Bears will have in this new pandemic-age format. The opportunity is there for UCA to succeed as it utilizes some of its star power from a season ago. Out of the three Southland All-Conference performers for the Sugar Bears, two return to continue the program's upward trend, senior Emily Doss and junior Madi Bowles. Last season, Bowles claimed the honor of All-SLC Conference Second Team, while Doss secured Third Team honors. During the 2019-20 campaign, Doss recorded a team-high 578 digs, while Bowles finished second on the team with 337 kills. Doss and Bowles highlight the UCA roster as they try to improve on last year's mark of 16-14 (10-6). 

For that upward trend to continue, the Sugar Bears have a long journey ahead of them, and it all starts with Texas State. The Bobcats are a dangerous team all around the net as they are led by their two time Sunbelt setter of the year, junior Emily Dewalt. Last year Texas State finished out as conference champions (24-9 (14-2)) but got booted out of the NCAA tournament in the first round by UC Santa Barbara. Both these teams are hungry for a marquee victory as they settle an old school conference rivalry early in the season. Before the Bobcats played through the Sunbelt Conference, they were proud members of the Southland Conference between 1987 and 2012. During that time, UCA and Texas State played each other seven times with the slight edge going to the Bobcats with a 4-3 lead on the all-time series. 

While old school rivalries are being renewed, the Sugar Bears face a current day rival in Stephen F. Austin just four hours later. The reigning champs of the Southland Conference have been the thorns in the Sugar Bears paws for the last four years, as they have taken five straight matchups. However, even in this four-year drought, UCA continues to dominate the all-time series 13-10. The Sugar Bears want redemption as they face off against the Ladyjacks, not once, but twice this year (Sept. 25). 

Quote from the coach: 

"I'm excited to get on the road and head to Nacogdoches, it's taken a couple of months to finally get everything out of the pencil and into the pen on paper," coach John Newberry said. "Looking forward to having some seniors bring it on the court." 

"Standing out for me is senior libero Emily Doss because of her ability to read and play the game is at a high level. Fifth-year senior Amanda Beaton, who is starting as a sixth rotation outside hitter, also Bailey Waddington is starting as our setter and lastly, Amari Mitchell, who has really stepped up as a leader on the team."