Match 7 | South Alabama (1-3) at Southeastern (2-4)
Sept. 10, 2024 | 1 p.m. | University Center (7,500) | Hammond, La.
Series History: South Alabama leads, 24-18
Last Meeting: South Alabama 3, Southeastern 0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-19) (Sept. 7, 2018 – Mobile, Ala.)
Television: None

HAMMOND, La. – The reigning, two-time Southland Conference Champion Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team earned its first Southland Conference weekly award of the 2024 season on Monday as Keira Beverly was named the SLC's Defensive Player of the Week, but the celebration will be short as the Lady Lions prepare for their Tuesday home opener against South Alabama.
 
Beverly, a redshirt freshman from Mandeville, had 18 total blocks over Southeastern's three matches at the Borderland Invitational last weekend. She had three blocks, all assisted, in the opener against the host UTEP and six blocks, also all assisted, in the finale against Air Force. But her biggest performance came in the middle affair of the weekend as she got nine blocks, one solo and eight assisted, in the reverse sweep of the SLC preseason favorite, Stephen F. Austin, which ended SFA's undefeated start to the season and their 21-match regular season win streak dating back to the 2023 season. The award is Beverly's first career weekly honor.
 
But the time to soak in the honor will be limited as the Lady Lions (2-4) prepare for their first home match of the season as Southeastern welcomes in South Alabama to Hammond, America. Opening serve of Tuesday's match against the Jaguars (1-3) is set for 1 p.m. in the University Center. The match will not be televised but live stats will be available.
 
Southeastern (2-4) will be trying to extend its win streak from El Paso out to three matches, trying to do so against a team it hasn't defeated in eight-straight attempts, though this will be the first attempt at doing so under head coach Jeremy White. However, home has been very sweet for the Lady Lions for the past two seasons, having won 24 of the last 26 matches inside the University Center since the start of the 2022 season, including the last nine straight.
 
SLU's offense, which really started to click in the third set of the match against SFA and has performed well since, continues to be led by Cicily Hidalgo as she now averages 3.24 points per set while getting 2.74 kills per set to go with a pair of service aces. Beverly is the next top scorer for the Lady Lions, averaging 2.79 points per set on 2.0 kills per set while her 1.50 blocks per set is the highest on the team. India Bennett is the team's top blocker with 25 on the season for a 1.47 block per set average.
 
The Jaguars (1-3) dropped both of their matches at the Rice Invitational this weekend in straight sets, falling to Rice and UNLV. All four of USA's matches this season have ended in three sets, with the lone win coming on its home floor against fellow Southland school, McNeese. USA represents the fifth opponent so far through the SLU's 2024 schedule that was in the NCAA National Championship Tournament field in 2023.
 
USA's offense has been led by Abryanna Cannon through the early part of the season, averaging 3.63 points per set on 3.08 kills per set with a couple service aces. Maradith O'Gorman is the next top scorer, averaging 2.21 points per set and 2.0 kills per set. The top server for the Jaguars has been Anna Loberg, who has five service aces through four matches this season. Seven players have contributed at the net to form the block for USA, led by Sarah Gooch who has six total blocks this year.
 
This is the 43^rd all-time meeting between Southeastern and South Alabama, but the first in six seasons.
 
DIGGIN' IT CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the Southeastern volleyball program are encouraged to join the Diggin' It Club. Lion volleyball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Diggin' It Club and S Club (volleyball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern volleyball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Lady Lions Volleyball, follow @LionUpVB or @JWhiteSLU on Twitter, @LionUpVB on Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.