LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When considering her pre-Great Lakes Valley Conference slate, Bellarmine University volleyball coach Jenni Grzebin found a perfect balance of providing both comfort and a challenge for her youth-dominated team.

BU will open its 2014 regular season on Friday and Saturday in Knights Hall with the three-match Bellarmine Volleyball Classic. The Knights will make their debut at 7 p.m. (ET) on Friday against Anderson (S.C.) University before meeting Mercyhurst (Pa.) University and Salem International (W.Va.) University at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively, on Saturday. Bellarmine's matches can be followed live here.

The Knights' roster carries eight freshmen and a mere two upperclassmen in senior libero Jaclyn Ohlmann and junior defensive specialist Phoenix Fowler.

"We have a young team and anytime you have an opportunity to play in front of your fans on your home court to get your feet wet, I think that's the best way to start," Grzebin said. "Volleyball is so strong across the country, and I definitely expect this to be a competitive tournament. We'll have to make adjustments on the fly and hopefully execute."

Bellarmine is coming off a 15-14 campaign and lost setter Bailey BredenbeckCorp and leading hitter Krista Gibson to graduation. However, sophomore outside hitters Ashley Jefferson and Emily McDaniel, who ranked second and third on the team in kills in 2013, are back to give the Knights some proven firepower.

"We'll use these games to get the kinks worked out so we can go into conference and let the other teams know that, although we're young, we are here to play," Fowler said. "I think this is going to be a good chance for us to mesh before we get into conference play and let the freshmen get the jitters out."

Anderson, Bellarmine's season-opening opponent, went 19-15 last season and returns its top three hitters in Shannon Gillespie, Hailey Pittman and Tinsley Hallman. Mercyhurst won 18 games a year ago and its holdovers include leading hitters Lexi Stefanov and Rachel Crittle and top setters Kelly Vitt and Tai Lattimore. According to its website, Salem International's volleyball program has returned after a six-year hiatus.

"It's great to start out with teams you've never played because no one knows what to expect," Ohlmann said. "No one has the burden before the game starts to watch out for specific players. There's no pressure there yet. I think that's a good thing."

Volleyball is a fast-paced game, and that applies to the sport's schedule as well. The Knights follow the Bellarmine Volleyball Classic by plunging into GLVC play.

"It's a short season, so our whole season has a sense of urgency," Grzebin said. "There's no redoes — everything at this point sticks. So, we've got to go now. I hope that translates onto the court. It certainly will be a message I'll preach from the bench."

While Grzebin wants the Knights to perform with urgency, she intends to exercise patience. Simple progress, as much as winning or losing, is a priority right now with such a youthful bunch. Bellarmine has a lot of unknowns entering 2014, and the Knights are eager to start taking shape and to see what the season brings.

"They're so excited — through the roof," Grzebin said. "When you've been practicing as long as we have, you're ready. It's time to put on a jersey."

Bellarmine Volleyball Classic Schedule
Friday, Sept. 5
Mercyhurst vs. Salem International, 4:30 p.m.
Anderson vs. Bellarmine, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6
Anderson vs. Salem International, 10:00 a.m.
Bellarmine vs. Mercyhurst, 12:30 p.m.   
Anderson vs. Mercyhurst, 5:00 p.m.  
Bellarmine vs. Salem International, 7:30 p.m.