MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State opens the 2023 volleyball season this weekend at the Tribute to #10 tournament hosted by Cincinnati beginning Friday.
 
Alabama State (20-15 last season) opens the season against the host team Cincinnati at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ Friday night. They will also face Indiana State (Aug. 26/3 p.m.) and Xavier (Aug. 27/12 p.m.) to open the season.
 
Match Info
Alabama State at Cincinnati
Friday, Aug. 25 | Fifth Third Bank Arena | 6 p.m.
Watch Live (ESPN+)
Live Stats
Game Notes (.pdf)
Tournament Central
 
Alabama State vs. Indiana State
Saturday, Aug. 26 | Fifth Third Bank Arena | 3 p.m.
Live Stats
Tournament Central
 
Alabama State vs. Xavier
Sunday, Aug. 27 | Fifth Third Bank Arena | noon
Live Stats
Tournament Central
 
Alabama State Notes

• The Lady Hornets return six players who were named preseason All-SWAC earlier this month including a pair of first-team selections Jada Rhodes and Taila Gaines (also named Blocker of the Year).
• They also return A'Nylah Cobb and Temperance Chatman who were named second-team preseason all-conference and a pair of setters of Madison Beasley and Emily Brooks.
• The Lady Hornets were picked to finish second in the preseason poll, just behind Florida A&M.
• Alabama State has recorded 699 total victories as a school entering its 47th season of competition, including 218 of those under current head coach Penny Lucas-White. During that time, the Lady Hornets have won six conference championships to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
• Beasley enters 2023 with 1,432 assists and is currently eighth all-time at the school just 15 behind Anne Meinhart (2008-09). She needs just 68 assists to reach 1,500 for her career. Meanwhile, Rhodes is tied for 12th all-time in kills and is 13th all-time in digs. Chatman enters the year in the top 15 in digs and Brooks is in the top 15 in assists at the school.
• Alabama State returns three setters from last in Beasley (485 assists/5.51 per set), Brooks (468/4.33 per set), and Brooke Adams (242/2.64 per set).
• The Lady Hornets picked up a pair of in-conference transfers in Gaines and Jylen Whitten from Jackson State, both of whom have earned All-SWAC honors in the past.

Cincinnati Notes

• The Bearcats played on a 10-day foreign tour through Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy this summer playing against national teams from each country.
• This season is the first season for Cincinnati in the Big 12 and will play against nine times who reached the postseason in 2022.
• They return nine letterwinners including four starters from a season ago including all-conference performers Abby Walker and Carly Giendinning.
• The roster also includes a trio of super seniors including Elissa Alcantara, Jadyn Bauss, and Carly Skrabak.

Indiana State Notes

• Karinna Gall and Kaitlyn Hamilton each were named Missouri Valley Conference preseason all-conference before the start of the season.
• The Sycamores return eight players including six starters from a season ago in which they finished 3-23.
• Four players return who ended the season averaging 2.00 kills or better per set last season, and also Emma Kaelin who averaged 6.39 assists per set.

Xavier Notes

• The Musketeers were picked to finish third in the league as voted on the 2023 BIG EAST Preseason Poll by the coaches.  Both Catherine O'Reilly and Brooklyn Cink were tabbed to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.  O'Reilly earned the selection for the third consecutive season.
• In 2022, the Musketeers achieved a 21-12 (11-7 BIG EAST) record, a trip to the BIG EAST Conference Tournament, and a postseason bid to the NIVC where they advanced to the quarterfinals but ended the season in a five-set match with Boston College.  The Musketeers are looking towards another successful season.
• Xavier returns 11 letterwinners, three of who were tabbed to the 2022 All-BIG EAST Team. The 2023 roster consists of two graduate students, four seniors, four juniors, one sophomore, and six freshmen.  
• Following the conclusion of the 2022 regular season, head coach Christy Pfeffenberger and her staff were named the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year. 

Series against Cincinnati
Alabama State and Cincinnati have met one time in school history with the Bearcats sweeing Alabama State back in 1996.
 
Series against Indiana State
Alabama State and Indiana State have never met.
 
Series against Xavier
Alabama State and Xavier have never met.
 
Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State athletics, follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateSports (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook), @bamastatesports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at bamastatesports.com.