FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Volleyball embarks on its longest road trip of the season this weekend, traveling to Fairbanks, Alaska, for the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic.
UAFS will face Black Hills State Friday at 12:30 p.m. before taking on the University of Findlay at 5:30 p.m. Saturday sees the Lady Lions take on Alaska Anchorage at 12:30 p.m. and host Alaska Fairbanks at 5:30 p.m.
Live coverage links will be available at uafortsmithlions.com.
NOTES:
LAST WEEK: UAFS went 3-1 at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational to open the season, earning wins against Auburn-Montgomery, Ouachita Baptist and Kentucky Wesleyan.
ALL-TOURNAMENT: Outside hitter Reagan Macha and libero Lauren Weber were named to the All-Tournament team last weekend. Macha led the Lions with 46 kills while hitting .266 while Weber averaged 6.46 digs per set.
SEEING DOUBLE: Macha totaled three double-doubles on the weekend, while setter Chloe Price had two and outside hitter Chloe Alderson had one.
THE GREAT NORTH: This will be the second time the volleyball program has traveled to Alaska for a nonconference tournament, having previously gone in 2016 and recording a 3-1 mark.
SCOUTING BHSU: The Yellow Jackets went 1-3 to open the season at the Rockhurst Invitational and hit just .132 as a team. Libero Haedyn Rhoades averages 4.81 digs per set and setter Karly Marx averages 7.81 assists per set.
SCOUTING UF: Findlay is still searching for its first win of 2022 after going 0-3 last weekend. Outside hitter Journey Blevins paces the Oilers with 4.67 kills per set while setter Emma White is averaging 9.22 assists per set and also leads the team with 32 digs.
SCOUTING UAA: The Seawolves rose to No. 20 in the AVCA Top 25 after starting the year 7-0. They have swept six of their seven opponents, including LSC foe, Lubbock Christian. Right-side hitter Eve Stephens paces the attack with 4.52 kills per set while hitting .412. Setter Ellen Floyd is dishing out 10.83 assists per set.
SCOUTING UAF: The Nanooks have started the year 6-2, with four players having accumulated more than 60 kills. Setter Ainsley Smith averages 5.50 assists per set out of a two-setter system while libero Jessa Long is averaging 4.04 digs per set.
THE SERIES: UAFS will once again be playing an opponent for the first time in Alaska Fairbanks and Findlay. It is 0-1 against both Black Hills State and Alaska Anchorage, having played the latter in their previous trip to The Last Frontier.
