The Washington Demons are gearing up for the first serve of a new volleyball season, and head coach Aaron Six’s team will have a pair of the statistical leaders in the Southeast Conference from last season returning to his roster.

That includes sophomore hitter Leighton Messinger, who was fourth in the conference with 194 kills in her debut season. Messinger had a kill efficiency average of .173 as a freshman, good for third in the Southeast.

Junior setter Lauren Hinrichsen is also back after her 270 assists were the fourth-most in the league last year. Hinrichsen is also a terrific serving player, as she was second in the Southeast Conference by having 97 percent of her serves be clean and in play.

Along with Hinrichsen and Messinger, Washington will bring back nine other members of last year’s roster. The Demons open up a new season in a little less than two weeks when they travel to take on Mid-Prairie August 24th.