WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Southeastern Louisiana volleyball team faces a pair of ranked squads in this weekend's Stacey Clark Classic, hosted Friday and Saturday by Purdue at Holloway Gymnasium.
 
Southeastern (1-8) faces the host institution, the No. 14-ranked Boilermakers (7-1), Friday at 9 a.m. CDT before turning around later in the day for a 4 p.m. matchup with Xavier (5-5).
 
The Lady Lions close out the tournament Saturday at 12 p.m. CDT against No. 4-ranked Kansas (9-0). Last season the Jayhawks advanced to the Final Four.
 
Live stats are available for all three matches, while streaming video is available for the Purdue match on BTN Plus or BTN2Go.com. Fans can also listen to radio broadcasts of both the Purdue and Kansas matches. Links to audio, stats and video can be found on the volleyball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

The Lady Lions feature a balanced offensive attack. Leading the way are Elyssa Purcell (2.29 k/set), a redshirt freshman from Alvin, Texas, Parrie Hartley (2.13 k/set), a senior from Columbus, Texas, Chloee Holden (1.97 k/set), a freshman from Alvin, Savannah Alcazar (1.65 k/set), a freshman from League City, Texas, and Rachael Bunn (1.60 k/set), a senior from San Juan Capistrano, California.
 
Haley Baker (6.03 assists per set), a sophomore from Elkton, Maryland, handles the bulk of the setting duties, while splitting time with Purcell (3.93 a/set). Purcell ranks third in the Southland Conference with an average of 0.34 service aces per set.

Libero Monica Ramon (3.86 digs per set), a sophomore from San Antonio, Texas, ranks sixth in the Southland in digs. She is joined on the back row by Madi Odom (2.78 d/set), a senior from Kingwood, Texas, Macey Stock (2.34), a sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Purcell (2.25 d/set)
 
Southeastern dropped all three of its matches in the USU Invitational presented by Gossner Foods this past weekend at Utah State.
 
Purdue has won five consecutive matches, winning both Notre Dame's Shamrock Invitational and the Stanford Invitational.
 
Danielle Cuttino (4.16 k/set), Azariah Stahl (3.61 k/set) and Ashley Evans (11.71 a/set) pace the Boilermaker offensive attack.
 
At the net, Blake Mohler (1.13 b/set), Faye Adelaja (1.11 b/set), Cuttino (0.81 b/set) and Sherridan Atkinson (0.77 b/set) combine for a formidable blocking unit.
 
Natalie Haben (3.68 d/set), Stahl (2.65 d/set), Evans (2.39 d/set) and Brooke Peters (2.16 d/set) are the leading defenders along the back row.
 
Xavier took 2-of-3 matches this past weekend in the Holiday Inn West Invitational hosted by Western Michigan, including a win over Southeastern Conference-foe Tennessee.
 
Abby Bessler (4.00 k/set), Kristen Massa (2.60 k/set) and Sofia Peterson (2.46 k/set) are the Musketeers' top attackers, while Mackenzi Humm (6.08 a/set) and McKena Estes (5.45 a/set) split setting duties.
 
Alexis Newsome (1.08 b/set), Lauren Frilling (0.66 b/set) and Brooke Betts (0.63 b/set) are Xavier's top blocking threats. Meredith Klare (4.05 d/set), Samantha Foti (2.43 d/set) and Bessler (2.26 d/set) anchor the back row.
 
Kansas is led by Kelsie Payne (4.13 k/set), Madison Rigdon (3.71 k/set) and Ainise Havili (11.06 a/set).
 
Averaging 2.25 blocks per set as a team, the Jayhawks' leaders at the net are Kayla Cheadle (1.50 b/set), Zoe Hill (1.00 b/set), Payne (0.90 b/set) and Tayler Soucie (0.88 b/set). Five defenders are averaging at least two digs per set, paced by Cassie Wait (5.65 d/set).
 
Following the tournament Southeastern finally returns to the University Center, opening Southland Conference play Sept. 22 against Lamar with the annual Dig the Lions match.
 
 
Friday, September 16
9:00 a.m.         Southeastern Lousiana vs. Purdue
11:00 a.m.       Xavier vs. Kansas
4:00 p.m.         Southeastern Lousiana vs. Xavier
6:30 p.m.         Kansas vs. Purdue
 
Saturday, September 17
12:00 p.m.       Kansas vs. Southeastern Lousiana
5:00 p.m.         Xavier vs. Purdue