MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State closes out non-conference this weekend at the Wildcat Classic hosted by Arizona beginning on Friday.
Alabama State plays a pair of matches on Friday against New Mexico State and Long Beach State, before a Saturday match against Arizona.
The trip will be the fifth for the Lady Hornets to Tucson, and the four trips have proven beneficial in those years. Alabama State has won three Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament titles and earned NCAA Tournament berths (2014, 2016, 2019), and won a regular season title (2022) in the only other year.
The Lady Hornets have played New Mexico State twice, both times in Tucson, including last season.
Match Info
Alabama State vs. New Mexico State
Friday, Sept. 15 | McKale Center | 12 p.m. (CT) | 10 a.m. (MT)
Live Stats
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Game Notes (.pdf)
Alabama State vs. Long Beach State
Friday, Sept. 15 | McKale Center | 6 p.m. (CT) | 4 p.m. (MT)
Live Stats
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Game Notes (.pdf)
Alabama State at Arizona
Saturday, Sept. 16 | McKale Center | 2:30 p.m. (CT) | 12:30 p.m.(MT)
Live Stats
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Game Notes (.pdf)
Alabama State Notes
- Jylen Whitten earned all-tournament honors this past weekend at the Hampton Inn and Suites Seahawk Classic after recording 42 kills and 31 digs in three matches. She recorded a pair of double-doubles in the tournament.
- She became the second player to earn all-tournament honors after Temperance Chatman earned the honor following the UCF Challenge.
- Madison Beasley will be playing close to home this weekend and returns with 1,600 career assists. She is currently in the top 20 in assists, digs, and service aces at the school.
- Jada Rhodes is currently in the top 15 in kills and digs, while Emily Brooks is in the top 15 in assists, and Chatman is in the top 20 in digs.
New Mexico State Notes
- Head coach Mike Jordan recorded his 550th career victory when the Aggies defeated Saint Louis at the Redbird Classic last week.
- Darian Markham led Division I at one point this season averaging 6.33 digs per set. Although that number has dropped to 5.28 per set, she still leads Conference USA and is 12th in the NCAA.
- New Mexico State opens conference play next week against Middle Tennessee on Friday, Sept. 22 at home.
Long Beach State Notes
- Long Beach State enters the weekend playing for just the second time on the road after a pair of matches in the state of Nebraska, including a loss to the No. 4 Cornhuskers.
- The Beach opened the season with a win over No. 1 Texas, their first win over a top-ranked team since 2001.
- Long Beach State was picked to finish third in the Big West Conference behind Hawai'i and UC Santa Barbara.
Arizona Notes
- The Wildcats return nine letterwinners from last season and enter the weekend after dropping their last two matches against Wisconsin and Miami (Fla.).
- Offensively, a pair of Wildcats have recorded 100-plus kills on the season including Sofia Maldonado Diaz with 106. She is joined in triple figures by Jaelyn Hodge with 105.
- Ana Heath leads the team with 279 assists.
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