The Troy volleyball team held a pair of practices at Trojan Arena on Tuesday as the team prepares for its 2013 campaign set to begin on Aug. 30.

Though the men’s and women’s basketball teams have already played a full slate of game inside the new facility, the upcoming season will be first for the volleyball program.

“It’s a great venue,” Troy head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick said.  “It brings a great atmosphere and gives the girls a chance to play in a state-of-the-art arena with all the bells and whistles.  It’s something that all the athletes here have earned and we’re looking forward to getting our chance out there on the floor.”

Troy finished last season 21-12 overall and a 10-5 mark in Sun Belt play finishing second in the league.

The program won its first ever Sun Belt Conference Championships match last year. This season, the team will host the tournament and is looking to make some noise in conference play once again.

“We just need to keep getting better and it all starts today,” Kirkpatrick said.  “I really like the energy and ball control we’ve had but we just have to keep working for the end of August and our first match.”

Eight letterwinners return for the Trojans this season including Alexandra Alexander, Courtney Cohen and Blair Winston, all of whom have been all-conference selections during their careers.

The Trojans will open their home schedule against future Sun Belt foe Georgia Southern on Sept. 2 at 2 p.m.  The Trojans open their season at the Southern Miss Invitational on Aug. 30.