The Keiser volleyball team opens the 2024 season, hosting the Vipers Sports Academy Classic presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission this week. The three-day, 20-team event will feature 38 matches at the Student Life Center on the campus of Keiser University.
The Seahawks (picked to finish second in this year's Sun Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll) are looking for their third straight season of 30+ wins this year. Keiser ended 2023 with a 30-11 overall record (9-5 SUN). Last year, as a team, Keiser set single season records in service aces (308) and digs (2,255). Senior Hannah Heide enters the 2024 season as the school's all-time leader in assists (4,179) after posting 1,412 last season - second most in a single season in KU history.
Keiser will kick off action on Thursday at 10:00 AM versus the Mobile (Ala.) Rams. The Seahawks will follow that action up with a 2:00 PM contest versus Saint Francis (Ind.) and a 4:00 PM match against Truett McConnell. The Seahawks will return to the court on Saturday with a pair of matches, facing Spartanburg Methodist (8:00 AM) and Olivet Nazarene (12:00 PM).
The Vipers Sports Academy Classic
presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission
August 15-17, 2024
Student Life Center, West Palm Beach, Fla.
WATCH LIVE: The Keiser Sports Network ($$$)
LIVE STATS: SIDEARM STATS
ADMISSION: Day Passes $20
Thursday, August 15
Keiser versus Mobile - 10:00 AM
Keiser versus Saint Francis - 2:00 PM
Keiser versus Truett McConnell - 4:00 PM
Saturday, August 17
Keiser versus Spartanburg Methodist - 8:00 AM
Keiser versus Olivet Nazarene - 12:00 PM
Mobile (Ala.) Series
- Thursday will mark the fourth meeting all-time between the Seahawks and Rams.
- The Seahawks trail the series history, 2-1.
- The last meeting between the two teams took place during last year's Vipers Sports Academy Classic on August 19, 2023, resulting in a 3-0 win for the Rams.
- Thursday will be the third meeting between the two sides at the Student Life Center with the series tied, 1-1.
Saint Francis (Ind.) Series
- Thursday will mark the first meeting all-time between the Seahawks and Cougars.
Truett McConnell Series
- Thursday will mark the eighth meeting all-time between the Seahawks and Bears.
- The Seahawks lead the series history, 6-1.
- The last meeting between the two squads took place on September 1, 2023, in Cleveland, Georgia, resulting in a 3-2 victory for TMU.
- Prior to that loss, Keiser had won six straight over the Bears.
- Thursday will mark just the second meeting all-time between the two schools in West Palm Beach, Florida (KU leads, 1-0).
Spartanburg Methodists Series
- Saturday will mark the first meeting all-time between the Seahawks and Pioneers.
Olivet Nazarene Series
- Saturday will mark the first meeting all-time between the Seahawks and Tigers.
- Thursday will kick off the seventh season for Head Coach James Rogers (162-69).
- Keiser is coming off a 30-11 season where the Seahawks earned the No. 3 seed in last year's Sun Conference Tournament.
- The Seahawks were picked to finish second in the Sun Conference following the release of the 2024 SUN Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Last season, the Seahawks recorded four all-conference honorees, including the 2023 Sun Conference Player of the Year
- Hannah Heide enters the 2024 season as the school's all-time leader in assists (4,179) after posting 1,412 last season - second most in a single season in KU history
- As a team, the Seahawks set single season records in service aces (308) and digs (2,255) during the 2023 season
- Keiser had four NAIA Scholar-Athletes and Sun Conference All-Academic Team members, including two CSC Academic All-District honorees (Sydney Wattles and Abby Lester).
Thursday's Opponents (2023 comparisons)
| Keiser |
2023 Stats |
Mobile |
Saint Francis |
Truett McConnell |
| 1834 |
Kills |
1396 |
1193 |
1483 |
| .209 |
Attack % |
.193 |
.138 |
.190 |
| 1724 |
Assists |
1302 |
1103 |
1416 |
| 307 |
Service Aces |
209 |
170 |
190 |
| 2255 |
Digs |
1845 |
1449 |
2061 |
| 216.0 |
Total Blocks |
161.0 |
161.0 |
183.5 |
Get the latest information on the team by following @kuseahawks_vb on Instagram and @keiservb on X.
General athletic news can be found at KUSeahawks on Facebook, @kuseahawks on Instagram, and @kuseahawks on X.
