GREENWOOD - Third-year head coach Jeff Reynolds today announced the volleyball schedule for the upcoming 2023 season—one of the most challenging schedules in program history.  
 
"We want to take this program in a direction that will allow us to keep getting better and better," Reynolds said. "In order to beat the big kids, and earn national recognition for our program, we have to learn to play like they play and beat them when given the opportunity." 
 
The Bearcats will start the season off with a first-ever meeting against Arkansas-Fort Smith, followed by a pair of matches against familiar foes Francis Marion and Belmont Abbey. Lander will round out the first weekend of competition against Auburn Montgomery from the Gulf South Conference.  
 
The highlight of the preseason will come in Week 2 when the Bearcats will take an 8,714 mile round trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, where they will play four different teams for the first time, including Biola (CA), Stanislaus State (CA), Alaska-Fairbanks and perineal powerhouse Alaska-Anchorage. The four teams combined for 81 wins last season, including Alaska-Anchorage who posted a 27-3 record. The Seawolves are just one of eight teams the Bearcats will face in 2023 that participated in the NCAA tournament a year ago.  
 
"There is no doubt this will be the most challenging tournament of the season," Reynolds said of the road trip that is equal to over one-third the circumference of the globe. "We've had this tournament on our radar for the past couple years and I believe the time is right for us to head out west and see what we can do against some of those powerhouse programs. I think our team is ready for a challenge like this." Anchorage-Alaska was ranked among the top-10 in the nation all season.  
 
Beginning on September 14, the Bearcats will begin the first of 10-straight home games with a Thursday night tilt against North Greenville. The game will mark the kickoff to the first-ever Lorraine Redderson Invitational, presented by Discover Greenwood. A total of seven teams will compete in 12 matches over the three-day event. Lander will also take on Fayetteville State, Elizabeth City State and Lincoln Memorial.  
 
Over the following weeks, the Bearcats will take on a combination of familiar Peach Belt Conference opponents, including USC Aiken, Georgia College, Flagler and Augusta. In addition, Lander will compete in a number of non-conference matches, including games against Anderson, Converse, UNC Pembroke, Lenoir-Rhyne, Mount Olive, Carson Newman and Emmanuel.  
 
"There will not be any breaks this season," Reynolds said. "Most weeks will start off with a Tuesday match against a non-conference opponent, followed by a weekend series against one or our conference rivals. If we're successful, it won't be by luck. We're going to have to compete at a high level in order to have a successful season. I think this group will be prepared to do that." 
 
All totaled, Lander will face a total of 23 different opponents who averaged 18.47 wins per season last year. A total of 19 of those teams had 15 or more wins, and 10 of this year's opponents had 20 or more wins a year ago. Eighteen of the 23 opponents ended last year with a record over .500.