WILMINGTON, NC – Coming off a 20-8 (13-3 in Region 10) record that earned Cape Fear a second place regular season finish in the Region 10 Conference, the Sea Devils Women's Volleyball program opens their 2016-2017 season on the road at the Catawba Valley Community College tournament.

The Sea Devils welcome eight freshmen to this year's team, as well as two transfers (Cali Watson, and Kacie Markle). The team also welcomes Brittani Jefferson, a former collegiate player at Cape Fear and UNC-Pembroke, as the team's Volunteer Assistant Coach.

Cape Fear will open the tournament Friday afternoon with a doubleheader.  On tap first for the Sea Devils is USC Salkehatchie at 3pm (EST). Head Coach Emily Coleman addressed that the biggest key heading into the match against USC Salkehatchie is "playing consistently and controlling our side of the net." The Sea Devils are a perfect (4-0) in all-time games versus the Indians.

The Sea Devils will turn around and face tournament host Catawba Valley Community College at 4:30pm (EST) this afternoon as well. Coach Coleman added that the key against the tournament host will be, "playing together as a team and seeing the court well."

Following today's doubleheader, the Sea Devils will play an additional two games on Saturday at the tournament.

Saturday starts with a match-up versus Surry Community College at 9am (EST). Coach Emily Coleman addressed that she would like for the Sea Devils to, "play together as a team." Cape Fear is (12-3) in their all-time games versus the Knights.

The Sea Devils will close out the tournament in Hickory with a 12pm match-up against Bryant & Stratton (VA) College. This will be the first time that Cape Fear has faced the Bobcats in school history.

The Sea Devils will continue their eleven road games to start the season before playing their first home matches on September 17^th versus Guilford Technical Community College at 1pm (EST), and Brunswick Community College at 5pm (EST).

LAST TIME VERSUS USC SALKEHATCHIE
September 28, 2007
In their second matchup of the 2007-2008 season, the Sea Devils completed a sweep of USC Salkehatchie following their 3-0 victory at home in the team's final regular season match. Cape Fear defeated USC Salkehatchie in a match two weeks prior with a 3-0 victory over the Indians on the road.

LAST TIME VERSUS CATAWBA VALLEY CC
September 4, 2015
Cape Fear fell to Catawba Valley CC in a four set match despite winning the first set (25-20). The Sea Devils lost the next two sets each by the score of 14-25, prior to battling hard in the fourth set only to fall short 28-30.

Freshman Outside Hitter Bailey Toman led the Sea Devils in the match, finishing with 16 points, 10 kills, and 6 blocks. Cape Fear also got contributions from Freshman Middle Blocker Tressa Amico who recorded 12.5 points, with 5 kills, and 2 digs.

LAST TIME VERSUS SURRY CC
September 5, 2015
Cape Fear was pushed to the brink last time versus Surry Community College, only to overcome defeat with a five set victory (22-25, 25-18, 25-11, 23-25, 15-11).

Tressa Amico led the Sea Devils in the match, finishing with 18 points, 9 kills, and 8 blocks. In addition, Cape Fear got key contributions from outside hitter Sydney Robinson, who recorded 13 points, 11 kills and 7 digs; while outside hitter Bailey Toman finished with 11 points, 7 kills, 2 serve aces, and 2 blocks.

The difference in the match came in the final set, as Cape Fear would finish with a .333 set percentage while holding Surry Community College to a .132 set percentage.

SEA DEVILS' TO WATCH IN CATAWBA VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE TOURNAMENT
Sophomore OH/MB Bailey Toman
-       Finished last season with 201 kills, 2.05 kills/set, 17 serve aces, 106 digs, and 39 blocks
-       Finished with 98 sets played in her 28 match appearances

Sophomore MB Tressa Amico
-       Finished last season with 166 kills, 1.78 kills/set, 5 serve aces, 22 digs, and 108 blocks
-       Finished with 93 sets played in her 26 match appearances

Freshman S/OH Payton Schoenleber
-       Played her high school career at Topsoil High School, located in Topsoil, NC
-       Will play as a Setter and Outside Hitter for the Sea Devils

SHARE YOUR SUPPORT & FOLLOW THE TEAM
Be sure to follow the Sea Devils women's volleyball team account on their Twitter and Instagram account:  @CFCCVBALL. Use #YEAROFTHESEADEVIL and #ATTITUDEEFFORTDEDICATION together when you post pictures this season when you are at games to share your support towards the Sea Devils women's volleyball team and Sea Devil Athletics.

Courtesy of Trent Brinkley