CONWAY, Ark. - The University of Central Arkansas volleyball will make their debut at home when they host the Sugar Bear Classic at the Prince Center this weekend. UCA kicks it off with a Southland Conference match with Northwestern State on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The Sugar Bears will look for their first ever program win against Memphis on Friday night at 7 p.m. and will wrap up the tournament with Jackson State on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Full Schedule
Full Match Notes
Live stats and free live streaming video
• Last weekend, the Sugar Bears went 1-3 against a tough field at the WKU Tournament in Bowling Green. UCA suffered losses to Virginia Tech, Missouri and Western Kentucky, but defeated Tennessee Tech
• Freshman middle blocker Jessica Nagy was named to the all-tournament team by hitting .427 and averaging 3.00 kills and 1.15 blocks per set. She hit .650 with 14 kills against Missouri, a team receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 poll.
• The Sugar Bears lead the Southland in several categories – freshman middle blocker Jessica Nagy in hitting percentage (.390), junior outside hitter Jessica Hays in kills (3.62) and service aces (0.62), and freshman setter Marissa Collins in assists (10.55).
• Nationally, Hays ranks 14th in aces. She also moved into eighth place on UCA’s career list with 107 aces.
• Northwestern State is off to a 7-3 start after going 3-21 a year ago. Co-head coaches Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman are in their first season at the helm of the Lady Demons
• The Lady Demons have wins over Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, North Texas, Prairie View A&M, Louisiana-Monroe and New Orleans. Their losses are to Samford, Tennessee Tech and Syracuse.
• Senior outside hitter Kourtney Adams leads NSU with 2.68 kills per set. Senior Laranda Spann hits .235 and ranks second in the league with 1.27 blocks per set.
• The Sugar Bears have a 7-1 all-time record against the Lady Demons, including the last seven. UCA swept both matches in 2009.
• Memphis enters the weekend with a 7-2 mark. They have won four straight and their victories include Belmont, Miami (Fla.), UIC, Kennesaw State, Tennessee State, LaSalle and Air Force. The Tigers’ losses are to Jacksonville State and Northern Illinois.
• Sophomore right side Altrese Hawkins is averaging 3.94 kills per set with a .350 hitting percentage. Senior libero Christine Bach leads the defense with 3.37 digs per game.
• Memphis holds a 6-0 overall record against UCA. The Tigers gave the Sugar Bears their third and final loss of the 2009 season in Memphis on October 6.
• Jackson State is 3-6 on the season with wins over New Orleans, Louisiana-Monroe and Grambling. Their losses have come to Southeastern Louisiana, North Texas, Louisiana-Lafayette, Nicholls, Houston Baptist and Louisiana Tech.
• Junior middle blocker Donisha Dunn leads the Lady Tigers with a .303 hitting percentage and 2.12 kills per set. Freshman middle blocker Paige Williams averages 1.09 blocks per set.
• UCA is 4-0 all-time against the Lady Tigers. The Sugar Bears won their last matchup in straight sets at the UCA Classic in 2008.
• Central Arkansas have won 16 straight home matches, dating back to 2008 and went 13-0 last season. Since 2005, the Sugar Bears are 54-10 in the Prince Center for a .844 winning percentage.
• UCA has won the previous two Sugar Bear Classics. In 2008, they swept through Northwestern State, Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas-Pine Bluff and senior middle blocker Emily Gordon was named MVP. In last year’s classic, the Sugar Bears defeated Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, Air Force and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Junior right side Chloe Smith earned MVP honors.
