FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Volleyball will host the first round and quarterfinals of the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament Tuesday and Wednesday at the Stubblefield Center, hosting St. Edward's University and University of Texas Permian Basin.
UAFS earned the right to host by winning the LSC North Division. St. Edward's is the two seed from the LSC South Division and UT Permian Basin is the third seed from the LSC West Division.
St. Edward's will square off against UTPB tonight at 6 p.m. in the Stubblefield Center, with the winner advancing to take on UAFS Wednesday. Wednesday's match will also be at 6 p.m.
General admission tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students. Both matches will be streamed on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network with live stats available at uafortsmithlions.com.
UAFS won the division by posting a 10-2 record by having balance on both sides of the net. UAFS led the league in opponent hitting percentage (.107)) and was third in blocks (2.28/S). Offensively, UAFS was fourth in hitting percentage (.219), second in aces (1.74/S) and had the fewest opponent blocks.
Individually, sophomore right-side hitter Courtney Crownover compiled 10 double-doubles and one triple-double, averaging 5.98 assists per set and hitting .270. She was second in digs at 3.07 per set.
Sophomore middle blocker Hannah Holland finished the regular season with 89 kills on .363 attack percentage, second in the league. She dominated at the net, leading the league with 1.26 blocks per set.
Other key contributors for the Lady Lions were outside hitters Reagan Macha and Julia McCown, who led the Lady Lions with 107 and 103 kills, respectively. Macha also averaged 3.02 digs per set and was second in the league in aces with 0.52 per set. Sophomore libero Lexy Lewis was ninth in the LSC in digs at 4.43 per set.
St. Edward's posted a 6-6 record this season winning three of their last four matches. The Hilltoppers are led by junior outside hitter Kaitlyn Krafka, who averages 2.83 kills per set. Sophomore right-side hitter Maya Smalls totaled 54 blocks this season for the Hilltoppers, while junior libero Nikki Grant averages 4.75 digs per set.
The Hilltoppers were fourth in the league in blocks (2.26/S) and aces (1.34/S).
UTPB (4-9, 3-9 LSC) won their final two matches of the regular season over Lubbock Christian to qualify for the tournament. Junior setter Analise Lucio finished third in the league in assists, averaging 8.47 per set. Lucio's favorite target is junior outside hitter Aquincia Strambler, who averages 3.21 kills per set while hitting .220.
Freshman defensive specialist Daylee Doggett leads the Falcons defensively with 4.85 digs per set, as the Falcons led the league in digs with 20.09 per set.
The winner of Wednesday's match advances to the semifinals March 30 at a site to be determined.
