With many new players this year, the Troy volleyball team has a lot of potential as it faces a “consistently strong” conference, says Coach Mandy Love.

“We’ve got a brand new squad this year, lots of new bodies,” Love said Aug. 11 during practice. “We hope the young ones will be able to develop skills fairly quickly.”

Three seniors are returning to the team. Two of them — Kaitlyn Downey and Allie Coldwell — will start at the outside hitter position, Love said via email. “

“Kaitlyn is a strong competitor and will be starting at the outside hitter position instead of the libero position where she has played for the past three years,” Love wrote. And Caldwell, a second-year player, “is very competitive.” Senior Aurora Becquart, who didn’t play as a junior but was All-League as a sophomore, will start in the middle position.

Love reports that the “team leaders and solid competitors are the seniors,” as is setter Annie Day, a junior.

“Everyone else is new to the varsity,” Love wrote.

New assistant coach Diane Jonsen joins Love this year.