Stephen F. Austin
Louisiana
SFA Set to Host their First Tournament of the Season
9/3/2025 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin Volleyball program is hosting their first tournament of the season with Louisiana on Thursday, September 4, Abilene Christian on Friday, September 5, and ending with Sam Houston on Saturday, September 6.
WHERE TO TUNE IN
• Thursday's match against Louisiana will ONLY be radio with Greg Miller.
• Friday and Saturday's matches will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Greg Miller and Brittany Castledine on the call.
ABOUT THE LADYJACKS
• With two wins at the UTSA Invitational last weekend, Head Coach Debbie Humphreys is two wins away from passing the 850 mark.
• With John Cook (NEB) and Mary Wise (FLA) announcing their retirements over the summer, Coach Humphreys is now one of two active coaches in Division I to win over 800 matches and is the only active coach to win 800 at one institution. She has the second most wins among active DI coaches with 848.
• The Ladyjacks start the season 2-0 for the second season in a row.
SCOUTING LOUISIANA
• Louisiana enters the Pressure Cooker with a 3-0 record after defeating Texas Southern, Tarleton, and New Orleans in their home tournament.
• Senior Opposite Hitter, Cailin Demps leads the Ragin Cajuns with 38 kills (3.17 per set).
• Junior transfer setters Nene Hawkins and Ryleigh Garis ran the Louisiana offense with 132 combined assists last weekend.
• This is Louisiana's first appearance in Shelton Gym since a midweek match in 2009.
SCOUTING ABILENE CHRISTIAN
• ACU comes to Nacogdoches after a 1-2 opening weekend at the ACU Wildcat Classic. After winning their opening match against Missouri State, the Wildcats dropped their next two against Incarnate Word and Oklahoma.
• Junior outside hitter, Aubrey Beaver leads the team with 38 kills (3.17 per set). Followed by junior middle blocker, Hannah Gonzalez who recorded 30 kills (2.50 per set).
• Junior setter, Rachel Koss runs the ACU offense and recorded 88 assists (7.13 per set).
• Defensively, freshman libero Brennan Ramirez recorded 53 digs (4.42 per set) while Gonzalez and sophomore middle blocker Erika Gustafson are tied for the team lead with 13 blocks.
SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON
• SHSU opened up their season hosting the Bearkat Invitational. The Bearkats dropped their opener to Southern Illinois, then defeated McNeese in their second match, and finished the tournament with a loss to Tulane.
• Freshman outside hitter, Chloe Monson leads the Bearkats with 39 kills (3.25 per set).
• Senior setter, Avery Fowler runs the SHSU offense with 95 assists (7.31 per set).
• On the defensive side, sophomore libero leads the team with 68 digs (5.23 per set) while sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Butler with 10 blocks.
SERIES HISTORY
• SFA holds a 13-0 series lead against Louisiana with eight of those at home.
• SFA holds a 14-2 series lead over ACU and are 6-0 against the Wildcats at home.
• In the Battle of the Piney Woods on the court, SFA holds a 42-26 series lead and a 30-8 record at home.
DEBBIE HUMPHREYS COURT
• On May 3rd, 2025 the Debbie Humphreys Court at Shelton Gym was unveiled with a Taraflex® playing surface.
• The best surface in the world is now in Nacogdoches, and it will rightfully bear the name of one of the best volleyball coaches in the nation who has called SFA home for 37 years. What an honor for our current and future athletes to be able to play on this quality surface and to be coached by the one and only Debbie Humphreys. said Director of Athletics Micheal McBroom
• SFA will be the only school in the Southland to feature a Taraflex® court.
MVP MVP MVP
• Ilana de Assis was named MVP of the UTSA Invitational after recording 24 kills, hitting .286, two aces, 19 digs, and two blocks.
• Katherine Holtman earned a spot on the UTSA Outstanding Players team after tying Assis for the team lead with 24 kills, hitting .320, fives aces, and four blocks.
• Caroline Kahle also earned a spot after leading the 'Jacks defense with 23 digs, 13 assists and four aces.
RETURNEE RUNDOWN
• The 'Jacks return 84.58% of their offense and 77.24% of their defense from the 2024.
• SFA's 11 returning players accounted for 89.58% of sets played, 94.89% of kills, 72.06% of digs, 74.31% of assists, 96.72% of blocks, 78.33% of aces, and 91.36% of points scored.
• All three First Team-SLC Selections return for the 2025 season.
2025 SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
• The 'Jacks 2025 slate features three NCAA Tournament teams from last season; Texas State, Loyola Chicago, and SMU.
• SFA will host two home tournaments hosting Louisiana, Abilene Christian, and Sam Houston from September 4-6 followed by SMU and UTEP on September 18 and 20.
• The Ladyjacks will face a tough set of opponents at the Loyola Chicago tournament where they will match up with the Ramblers then Bowling Green before closing the tournament against Indiana on September 11-13.
• The Southland Conference slate for the Ladyjacks opens with the defending Tournament Champions, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders and will wrap up with a home-and-home against Lamar before the conference tournament in Commerce.
TICKET INFORMATION
Join SFA Volleyball at the Debbie Humphreys Court at Shelton Gym this fall! Season tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. Fans can visit SFAtickets.com for more information.
FOLLOW THE LADYJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA Volleyball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Ladyjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
