After being home for the first time in weeks, Alabama State volleyball will travel to Princess Anne, Md. to compete in the Maryland Eastern Shore Tournament. The Lady Hornets will take on Cal State Bakersfield and the host Hawks on Friday.
“As always I love the heat of the competition,” said Penny Lucas White, Head Women's Volleyball Coach. “Every game is as important at the next. The young ladies have bought into the level of competition we expect and they have learned to build on it.”
While at home this past weekend Alabama State hosted its annual Lady Hornet Tournament falling to Southwestern Athletic (SWAC) rival Jackson State and South Carolina State. At the same time they picked up a win in their second conference competition against Mississippi Valley. The win moved ASU to a perfect 2-0 in conference and 7-13 overall.
Maya Bell is leading the way for the Lady Hornets as the freshman currently has a team-leading .455 attack percentage to go along with a team-high 314 kills. Sophomore libero Luiza Griz is averaging 2.80 digs per game to lead the ASU defense. Bell has served up 41 aces on the season. At the net, freshman Alex Chace has totaled five solo blocks and 16 assists en route to a .46 blocks per game. Setter Ana Pego has already surpasses her career high in assist with 610 averaging 8.84 assists per game to go along with 10 aces on the season.
Alabama State's first opponent, Cal State Bakersfield is currently 3-11 on the season. The Runners are coming into this weekend after a 1-3 loss to Fresno State Thursday night. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Host team Maryland Eastern Shore comes into the weekend 6-6 after a 3-1 win over High Point last Saturday. This will also be another first between these two teams. The Lady Hornets will also face Hampton, who enters the match 4-7 after a 3-1 win over Norfolk State and then they will take on North Carolina Central who enters this weekend's contest 1-12 after their first 3-0 big win of the season over North Carolina A&T last Friday evening.
This is not the first time that Coach White has seen some of these teams in competition. “I have had a chance to compete against Cal-State Bakersfield and North Carolina Central, said White. “This will be my first time facing Hampton and Maryland Eastern Shore in competition and I am looking forward to seeing my young ladies play this weekend.
The action will get underway at 1 p.m. as ASU takes on Cal State Bakersfield followed by the Lady Hornets taking on the Host team the Hawks in the nightcap at 5 p.m.
-HORNETS-
