COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College women's volleyball team opens the 2016 season on Saturday with a pair of non-conference matches and high hopes for a successful season.

The Lady Tigers travel to Charlotte, N.C., and will open the season against neighbor rival Allen University at 11 a.m., before taking on host Johnson C. Smith at 2 p.m.

"We're still young this year, but expectations are much higher compared to last year," said Benedict coach Gwendolyn Rouse, who returns eight players from last year's team which went 15-15 overall and 11-7 in the SIAC. "Our goal is definitely making the top three (in the SIAC) and then go as far as we can past that in the tournament. Also, our goal is to win the East for this season."

The Lady Tigers return last year's leading hitter in junior Aaliyah Lawson, who averaged 2.27 kills per set last year and was named to the SIAC Preseason All-Conference team. But Lawson will have a slightly different role on the team this year as Rouse is planning to switch to a new offensive scheme that utilizes two setters on the court, Lawson and newcomer V'Aira Harris, a transfer from Lander University. Brianne McMillan, who averaged 2.61 assists per set last year as a backup, will also be utilized as a setter when the team switches to an offense with one setter. Harris is one of three newcomers to the roster, and Rouse is excited about the talent she has added.

"Normally we've been running a 5-1, but this year we'll be running a 6-2, and the difference is you've got two setters and both of them are hitters," Rouse said. "When one setter is on the front row, the other is on the back. By moving to the 6-2, we will always have three hitters in the front."

Lawson will continue to be a threat at the net for the Lady Tigers.

"She's also hitting well this year. The difference is she has more help this year," Rouse said. "That kind of hurt last year because we had to depend on her. This year, with the addition of those three young ladies, she has additional help, because all three can hit."

Also returning for the Lady Tigers is junior Arneshia Parrish, who was second on the team last year in kills, as well as juniors Kiarra Pettway and Torcealon Kelley, who were fourth and fifth, respectively, in kills.

"Arenshia has improved a whole lot. She's really hitting the ball hard," Rouse said.

Also returning is sophomore Majda Cisic, who will be moving to fill the vacant libero position.

"In the spring workouts, I had her just playing the back row. She understands on this level, she's too small to be a hitter," Rouse said.

Along with Harris, Rouse added two big freshmen in 6-foot-2 middle blocker Taylor Stephens and 5-foot-11 Adrionna Washington.

"Without a doubt, we're definitely bigger. And we're more athletic," Rouse said. "We have to be stronger on the back row defensively, but we're bigger on the front. We have a true middle in the freshman Taylor, and Adrianna, she can hit all the way around. And V'Aira can hit all the way around and she can jump out of the gym."

Also returning are reserves P'yuncka Kearse-Peeples and Olivia Williams.

"P'Yuncka, I'm looking for her to step it up a little more and put more touches on the ball. Olivia has gotten better. She has really improved with her hitting," Rouse said.

The SIAC conference will be competitive once again. Rouse expects Claflin and Clark Atlanta to challenge in the East, while Kentucky State, Spring Hill and Tuskegee should be the top teams in the West.

"So we really have nine girls that we are really depending on," Rouse said. "If we get 100 percent out of them, we're really going to be great. We're looking for great things this year from this team."