SFA To Open Season At UTA/Hilton Invitational
8/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 23, 2012
Stephen F. Austin at UTA Tournament
vs UTPA - Friday, Aug. 24, 2012 • 4:00 p.m. (CST)
vs Savannah St./UTA - Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012 • 11:00 a.m./7:00 p.m. (CST)
College Park Center (5,500) • Arlington, Texas
Video: None • Live Stats: www.utamavs.com
Live Chat: www.sfavolleyblog.net
Game Notes
FOR STARTERS
The Ladyjacks open up the 2012 season on Friday in Arlington at the UTA Hilton Invitational this weekend, getting in a pair of games against familiar faces UTPA and UT Arlington along with its first-ever meeting with Savannah State. The Ladyjacks put together a 14-18 record a year ago with a young squad, but with the roster a year older, expectations have elevated for this year.
SFA will play nine of its first 10 matches of the season on the road and will look to repeat last year’s feat of going undefeated for its first weekend to open the yar. Last year the Ladyjacks traveled to Statesboro, Ga., and brought back four wins at the Georgia Southern Tournament to jump start the season. SFA has won five of its last six season-opening matches dating back to 2006.
SFA vs THE BRONCS
vs UTPA, SFA leads 10-0
The last time: SFA 3, UTPA 0 • Sept. 19, 2008 • Denton
SFA vs THE TIGERS
vs SHSU, First Meeting
SFA vs THE MAVERICKS
vs UTA, SFA leads 25-18
The last time: UTA 3, SFA 1 • Oct. 29, 2011 • Arlington
LIVE STATS: Each match can be followed via Gametracker at www.sfajacks.org
LIVE VIDEO: Saturday’s tournament finale vs UT Arlington can be watched online at www.utamavs.com
FOLLOW SFA ATHLETICS: Fans are encouraged to follow along with SFA Volleyball and SFA Athletics as a whole via SFA’s social media sites on Facebook (SFA Athletics) and Twitter (@SFA_Athletics). Up-to-the minute match updates, as well as the latest news can be found via these outlets from all home matches and selected road matches.
Fans can also follow along via live chat with the administrator of www.sfavolleyblog.net, Greg Miller. He will be courtside for all three matches in Arlington and fans can take part in the live chat on their computers or smartphones by accessing the website.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Senior libero Madison Hanlan missed the final three matches of the season after an injury late in the year, but is entering her final year with a chance to cement her name near the top of the SFA record books in digs. She has totaled 1,577 digs in her first three seasons and needs 55 digs to move past Heather Strumbaugh for second all-time at SFA and 423 to join Stephanie Figgers as just the second Ladyjack to total 2,000 digs for her career. She has averaged no less than 4.24 digs per set each season to date and if she does that again, she will also join Figgers with four seasons that rank in SFA’s top 10.
TOP OF THE BLOCKS: Sabrina Burns averaged a career best 1.07 blocks per set as a junior in 2011, which ranked fifth in the Southland; however, that mark is the highest of any returner in the SLC coming into this year. She has increased her blocks, kills and attack percentage in each of her first three years as a Ladyjack.
PRESEASON ALL-SLC LADYJACKS: SFA had a pair of selections to the preseason all-Southland Conference first team going into the year, starting with automatic selection Madison Hanlan who was a second-team all-league choice a year ago. The other spot went to sophomore outside hitter Jill Ivy who avearged 2.45 kills per set as a freshman
LADYJACKS PICKED 5TH IN PRESEASON POLLS: After a season that saw the Ladyjacks push their way back into the Southland Confernce Tournament the coaches and SIDs in the league picked SFA to finish fifth in the SLC in 2012. Central Arkansas was picked to capture their third title in four years ahead of Oral Roberts, Sam Houston and Lamar.
-SFA-
