FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Coming off one of the best seasons in program history in 2021, a new era of Sharks Volleyball is set to begin. Kacie Ehinger was tabbed the 13th Head Coach at Nova Southeastern in April and embarks on her first season guiding the NSU program.
“I can’t wait to get this season started. We have a solid group of returning players and extremely exciting newcomers on the roster, and I think we have a great opportunity to make some noise in the Sunshine State Conference and regionally,” said Ehinger. “The SSC is hands down one of the best conferences in the nation. We’re looking forward to competitive and high-level matches every time we step on the court.”
The Sharks enjoyed tremendous success during the 2021 campaign, setting new program records in Sunshine State Conference wins (16), highest SSC winning percentage (0.800), best overall winning percentage in NCAA-era (0.828), most home wins (15), and longest winning streak (19). NSU had three student-athletes earn AVCA All-America honors, as Alexandra Psoma, Marianna Fiocco, and Elizabeth Price all received numerous awards. Additionally, NSU qualified for the NCAA South Region Tournament for the first time since 2009
Ehinger inherits a talented roster, which features a pair of All-Sunshine State Conference honorees in Price and Madison Cook. Price, in her redshirt freshman season, finished the season leading the Sharks in kills (341), while Cook recorded 765 assists. The Sharks also return Nyah Pacely, Aleyna Kennel, Jordan Chessar, Kate Mihacevich, Brittany Landrum, Cambry Pope, Amanda Hall, Julia Bernardes, Preslee Brooksbank, Evelyn Kinsch, and Bruna Avila. NSU also welcomes a terrific freshmen class that includes Taylor Stockman, Hailey Smith, Avery Piatt, Olivia Aniol, Juliana Imbuzeiro and graduate transfer, Grace Green.
Nova Southeastern is set to begin the 2022 campaign by taking a trip to Charlotte, NC., to compete in the Queens University Tournament. The Sharks open the season with a doubleheader on Fri., 8/26, taking on Concord and West Virginia Wesleyan. NSU returns to the court the following day with another doubleheader, this time taking on Mount Olive and North Greenville on Aug. 27. The Sharks home-opener is set for 9/2, as NSU hosts the 2022 Shark Invitational. Nova Southeastern faces off against Shaw, before taking on American International and Slippery Rock on Sept. 3.
Following the NSU Shark Invitational, the Sharks begin Sunshine State Conference action with a match against Barry on Sept. 9. Nova Southeastern will then be home for three consecutive matches, hosting Lynn (9/10), Eckerd (9/16) and Tampa (9/17) at the Shark Tank. NSU will then play back-to-back road Sunshine State Conference matches against Palm Beach Atlantic (9/20) and Florida Southern (9/22).
Nova Southeastern returns to the Shark Tank to play Florida Tech on Fri., Sept. 30 and takes on the Lions of Saint Leo on 10/1. The Sharks go back on the road, traveling to Boca Raton to face-off against Lynn on Tue. Oct. 4. Nova Southeastern then will host Embry-Riddle (10/7) and Rollins (10/8). Following the match against Rollins, the Sharks fly to Alabama to compete in the South Region Crossover event on Oct. 14-15. After taking on four opponents from the Gulf South Conference, NSU returns to the Shark Tank and takes on Barry on Tue. 10/18.
The Sharks conclude the 2022 regular season with six of their final eight matches on the road, beginning with Tampa (10/21) and Eckerd (10/22) before playing both Palm Beach Atlantic (10/25) and Florida Southern (10/29) in the final two matches from the Rick Case Arena on the campaign. NSU then ends the season with four consecutive away matches at Saint Leo (11/4), Florida Tech (11/5), Rollins (11/11) before concluding the regular season with a match against Embry-Riddle on Sat. Nov. 12.
The NCAA South Region Tournament is set to begin on Nov. 17 and continues through 11/20. The winner of the South Region Tournament will advance to the NCAA National Championship in Seattle, WA., which takes place from Dec. 1 – 3.
To stay up-to-date on Sharks Volleyball, be sure to follow on Instagram at @NSU_VBall and Twitter at @NSU_VB.
