Women's Volleyball | 8/23/2018 5:52:00 PM

Lady Braves Head To Hattiesburg For Southern Miss Classic

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Alcorn State University volleyball program starts the 2018 regular season this weekend at the 11th-annual University of Southern Mississippi Classic, held Friday and Saturday at USM's Reed Green Coliseum.

 

The Lady Braves were picked to finish ninth in the SWAC's Preseason Poll and are returning 14 student-athletes from the 2017 squad. Senior Singryd Valadares was named to the Preseason All-SWAC Second Team after leading Alcorn with 235 kills and 49 total blocks. Also returning is sophomore Fiapaipai Iosia, who set a program record with 532 digs. For her effort on the court, she was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week twice and Newcomer of the Week once. Additionally, Iosia earned the team's Most Valuable Player award and was named Alcorn's Female Freshman of the Year.

 

"This weekend I expect us to be tested, particularly on the mental side of the game. For us going to Southern Miss, my goal is for our team to play together and to dominate when we can. We're going to see what it takes to be competitive against these bigger schools," said head coach Chelsey Lucas, who enters her third year at Alcorn.

 

East Carolina | Aug. 24 | 7 p.m.

 

The Pirates are coming off their first winning season for the program 2006 after posting a 22-11 overall record and a 13-7 mark in the American Athletic Conference. ECU finished fourth in the league standings last year and was picked to finish seventh in the AAC Preseason Poll. The team returns four of its starters, to include the AAC Freshman of the Year in setter Shelby Martin.

 

Friday marks the first meeting between the two programs. ECU defeated Grambling State in straight sets during the 2006 season and has not played a SWAC opponent since.

 

Southern Mississippi | Aug. 25 | 11 a.m.

 

The host Golden Eagles enter 2018 with a new coach in Stephanie Radecki, who arrives at Hattiesburg after a 14-year stint at North Alabama. USM has a strong duo in seniors Sarah Bell and Kylie Grandy, who were named to the Preseason All-Conference USA team. The Black and Gold earned two first-place votes and were picked to finish fifth in the C-USA Preseason Poll after going 20-12 (9-5) last season. It marked the team's third consecutive 20-win season.

 

Saturday's match is the first meeting between the teams since 2008, when the Golden Eagles earned a 3-0 decision in Hattiesburg.

 

Spring Hill College | Aug. 25 | 4 p.m.

 

Spring Hill College accepted a last-minute invitation to the Classic after Florida A&M was not able to attend. The Badgers transitioned from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II level and 2018 marks the squad's first year of postseason eligibility. The team went 27-5 and 18-0 in the SIAC in 2017 and was picked to finish second in the conference's West Division with five first-place votes. The Purple and White secured three Preseason All-Conference selections in juniors Cassidi Sterrett and Emmarose Neibert and redshirt-senior Randi De'Armitt.

 

Alcorn's final match in the Classic marks the first meeting between the two programs.

 

#FearTheBrave