University of Arkansas-Fort Smith volleyball fans will get an early opportunity to see the Lady Lions in action during a blue-and-white scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at the Stubblefield Center.
Admission is free, and fans will be treated to a free fountain soft drink and a bag of popcorn.
It will be the final preseason tune-up for the Lady Lions, who begin regular-season play on Friday with matches against the University of Minnesota-Duluth and Emporia State University in the first round of the two-day University of Nebraska-Omaha Showcase.
“It’s been interesting,” said UA Fort Smith coach Jane Sargent, who begins her 13th season. “We only had one week of two-a-days, and then school started. Plus, we’ve had some other things going on with meetings and such that we had to be at.”
The Lady Lions scrimmaged Oklahoma Baptist University, Southwest Oklahoma State University and Seminole State College last week, and Sargent said that preseason slate went pretty well.
“It’s a little bit slower start than in the past,” said Sargent, who boasts a 432-89 record as the only coach in the Lady Lions’ 13-year history. “We haven’t had as much time together as a team.”
Sargent said the Lady Lions haven’t completely avoided injuries during preseason practice, but she said there have been no major injuries.
“We’ve had a few kids banged up a little bit,” Sargent said. “It’s just been some nagging injuries and nothing really major, so far.”
The Lady Lions’ home scrimmage on Monday will be their last home appearance until Tuesday, Sept. 14, when they make their regular-season home debut against East Central Oklahoma University at the Stubblefield Center.
