JACKSON, MISS.  – The Alabama State volleyball team will get their first look of the 2015 season against the SWAC's West Division opponents when the Lady Hornets travel to Jackson to play five matches over a two-day span beginning on Friday night at the T.B. Ellis Gymnasium.

It certainly will be a test of endurance for ASU (7-12, 3-1 SWAC), who will play three matches on Friday and then two more in back-to-back fashion on Saturday.

ASU draws Southern (3-14, 2-1 SWAC) first at 1 p.m. followed by a 3 p.m. meeting with Grambling State (5-13, 0-4 SWAC) and a 7 p.m. estimated start time against Prairie View A&M (1-17, 1-1 SWAC).

The SWAC Round-Up continues Saturday with a 1 p.m. match against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-17, 1-1 SWAC) and will directly follow with a 3 p.m. scheduled match versus Texas Southern (5-12, 3-1 SWAC). 

The Lady Hornets went 6-2 against SWAC West opponents in 2014, picking up four wins against Southern including two in the SWAC championship series, and one apiece against Prairie View A&M and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

ASU did not meet Grambling last season, but defeated them in their last head-to-head match with a straight sets victory in October of 2013 in Baton Rouge. 

Alabama State lost regular season matches to Prairie View and Texas Southern on the road in 2014, but neither counted as a conference match. 

These will not count toward the conference standings, either, but it could very well be a preview for potential SWAC Tournament matches next month when a NCAA Tournament qualifying bid will be on the line. 

"This finally gives us an opportunity to see what the teams from the other side looks like," said Alabama State head women's volleyball coach Penny Lucas-White.

"Texas Southern looks strong again as they have traditionally been and Southern tasted what victory is like from last season's run to the SWAC Championship.

Pine Bluff has a new coach [Dustin Sahlmann] whom I respect and see them continuing to grow.  Then, we have TaCho Taylor at Prairie View who is on an interim coaching basis, but really has shown to have the necessary teaching tools to be the full-time coach.  And, we didn't play Grambling last year so it will be good to see them once again." 

LEADERS

Alabama State: Rachel Smith 133 kills, Chelsey Scott 2.26 kills per set, Kori Kutsch 311 assists (4.64 assists per set), Scout Wonsang 213 digs (3.33 digs per set), Myla Marshall 76 total blocks (1.12 blocks per set), Riley MacDonald 17 aces (0.25 aces per set). 

Leaders for Friday's opponents

Southern: Chinasa Ekweariri 112 kills (2.07 kills per set), Vaterra Calais 287 assists (5.04 assists per set), Diamond Williams 223 digs (4.21 digs per set), Leila Lealaimatafao 33 blocks (0.58 blocks per set), Calais 16 aces (0.28 aces per set).

Grambling State: Maya Lucas 98 kills (1.75 kills per set), Kiara Finley 175 assists (2.92 assists per set), Alleeyah Hensley 155 digs (2.72 digs per set), Desiree Bishop 42 blocks (0.74 blocks per set), Finley and Lucas 11 aces apiece, Lucas 0.20 aces per set.

Prairie View A&M: Randi Hunter 68 kills, Marissa Campbell 1.51 kills per set, Ana Kiso 305 assists (5.65 assists per set), Kiso 99 digs, Paige Chuidian 1.92 digs per set, Hunter 30 blocks (0.60 blocks per set), Jordan Calli Hensch eight aces (0.18 aces per set).

Leaders for Saturday's opponents

Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Natalie Gibbs 100 kills (1.85 kills per set), Katy Hufnagel 405 assists (6.04 assists per set), Courtney Brand 226 digs (3.37 digs per set), Lauren Corby 39 blocks (0.60 blocks per set), Kayla Dowdell 12 aces (0.23 aces per set).

Texas Southern: Kali Fluke 162 kills (2.75 kills per set), Chelsea Thompson 253 assists (4.29 assists per set), Allison Woods 155 digs (2.92 digs per set), Fluke 70 blocks (1.19 blocks per set), Robyn Shannon and Thompson 12 aces apiece, Thompson 0.20 aces per set. 

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