Montgomery, Ala. – The three-time defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions Alabama State volleyball team opens the 2019 campaign by hosting the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Friday and Saturday at Lockhart Gymnasium.
 
The Lady Hornets will play three matches in the challenge with their season-opening match against South Carolina State on Friday at 1 p.m. The final two matches will be against Florida A&M on Friday at 7 p.m. and Delaware State on Saturday at 10 a.m.
 
Scouting South Carolina State
South Carolina State finished the 2018 campaign with a 1-26 overall record. The Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth in the Southern Division of the MEAC after going 1-9 in conference action in 2018.
 
SCSU returns nine players from last season led by seniors Desiree Walker, Taylor Smart and Jessica Beanard. The Bulldogs welcomed two newcomers in junior college transfer Aundrea Boyland and freshman Daivez Bell.
 
In the last outing between the Lady Hornets and Bulldogs, Alabama State won, 3-0 (26-24, 25-12, 25-15) on Aug. 25, 2018. The highlight of the match was when the Lady Hornets rattled off four consecutive points in the first set to seal the 26-24 set one win.
 
Scouting Florida A&M
Florida A&M turned in an 11-16 overall record in the 2018 campaign. They finished atop the Southern Division of the MEAC last season with a 9-1 ledger. This season, the Lady Rattlers were picked to finish tied for first in the Southern Division with Bethune-Cookman. The Lady Rattlers are led by 2019 MEAC Preseason Player of the Year senior Maria Yvette Garcia.
 
In the last outing, Alabama State topped Florida A&M, 3-0 (25-20, 25-9, 25-23) on Nov. 7, 2018. Alabama State caught an outstanding rhythm in the second set as the team hit .310 with 12 kills while holding the Lady Rattlers to a -.100 percentage with eight errors.
 
Scouting Delaware State
Delaware State finished the 2018 campaign with a 2-27 overall record and finish last in the Northern Division of the MEAC with a 0-10 record. This season the Hornets were picked to finish fifth in the Northern Division.
 
In February, Delaware State hired Dr. Bruce Atkinson to serve as its new head volleyball coach. Atkinson holds a 217-116 overall record in his 11-year head coaching career. 11 of the 16 players on the roster are freshman.
 
2019 Roster
Alabama State returns seven players from last season including 2018 SWAC Volleyball All-Tournament team selections Bayle' Bennett and Krysta Medearis.
 
The Lady Hornets brought in 11 new players for the 2019 ledger in six freshmen – Emersen Belles, Sanae Martin, Madison Beasley, Rekiyah Spears, Courtney Brown and Kimari Terrell alongside five transfers – Morgan Weatherwax, Alex Wiggins, Maya Jones, E'laisah Young and McKenzie Boland.
 
Bennett Selected as SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
In a vote by the Southwestern Athletic Conference's head coaches and sports information directors, senior Bayle' Bennett was picked as the Preseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Bennett, a 2018 All-SWAC First Team selection played in all 41 matches as well as all 142 sets last season. The senior led the team and finished third in conference in kills (384) averaging 2.70 per set while also being second on the team in service aces with 34.
 
Alabama State Picked to Finish First in Conference, Three Tabbed Preseason All-SWAC
In a vote by the Southwestern Athletic Conference's head coaches and sports information directors, Alabama State was picked to finish atop the conference. The three-time defending SWAC champions Lady Hornets received 162 points which is 30 more than Alabama A&M who was picked to finish second.
 
Last season the team led the conference in opponent hitting percentage with a .171 average, finishing second in the league in hitting percentage (.176), assists per set (10.46), opponent assists per set (10.12), kills per set (11.37), and service aces (1.46) per set (1.46).
 
Senior Bayle' Bennett was named to the 2019 Preseason All-SWAC First Team while senior Krysta Medearis and junior Taira Cottingham earned spots on the 2019 Preseason All-SWAC Second Team.
 
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