The Alabama State volleyball team arrived in Tucson Thursday afternoon heading straight to McKale Arena in order to prepare and make adjustments for the Wildcat Invitational with their first match up on Friday against host team Arizona at 2 p.m. CT.  The day starts at 10 a.m. with a match up against Pepperdine and SMU.
 
The Lady Hornets will enter tomorrow's contest 1-3 after competing in their first matches last weekend in their home tournament (ISTAP Collegiate Cup I).
 
Alabama State picked up their first win of the season against the North Carolina A&T Aggies 3-2 (13-25, 25-20, 22-25,25-15, 15-7).  Then falling to UMES 0-3 (23-25, 15-25, 25-27).  Saturday's matches saw ASU dropping both matches to Towson 0-3 (15-25, 9-25, 16-25) and to Ohio Valley conference team Tennessee State 2-3 (19-25, 25-23, 25-21, 22-25, 7-15). 
 
In order to prepare for this weekend's competition coach Penny Lucas-White made some adjustments to her team.
 
"Some of the adjustments that we have had to make are that Arizona plays above the net and they play a different game.  They have some finesse and they have a little bit higher IQ because they have longevity and more experience.  The kids are really going to grow up this weekend. I love their attitudes at practice with the changes that I am asking.  We know that we have to run some different schemes and challenge the ladies.  I think it's going to be a real exciting weekend."
 
Arizona comes in tomorrow's match with a 0-3 record after facing Kansas State (1-3) during the Wahine Invitational hosted by #6 ranked Hawaii. The Wildcats also competed against #4 ranked Wisconsin falling to them 0-3.  In their final match against the Bows Arizona couldn't close out falling 2-3.
 
"Although Arizona did not do to well as far as their overall record," said Lucas-White.  "Traditionally this team has been a dominate team, but my team doesn't care who's on the other side of the net.  They will take it as a challenge and I really want to see how we will compete against the line-up.  That part doesn't scare us at all, but you can't count Arizona out a team that has traditionally had a strong program."
 
The Match: Series 0-1 against the Wildcats
 
Arizona:
 
Leading the Wildcats is senior outside hitter Kalei Mau.  She had 44 kills and averaged .227 percent.  She was second on the team in digs with 31.  Kalei also had two blocks.
 
On the defense freshman Devyn Cross will be in the middle for the Bows.  She had 14 blocks, one solo and 13 assisted.  She had five kills as well.
 
Setting the ball is senior Penina Snuka which chipped in 108 assists for Arizona.  She had eight kills and a service ace.  Snuka is third on the team with 25 digs.
 
The defensive specialist senior Laura Larson leads the team with 47 digs averaging 3.92 digs per contest.  She also had nine assists.
 
Alabama State:
 
Junior transfer Ni'yesha Brown led the Lady Hornets in attacks with 34 kills averaging.110 kills per match.  She had two service aces, seven digs and eight assisted blocks.
 
The player to watch will be junior middle blocker Briana Dorsey who will hold down the middle after having 14 (3 solo and 11 assisted) blocks and 30 kills averaging .233 kills per match.  She had four service aces and five digs.
 
Sophomore SWAC Setter of the Week Kori Kutsch chipped in 75 assists to lead the Lady Hornets.  Teammate transfer junior Justus Tuiolosega added 52.
 
Libero Jamie Chambers leads the team in digs with 49 she also had 10 assists and two service aces.
 
"It's exciting to see these ladies play," Lucas-White said.  "Regardless of who we play I think it's going to be an exciting year and we are going to play with our best ability and leave it on the court."

Fans can watch the match live on http://pac-12.com/live/university-arizona or get up to date play-by-play action on bamastatesports.com.