Host UCA is the target in first round Friday
11/19/2015 7:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
In both Sam Houston's appearances in the Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament when the event has been held in Conway, the Bearkats have opened with first round victories.
Host team Central Arkansas, runners-up in the 2015 regular season race, are the Kats' hurdle as the team looks to continute that opening day streak Friday at 6:30 p.m.
The eight-team, single-elimination tournament will conclude with the championship match Sunday, Nov. 22 at 3:05 p.m. Winners of the first two matches will play Saturday, Nov. 21 at noon while the winners of the last two will play at 2:30 p.m. Last year, Northwestern State swept Central Arkansas to win the tournament title.
Central Arkansas claimed the No. 2 seed for the second-consecutive year after finishing the regular season with a 12-4 league record. The Bears have won both the regular-season and tournament titles in 2012 and 2013. Last season, UCA were one match away from the tournament title as they fell to Northwestern State 3-0 in the finals.
UCA has lost only seven conference matches over the past three years combined. The Bears defeated Sam Houston in three sets in their only meeting this fall.
Sam Houston is making its 21st appearance in the tournament. The Bearkats earned their ninth consecutive berth in the tournament with seven league victories. Sam Houston features a potent offense led by Taylor Cunningham and Jordyn Vaughn. Setter Michelle Griffith runs the offense while libero Claire Kilpatrick leads the team in digs.
No. 1 seed A&M-Corpus Christi finished the regular season undefeated in Southland play with a 16-0 record for the first time in program history. The Islanders tied an all-time program record by earning sweeps in nine of 16 conference matches this season.
A&M-Corpus Christi has earned its fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament. The last two years the Islanders have made it to the semifinals, only to fall to Central Arkansas. The regular-season champions will take on No. 8 seed Southeastern La. (7-9) Friday Nov. 20 in the first match at 11 a.m.
Southeastern Louisiana finished the season 7-9 to earn the final seed in the tournament. The Lions will be making their second-consecutive tournament appearance and will be searching for their first Southland tournament win
Last year's regular-season champion Stephen F. Austin earned the No. 3 seed after an 11-5 conference record. The Jacks have won the most conference tournament titles among current Southland members with four. Last season, SFA earned the No. 1 seed but was upset by tournament champions Northwestern State in the semifinals. Stephen F. Austin will match up against No. 6 seed Houston Baptist (7-9) Friday, Nov. 20 in the third match at 4 p.m.
Making its 29th overall appearance in the tournament, McNeese State claimed the No. 4 seed for the first time since 2007 with a 9-7 league record. This year the Cowgirls will take on No. 5 seed New Orleans (7-9) Friday, Nov. 20 in the second match starting at 1:30 p.m.
Championship match on ESPN3, early rounds on Southland Digital Network
The championship match will be available exclusively on ESPN3 with Lincoln Rose and Brooke Bentley on the call. ESPN3 is available via WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.
In addition, all quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be streamed live on the Southland Conference Digital Network, available at Southland.org/watch and on the league's mobile and tablet apps. Greg Miller and Chris Mycoskie will handle play-by-play duties for the quarterfinal and semifinal matches.
