MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Southeastern Louisiana returns to the road for three volleyball matches, Friday and Saturday, in the ISTAP Collegiate Cup Invitational at Lockhart Gymnasium.
 
The Lady Lions (0-6) face host Alabama State (2-5), Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. Southeastern plays a pair of matches on Sept. 9, facing off against Jacksonville (1-5) at 9 a.m. and Western Carolina (2-4) at 3:30 p.m.
 
Southeastern is still looking for its first win of the season after dropping all three of its matches this past weekend at the BGSU / UT Invitational.
 
NOTES

• The Lady Lions return to the ISTAP Collegiate Cup Invitational for the second time, opening the 2012 season at the tournament in Montgomery. That season, Southeastern defeated Alabama State, 3-1, in the opener.
• Southeastern faced both Jacksonville and Western Carolina, at separate tournaments, during the 2013 season. The Lady Lions fell, 3-1, to Jacksonville during their final match in Boca Raton, Florida, at the FAU Invitational hosted by Embassy Suites. Western Carolina swept past the Lady Lions, 3-0, during the opening match of the Memphis Invitational.
• Junior libero Lexie Torres (San Antonio, Texas) ranks fourth in the Southland Conference in digs per set (4.25) after last week's All-Tournament performance in Ohio.

 
OPPONENTS
Alabama State: Picked to win the SWAC in the conference's preseason poll … senior middle blocker Briana Dorsey was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year … the Lady Hornets also return the SWAC Setter of the Year (Justus Tuiolosega), Freshman of the Year (Bayle' Bennett) and Newcomer of the Year (Ni'yesha Brown) … Alabama State has dropped five straight matches.
 
Jacksonville: Picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic Sun's preseason poll … one of two wins this season came in the opener against fellow Southland foe Lamar at Clemson's Big Orange Bash on Aug. 25 … middle blocker Hannah Marchand was named the ASun Freshman of the Week following the tournament, recording 25 kills, 12 blocks and four aces in three matches … the Dolphins have dropped three straight matches since opening weekend.

Western Carolina: Picked to finish eighth in the Southern Conference's preseason poll … three players, including sophomore Abigail Veit (2.58 kills per set), are averaging at least a pair of kills … Western Carolina has dropped its last five matches since winning the season opener against Charleston Southern in its own Catamount Volleyball Classic.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern hosts Southern Miss at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the University Center. The match is the Lady Lions' home opener. Admission is free and fans should 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.
 
For more on Southeastern volleyball, visit LionSports.net and follow both @sluathletics and @southeastern_vb on Twitter.