ITTA BENA, MISS. | Alabama State begins defense of its 2017 tournament crown Friday night at 6:30 in the opening round of the Southwestern Athletic conference (SWAC) tournament with a tilt against seventh-seeded Prairie View A&M on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University.

The winner will advance to face the survivor of Southern and Grambling State on Saturday at 4 pm. The Lady Hornets (20-17), the No. 2 overall seed, have won their last ten conference matches and will be aiming for their fifth title in six years.

Alabama State has handled Prairie View A&M in dominating fashion this year, sweeping the Lady Panthers in three sets in each matchup. Prairie View A&M boasts Christen Augustine (3.66 digs per set), one of the top defenders in the SWAC and the all-time digs leader for the Lady Panthers. Prairie View picked up wins in its final two matches of the season, sweeping Texas Southern before taking down Arkansas Pine Bluff in four sets.

The Lady Hornets boast the top overall blocks leader (Candace Martin – 116), the top overall assists leader (Kori Kutsch – 1082) and the No. 2 player in total kills (Bayle' Bennett – 337). Collectively, Alabama State ranks first in the SWAC in opponent blocks at 1.52 per set. Opponents are also hitting just .174 against the Lady Hornets, also the top mark in the conference. Alabama State also finds itself among the top national leaders with 187 total service aces, the eight-highest mark in the country.

This year marks the 30th year schools will participate in the league's tournament. The winner of the tournament receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

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