FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Volleyball nears the end of its nonconference schedule as the Lions head to Kingsville, Texas, for the Lone Star Conference Crossover.
The Lions will play Texas A&M-Kingsville, St. Mary's and Angelo State as teams that finished fifth through eighth in the LSC last season. UAFS will face St. Mary's at 3 p.m. Thursday, host Texas A&M-Kingsville Friday at 6 p.m. and Angelo State Saturday at noon.
Live coverage links will be available at uafortsmithlions.com with all three matches streamed on the LSC Digital Network.
NOTES:
LAST WEEK: UAFS went 2-2 at the Gorilla Classic, defeating Drury and Northwestern Oklahoma State and falling to No. 11 Southwest Minnesota State and Pittsburg State.
CAN YOU DIG IT?: Libero Paola Fragalle averaged 5.46 digs per set last weekend and currently ranks fourth in the LSC at 5.11 digs per set. UAFS ranks second in the league at 18.2 digs per set.
.100: UAFS is 6-0 when hitting at least .100 but is 0-2 when hitting below that mark. The Lions have hit above .200 in five of their six wins.
RECORD WATCH: Setter Chloe Price is second all-time with 1,531 as she begins her chase towards Whitney Hale's record of 2,308.
SCOUTING STMU: The Rattlers are 5-3 after going 3-1 at the Iceman Invitational last weekend. St. Mary's has three players averaging more than 2.0 kills per set, led by outside hitter Landri Withers at 2.77. Withers is second on the team with 2.54 digs per set.
SCOUTING TAMUK: The Javelinas have had an identical start to 2023 as the Lions, starting 4-0 before splitting its matches last weekend to enter 6-2. Kingsville utilizes two setters for its attack, led by outside hitter Jackie Alanis at 2.93 kills per set and her .353 attack percentage. The Javelinas lead the LSC in blocks per set in large part to middle blocker Ayanna Jackson, who is first with 1.29 blocks per set.
SCOUTING ASU: The Rambelles lead the LSC kills, assists and hitting percentage and allow the fewest aces as they are off to an 8-1 start. Middle blocker Cate Boldrick and outside hitter Hannah Kinnison hold two of the top three spots in the league in attack percentage receiving sets from setter Laney Dale, who is fifth in the league at 7.53 assists per set.
THE SERIES: UAFS is 3-4 against Angelo State, 22-5 versus St. Mary's and 5-1 against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
