HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana opens Southland Conference volleyball action this weekend by hosting a pair of teams at the University Center, including defending conference champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
The Lady Lions (2-11) match up against A&M-Corpus Christi (3-8) at 7 p.m. Thursday. The match features the annual Dig the Lions promotion during which the first 200 students in attendance will receive a free t-shirt.
 
Saturday at 1 p.m., prior to the Southeastern Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and evening football game, the Lady Lions will host Incarnate Word (1-6) in another Southland match.
 
Admission to both matches is free and fans are asked to enter the arena upstairs at Gate 3. Volleyball posters and magnet schedules will be available in the Fan Zone, and students can earn points toward their LionUp Loyalty account by checking in on the app while in attendance.
 
Fans can watch both matches live on LionVision, Southeastern's subscription-based video stream, or follow live statistics. Links for stats, video and promotions are available on the volleyball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
 
NOTES

• Southeastern is averaging 10.02 kills with a .114 attack percentage, 9.21 assists, 12.28 digs and 1.40 blocks per set. Opponents are averaging 13.35 kills with a .249 attack percentage, 12.56 assists, 14.33 digs and 2.15 blocks per set.
• The Lady Lions' offense is improving each time out, posting their four best attack percentages of the season in the last five matches.
• Savannah Alcazar (1.97 kills per set), Chloee Holden (1.93 kills per set) and Alli Capps (1.63 kills per set) are Southeastern's top attackers.
• Haley Baker (5.16 assists per set) and Michelle Mirarchi (2.86 assists per set) share setting duties. Baker also leads the team with eight service aces.
• Junior transfer Lexie Torres leads the Lady Lions with 3.39 digs per set. Freshman middle Tempest Vaughn is Southeastern's top blocker, recording 29 total blocks (0.76 per set).

 
 
OPPONENTS
A&M-Corpus Christi: Picked to win the Southland in the conference preseason poll … has won 38 consecutive matches against Southland competition … advanced to NCAA Tournament each of past two seasons after winning the Southland Tournament … four of the Islanders five returning starters earned preseason All-Conference honors, including first team honors for reigning Player of the Year Brittany Gilpin, Setter of the Year Kristyn Nicholson and Madi Fitzsimmons … Madeleine Doud earned second team honors … Gilpin leads the team with 2.97 kills per set, ranking sixth in the conference … three of the Islanders eight losses this season have come at the hands of ranked opponents, including No. 1 ranked Minnesota and No. 5 ranked Texas … the Islanders are averaging 11.74 kills on a .187 attack percentage, 10.97 assists, 14.82 digs and 1.42 blocks per set.
 
 
Incarnate Word: Picked to finish eighth in the Southland's preseason poll … outside hitter Autumn Lockley (first team) and middle blocker Bryaunea Hall (second team) earned preseason All-Conference honors … Lockley leads the team with 2.76 kills per set … had three matches wiped out on opening weekend by Hurricane Harvey, forcing cancellation of UIW's own I-10 Cardinals Classic … last time out the Cardinals dropped a pair of matches in the UTRGV Tournament to host UTRGV and Texas Southern … the Cardinals are averaging 10.59 kills on a .185 attack percentage, 10.14 assists, 11.76 digs and 1.48 blocks per set.
 
 
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 21 – vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 7 PM | Live Stats | Live Video
Saturday, Sept. 23 – vs. Incarnate Word – 1 PM | Live Stats | Live Video
 
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern returns to the road for three straight, traveling to Abilene Christian (Sept. 28), Sam Houston State (Sept. 30) and UL Lafayette (Oct. 3), before returning home to host Houston Baptist (Oct. 5).