MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State hits the road this week for three matches at the Hampton Inn and Suites Seahawk Classic on Thursday hosted by UNC-Wilmington.
 
Alabama State begins play against the host team, UNC-Wilmington, on Thursday before facing Norfolk State (Friday) and East Carolina (Saturday). The Lady Hornets enter the match following a 3-1 loss to North Alabama on Wednesday night at home, and will be playing in their third tournament of the season.
 
Match Info
Alabama State at UNC-Wilmington
Thursday, Sept. 7 | Trask Coliseum | 4 p.m. (CT)
Live Stats
Watch Live
Game Notes (.pdf)
 
Alabama State vs. Norfolk State
Friday, Sept. 8 | Trask Coliseum | 1 p.m. (CT)
Live Stats
Game Notes (.pdf)
 
Alabama State vs. East Carolina
Saturday, Sept. 9 | Trask Coliseum | 1 p.m. (CT)
Live Stats
Game Notes (.pdf)
 
Alabama State Notes

• Alabama State hits the road again this week for the third time this season, and will be playing its seventh road contest in eight matches on Thursday.
• The meeting between Alabama State and UNC-Wilmington will be the first in school history.
• Jylen Whitten (offensive), Taila Gaines (defensive), and Madison Beasley (setter) each won Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) awards this week for their performance in the UCF Challenge.
• Temperance Chatman was named to the all-tournament team during the UCF Challenge played last weekend.
• Beasley became just the seventh player in school to hit the 1,500-career assist mark, and she is currently sixth all-time at the school. Meanwhile, Jada Rhodes is currently 11th all-time at the school in kills and 13th in digs entering the weekend.

UNC-Wilmington Notes

• The Seahawks have dropped two of their last three matches after defeating Presbyterian back on Aug. 26.
• Caitlyn Callahan leads the team with 46 total kills on the season, while Sarah Thompson has added 43. A pair of players, Alexa Brezeault and Grace Melnick, each have recorded 37 kills.
• Annabelle Schall leads the Seahawks with 118 assists, while Morgan Galligan has added 82.
• This will be the second tournament hosted by UNCW this season, hosting one during the opening weekend of play.

Norfolk State Notes

• The Spartans have only played two matches thus far this season after its match with Hampton scheduled for Sept. 5 was canceled.
• Norfolk State was selected to finish fourth in the MEAC preseason coaches show, voted on by head coaches and sports information directors in the conference. The fourth place ranking is the highest for Norfolk State since the 2013 season when the Spartans were selected third in the North division. 
• NSU finished the 2022 season with an appearance in the MEAC quarterfinal match after going 7-7 in league play throughout the season. The conference mark was the best MEAC finish since 2013 for the Spartans who placed a trio of student-athletes on the MEAC All-Conference teams. Two of the three MEAC honorees returns for the 2023 season in Shorite Seale and Sydney McCree.

East Carolina Notes

• Carlia Northcross averaged 1.36 blocks per set in three matches at the Pirate Invitational over the weekend as ECU swept Campbell and Bethune-Cookman before dropping a narrow 3-2 decision to Appalachian State in the tournament finale on her way to AAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Northcross, along with classmate and outside hitter Angeles Alderete were named to the all-tournament team.
• Alderette was named to the preseason all-conference team at the beginning of the season. The 2022 AAC Freshman of the Year and All-AAC Second Team honoree ranked third in the conference in kills (501), kills per set (4.07), points (561.0) and points per set (4.56) a year ago while also becoming the first East Carolina player since 2007 to record more than 500 kills in a campaign.
• East Carolina was picked to finish second in the AAC East Division. They garnered garnered 70 points and five first-place votes, slotting just behind Memphis. The Tigers collected six first-place votes and 72 points. Florida Atlantic and Temple tied for third place in the division, followed by South Florida, UAB and Charlotte.

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