In his first year as head coach, Troy Canaba and his Lady Lobos will hit the road running with four matches over a two-day spread in Sherman.

A pair of Friday bouts against Lawrence University (Wisconsin) and Paul Quinn College will kickoff the annual Austin College Classic. Sul Ross will then face Centenary and the tournament host Kangaroos to wrap up the late-week event Saturday.

Canaba put the wraps on fall camp last weekend and says the players have responded positively to his new system.

"I'm really surprised to be honest," said Canaba. "We came in and completely overhauled everything that our players have grown accustomed to working under and that's never easy for a new coach or players."

"But the two biggest factors that helped them adjust has been talent and a hard work ethic."

Canaba noted the eagerness of the players to learn a new philosophy which incorporates elements of intensity, poise and patience.

"I think we've accomplished a lot in just a couple weeks of practice," he said. "Winning is always the goal but right now I want them to focus on just getting better as a team in terms of the way they practice, improving on technique and really just honing in on refining our volleyball IQ."

In the bigger picture, Canaba's focus is transferring his team's practice mentality not only to match day but away from the court as well.

"With any program that's in the rebuilding phase you have to start with discipline," the coach said. "And that means doing the right thing on and off the court. It involves a commitment to each other to make each other better athletes but also better students and ultimately, productive citizens after their playing experience."

"As we focus on those things, the character building, the integrity and commitment to excellence, the winning will come," he said.

This year's competition in Sherman will feature some traditional volleyball powerhouses including Austin College (24-15) as head coach Ed Garza enters his 22nd season at the helm of the program.

Sully will face a Lawrence team that finished up 2016 with an 11-16 post.

"Lawrence is an athletic bunch and have a heavy dose of returners this season and Austin College is ladened with upperclassmen," said Canaba. "Also, most of the teams we'll face the next two days have coaches that have been in charge of their programs for a long time so there's an establishment that those team are able to build on."

Canaba said this week's tournament will help paint a picture of who will solidify themselves in his main lineup.

"This will serve as a certification tool of our starters," he said. "Nobody in fall camp has really come around and just dominated so at this juncture everybody is on a level field."

Although Canaba has yet to determine who his impact players are he says that issue is not necessarily a negative.

"Right now, I just don't know and probably won't know until after that first serve on Friday," said Canaba.

"I think in some aspects that's a good thing. There is a consistency with the ladies in terms that everyone knows what their job is but how they execute that, in some regards, can only really be determined once they face an opponent other than themselves," he said.

Canaba stressed he expects to see his players grow over the two-day event.

"You can only really mature and become better when you play high-caliber teams like what we'll face this weekend," said Canaba. "I expect our players to grow through this weekend and I also expect to see who my leaders are."

"I don't want to have to wait a month into the season to gage where we are," he said. "That needs to be established early and well before we begin conference play."

Friday's first serve against Lawrence is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Sul Ross will then take on Paul Quinn in the nightcap beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday's action gets underway at 10:00 a.m. as the Lady Lobos face former American Southwest Conference foe Centenary before tangling with Austin College at 2:00 p.m.