Heading into the 2018 season with 11 returners and seven newcomers, UT Permian Basin head volleyball coach Tim Loesch is excited with the depth he believes his team has entering a new year. The Falcons return one of their best attackers in Travanna Matthews, Kierra Granado who led the team in assists, and the leading digs leader from 2017 in Sarah Vasquez. But they also have a number of players ready to step in and earn playing time.

"We've upgraded every position for this season," said Loesch. "We have a strong setter and a couple of good liberos coming in, and I think from passing to setting to hitting we'll be better in all of those areas. Specifically, for our hitters, we have a couple of junior college players in Jenna Hampton and Yasmine Ataee that we expect to contribute right away. They've played at a high level and have proven that they're solid attackers and we expect them to help with our attack right away. We also have a number of freshman that will end up earning playing time as well."

While the Falcons had a number of players hit by injuries in 2017, Loesch believes their return to the team this season will only help make the team stronger as the year goes on.

"Overall I have high expectations for this year. We have two ways that we're better; first we've gotten a bunch of players back that were out for extended periods last season. They are healthy now and practicing, so we expect to have 3-4 girls back that were on the roster last year at 100 percent and contributing. We also had a great recruiting class, a bunch of players that are going to help us right away and will compete for playing time. With both of those factors I have high expectations for this team and I think we can compete with anyone, it's a question of how hard we work and can overcome adversity as the season goes on."

UTPB will be tested early on in the first two weeks, playing a number of unfamiliar teams in a pair of tournaments. The Falcons face Mississippi College, Southern Arkansas, Union and Quincy the opening weekend in the Dr. Margaret Downing Invitational hosted by Southern Arkansas, and will play Purdue Northwest, St. Edward's, Colorado State – Pueblo the second weekend of the season at the 2018 Hilltopper Classic. Seeing a bunch of different playing styles over such a short period of time will help the Falcons get ready for a changing Lone Star Conference in 2018.

"We made our schedule very diverse because a lot of teams in the Lone Star are reloading. Not that they're going to be weaker than in the past, but they're going to be different because of new personnel.  The preseason is going to help us be able to deal with different types of teams and having to face them in a quick turnaround. They're all quality opponents and will help get us ready for conference play."

The Falcons open up Lone Star Conference play Saturday, September 8 at Texas A&M Kingsville. They will then return home for the first time this season to host Eastern New Mexico in a midweek LSC contest Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m.

While Loesch notes that the teams may look a little different in-conference this season, the quality of the league has only improved.

"We go in looking game by game; you can't look ahead past any opponents. We can't circle one team and prepare for them for a week. That's why our preseason schedule helps, so we can get ready for one thing this day and be ready for a completely different team the next. Every match this year is going to be a challenge."