Montgomery, Ala. – Alabama State volleyball returns back to Lockhart Gymnasium after a seven-game road trip to face South Alabama on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
 
The contest against South Alabama serves as the sole home game for the Lady Hornets in September.
 
Alabama State (3-7) is coming off a tough weekend at the Saluki Invitational where the Lady Hornets were unable to secure a win. In the last match of the Invitational, Alabama State took on host Southern Illinois and lost in five, 25-16, 25-20 21-25, 14-25, 15-8 on Saturday afternoon.
 
In the match, the Lady Hornets were on fire the first three sets but the Saluki defense slowed Alabama State's momentum in the final two sets. Senior Bayle' Bennett posted her fourth consecutive double double with 13 kills and a career-high tying 19 digs.
 
Senior Krysta Medearis tallied a game-high 15 kills with a .263 hitting percentage. After the contest, Medearis was placed on the Saluki Invitational All-Tournament Team after posting 39 kills, 10 blocks and eight digs over the weekend.
 
On the season, Bennett leads the team with 115 kills, averaging 3.19 per set. Additionally, Bennett is second on the team in service aces (nine) and digs (101). Medearis follows right behind classmate Bennett with 102 kills (2.83/set) with a .261 hitting percentage.
 
Freshman Emersen Belles paces the team in digs with 105 averaging 2.92 per set as well as leads the team with 11 service aces. Defensively, junior E'laisah Young leads the team with 21 blocks including six solos and freshman Madison Beasley boasts the most assists with 211 (6.03/set).
 
Bayle' Bennett Sets Alabama State Kill Record
In the beginning of the third set against Southern Illinois, Bennett recorded her eighth kill of the match allowing her to break the program record of 1,069 kills set by Rachel Smith (2012-15). The senior is now 25 kills away from being the first Lady Hornet to eclipse 2,000 career kills.
 
Scouting South Alabama
South Alabama is coming off a 0-2 day at the Owl Invitational held by Kennesaw State on Saturday. The Jaguars (4-5) dropped the first match to Samford, 3-1 then fell in the nightcap to Kennesaw State, 3-2.
 
In the match against the Owls, Iva Durdanovic led the way with a double double in 14 kills (.233 hitting) and 12 digs. Ashlyn Roberts posted a game-high 26 digs while Rachel DeMarcus racked up 52 assists.
 
On the season Roberts is the sole Jaguar to play in all 35 sets and she leads the team in digs with 152 averaging 4.34 per set. Kelley Hartman leads the team offensively with 95 kills on a .426 hitting percentage boasting an average of 3.65 kills per set while pacing the team in blocks with 19 (eight solos).
 
DeMarcus is averaging 10.70 assists per set (214 total) while also recording six service aces on the season.
 
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