Montgomery, Ala. – Alabama State University women's volleyball coach Penny Lucas-White has referred to all other matches before the Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule kicks into gear as "preseason" matches. 

This is how coach Lucas-White puts an emphasis on the SWAC and how she communicates to her team that this is where ASU will earn their keep. 

The challenges during the opening 19 matches of the Lady Hornets' schedule have pitted them against top of the line programs to get them ready for SWAC play.
 
Chief among them are the currently ranked No. 14 University of Arizona (receiving 688 points) and teams that are receiving votes in the NCAA Division I women's volleyball rankings poll such as the University of Alabama (No. 30, 11 points) and Cal State Northridge (No. 31, six points).   

Then, there were the long road trips that packed in over 2,400 miles round trip over an eight-day span in Fort Myers, Florida, and Houston, Texas. 

Now, it's time for conference play as the Lady Hornets will host Alabama A&M (5-13 overall, 2-6 road) on Friday at Lockhart Gymnasium.  The match is scheduled for a first serve at 7 p.m. 

"The SWAC now begins," coach Lucas-White said.  "It only matters how we finish.  We've been having very focused and intense practices."  Now, we will take every lesson that we've learned and now we be should able to play better volleyball.  It's about finishing.  We're playing well enough to compete, but we've got to finish."

To follow along, fans and media may check out live stats of the matches by going to bamastatesports.com and finding the live stats link with the appropriate match under the Upcoming Events Calendar. 

Social media will also be highly active during the match with constant updates and detailed information on Twitter.  Click on this link to follow: Alabama State Athletics on Twitter.
Alabama State (4-15) went 3-0 in head-to-head meetings with the Bulldogs last season including a 3-0 win in Huntsville last Oct. 18, a thrilling 3-2 set victory at home on Nov. 7 to clinch the SWAC East Division and another 3-2 set win for the SWAC Championship in Jackson, Mississippi, on Nov. 24. 

Rachel Smith, now a junior, feasted on the Lady Bulldogs by collecting a total of 47 kills in those matches. 

Alabama A&M is coming off a 3-0 win against Fisk University last Thursday that was led by Savannah Blackiston, who had 10 kills on a .563 hitting percentage to go along with five digs and three aces. 

Alabama State is coming off a 3-1 loss at Texas Southern last Saturday.  Junior Lorena Rosario enjoyed a career-high 11 kills while freshman Briana Dorsey put down five kills (.400 hitting percentage) with five blocks. 

Team leaders: Alabama A&M: junior outside hitter Kyanna Sales (148 kills); junior setter/right side Megan Butler (463 assists), junior right side Savannah Blackiston (16 aces), sophomore libero Rebecca Cortez (168 digs), sophomore middle blocker Ashundria McNeal (45 blocks); Alabama State: Junior outside hitter Chelsey Scott (127 kills), senior setter Ellyn Jones (366 assists, 21 aces), junior middle hitter Myla Marshall (52 blocks), junior outside hitter Rachel Smith (133 digs).

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