Tournament page

HAMMOND, La. – For the second-consecutive season the Southeastern Louisiana volleyball team will host its own tournament as the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic brings four teams into the University Center Friday and Saturday.

Competing against the Lady Lions for the tournament title are Louisiana Tech (4-4), Nebraska-Omaha (1-5), Southern (1-6) and Stetson (5-3). Tech and Southern return from last season's inaugural event while Omaha and Stetson make their first appearance in the tournament. Southeastern finished as the runner-up last season to Weber State.

Admission is free for all matches in the tournament. Streaming video and live stats will also be available for all matches. Links to both can be found on the tournament page at www.LionSports.net.

Stetson and Southern open up the tournament at 9 a.m. Friday with matches following every two hours after that for total of five each day. Tech and Omaha have the 11 a.m. match.

Stetson, a former conference foe of Southeastern's from the Trans America Athletic Conference days, is the first to face the Lady Lions. Stetson is a member of the Atlantic Sun, the successor to the TAAC. First serve in that contest is slated for 1 p.m.

The Lady Lions (2-6) are coming off a loss at Southern Miss and are looking for their first home win of the season. Tech and Southern each return to the floor at 3 p.m. After facing Stetson, Southeastern will turn around and close out the day at 5 p.m. against Omaha.

Tiffany Thomas (3.31 kills per set), a Tech transfer, and Mikayla Shippy (8.74 assists per set) lead the Southeastern offense while Landry Bullock (1.12 blocks per set) and Morgan Todd (4.36 digs per set) spark the defensive effort.

Entering the week, Tech was ranked 11th in the nation and leading Conference USA in service aces (2.07/set). Rebecca Redgen (3.42 k/set) and Maria Coelho (8.71 a/set) lead the Lady Techster offense while Alejandra Aviles (3.18 d/set) and Caitlin Germany (0.76 b/set) pace the defense. With a 4-4 record, Tech has already surpassed its win total from a year ago when it finished 3-27 in 2012.

Omaha captured its first win of the season at Southland Conference newcomer Houston Baptist, defeating the Huskies, 3-1. Kelly Wollak (2.86 k/set) and Bailey Baxter (5.15 a/set) are the Mavericks offensive leaders while Kimberly Bailey (3.77 d/set) and Megan Schmale anchor the defense. Schmale has been named to an all-tournament team two weekends in a row, first at the Marriott Houston Westchase Classic and then at the Omaha Marriott Classic. Her 1.27 blocks per set lead the Summit League, as does her .357 hitting percentage.

Southern coach Venessa Jacobs picked up her first career victory with a 3-2 win over Texas Southern in the UTEP Invitational this past weekend in El Paso, Texas. Simone "Scoop" Beasley earned All-Tournament team honors during the two-day invitational, posting 19 kills and a .254 attack percentage in three games. Phalen Clark (2.04 k/set, 4.29 a/set) leads the Lady Jaguar offensive effort while Michelle Williams (2.71 d/set) and Deyshia Burden (0.50 b/set) lead the way for the defense.

Stetson went 4-0 this past weekend to win its own tournament, the Stetson Westin Classic. The Hatters are riding their first four-game winning streak since 2007 and are off to their best start since 1999. Key to that has been the offensive efforts of Kaley Melville (3.55 k/set) and Kayla Weller (9.83 a/set). Defensively, Michelle Kastner (4.21 d/set) and Ellen Hawks (1.00 b/set) have been solid.

Day two of the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday as Omaha faces Stetson. Southeastern clashes with Southern at 11 a.m. In the third match, Stetson wraps up tournament play against Tech. Omaha faces Southern at 3 p.m. and then Southeastern closes out the event at 5 p.m. against Tech.

Tournament Schedule
Friday, September 13
9 a.m.  Stetson vs. Southern
11 a.m.  Louisiana Tech vs. Nebraska-Omaha
1 p.m.  Stetson vs. Southeastern Louisiana
3 p.m.  Louisiana Tech vs. Southern
5 p.m.  Nebraska-Omaha vs. Southeastern Louisiana
 
Saturday, September 14 
9 a.m.  Nebraska-Omaha vs. Stetson
11 a.m.  Southern vs. Southeastern Louisiana
1 p.m.  Louisiana Tech vs. Stetson
3 p.m.  Nebraska-Omaha vs. Southern
5 p.m.  Louisiana Tech vs. Southeastern Louisiana