The 2019 San José State volleyball team began preparing for the season on Friday as the team held its first practices.
The Spartans return 10 letterwinners from last year's 16-11 team that finished fourth in the Mountain West with an 11-7 record. Redshirt junior Latahevai Lousi and senior Thaliana Grajeda return after receiving All-MW recognition last season. Lousi led the Spartans in kills during the conference season with 207, 3.23 per set, while Grajeda led the team in blocking during MW matches with 67, 0.94 ps.
This year's senior class includes Grajeda, Fernanda Vido, Caitlin Bettenay and Kaitlynn Zdroik. Vido averages 2.74 kills and 2.17 digs per set last season, while Bettenay added 2.20 kills and 2.44 digs per set. Zdroik was one of two setters the Spartans used in the offense last year and averaged 5.19 assists and 1.34 digs per set.
The volleyball team will host the annual Blue & Gold scrimmage on Saturday, August 24, beginning at 2 p.m., inside Spartan Gym. The team opens the 2019 schedule at the Aggie Classic, August 30 and 31 at UC Davis. The Spartans play Pacific and UC Davis on the 30th and Montana on the 31st. San José State's first home match will be Friday, September 13, against Northern Colorado at 6 p.m., followed a home match on the 14th against Marist at 2 p.m.
Tickets are on sale by calling the Spartan Ticket Office at (408) 924-SJTX or are available at the door on game days.