JONESBORO, Ark. (4/1/21) – In a continuation of the 2020-21 regular season, the Arkansas State volleyball is set to begin the spring portion of the schedule on Friday and Saturday, traveling to Lawrence, Kansas, to face Big 12 foe Kansas.
The Red Wolves (8-8) will serve as the season finale for the Jayhawks (10-10), with two matches on the weekend inside the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena. Friday's contest is slated for a 4 p.m. CT first serve while Saturday is set for a 1 p.m. start. No live stream will be available, but live stats can be followed at AStateStats.com.
Due to the NCAA's decision to hold 2020 fall championships in spring 2021, conferences and teams were given the option to play in both the fall and spring. This spring, the Red Wolves are scheduled to compete in three matches, which will be counted towards the regular season. A-State played its Sun Belt Conference slate in the fall, going 8-8.
THE BLOCK PARTY IS BACK!
Arkansas State is looking to carry their incredible success at the net from the fall into the spring, as the Red Wolves lead the Sun Belt and rank fourth nationally with 3.07 blocks per set, which currently ranks atop the program season record charts. The Scarlet and Black also rank 15th in total blocks (184.0) – fourth in the Sun Belt.
Individually, Second Team All-Sun Belt honoree Davenport and Brianna Hollingshed look to continue being a force in the middle, ranking first and second in the conference in blocks per set in the fall.
FIRST TEAM ALL-SUN BELT HONOREE BROWN LOOKS TO CONTINUE OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
Madison Brown was one of the best in the Sun Belt Conference offensively in the fall, with an impressive 4.16 kills per set and 237 total kills, ultimately leading to First Team All-Sun Belt Conference laurels. Her 34 kills at Louisiana on October 23 are tied for the most in a four-set match this season in the NCAA.
DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE!
A-State boasted one of the top defensive units in the Sun Belt Conference during the fall, holding opponents to a .157 hitting percentage. That mark ranks second in the league and 49th nationally. Tatum Ticknor anchors the back row for the Red Wolves at the libero spot, ranking third in the conference and 19th in the NCAA with 5.45 digs per set.
KNOW THE FOE: KANSAS JAYHAWKS
Kansas is entering the series with a 10-10 overall record, going 7-9 in the fall Big 12 slate. The Jayhawks are winners of their last five matches, defeating Texas State, TCU (twice) and Wichita State (twice) after opening the spring with a 3-1 setback versus Xavier. UCLA transfer Jenny Mosser leads the team with 209 kills (3.37 per set) while Caroline Crawford ranks third in the Big 12 and inside the top 60 nationally with 1.21 blocks per set.
As a team, Kansas is one of the top blocking teams in the NCAA, ranking third in the Big 12 and 17th in the nation with 182.0 total blocks (2.27 per set).
INSIDE THE SERIES
A-State is set to face the Jayhawks for the third time in program history, with the series knotted at 1-1. Friday marks the first meeting since the 2012 season, when Kansas took a 3-1 win over the Red Wolves in Lawrence. In the inaugural meeting, A-State defeated KU 3-1 at the Pizza Inn Invitational in 1992 in Jonesboro.
NEXT UP
After returning from Lawrence, A-State is slated to host in-state rival Little Rock at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, inside First National Bank Arena. Admission to the match is free.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow the team on Twitter (@AStateVB) and Instagram (astatevb) along with liking the Arkansas State University Volleyball page on Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding the team.
