Conway – After opening Southland Conference play against Incarnate Word three weeks ago, the Central Arkansas volleyball team is set to begin the conference schedule in earnest starting this weekend. The Sugar Bears will play a pair of matches on the road, taking on Nicholls at 6:30 PM this evening, before facing off with McNeese at 12:30 PM on Saturday.

Central Arkansas (6-7, 0-1 SLC) enters Thursday night's matchup at Nicholls (4-11, 0-0 SLC) winners of three of its last four matches following a 2-1 weekend at the UCF Challenge in Orlando, Florida. On the year, the Sugar Bear attack has been one of balance so far this season, with sophomore Haley Tippett (2.59), sophomore Samantha Anderson (2.52), senior Rachel Sharp (2.20), and junior Megan Nash (2.00) all averaging over two kills per set, with sophomore Kellen Dunn (1.90) not far off the pace.

The Sugar Bears have turned to a pair of setters to pace their offense this season, in freshman Elizabeth Armstrong and junior Kristine Hjembo. Armstrong has taken the reins of the offense since injures have forced UCA to abandon the 6-2 rotation in favor of a 5-1, averaging 10.6 assists per set over UCA's past six matches. "EB has done a great job coming in, taking feedback, and being a leader on the floor for us," said UCA head coach Jeni Jones Chatman. The UCA skipper was quick to say that a return to the 6-2 is not out of the realm of possibility once the Sugar Bears are healthy again, saying, "I think the 6-2 could still be something that could work for us. But right now, with the injuries we've got, we just don't have the bodies to be able to do it. I think it's always great to have options to throw at other teams, and a 6-2 could give us that opportunity down the road."

Defensively, Central Arkansas leads the Southland in blocks per set with an average of 2.29 as a team. Junior Savanah Allen leads the way for the Sugar Bears, averaging 1.21 blocks per set, a number that would lead the league if not for time missed due to an injury. Nash and sophomore Nicole Peters currently sit at fifth in the league, with each averaging 1.00 blocks per set.

"It helps tremendously to have that sort of a block," said Chatman. "Last year we had Megan and Samantha in the top ten, and if you think about it, that covers three or four rotations of the game. When you have three people, that's covering all six rotations. That can only help keep our back court organized, and I think that it will really help us continue to diversify our offense and not have to be a one-hit wonder. We've got so many players that we can go to, whether its Sam or Rachel or Haley or Megan, or Kellen, and then we've also got players like Amanda Beaton or Abbie Harry who can come in and give us a huge spark."

Tippett has also played a key role for the Sugar Bears defensively, averaging 3.04 digs per set to trail only sophomore Amanda Dimon (3.19) for the team lead.

"Haley has an incredible ability to pass and play defense," said Chatman of the sophomore outside hitter. "And when you add her attacking game, where there are definitely times where she can be lights out attacking. The biggest thing for her is finding the middle ground, realizing that it doesn't always have to be a power swing and knowing that a kill is a kill. She has the potential to put up some really special numbers, so we're working with her to get her there. She's already starting to get there."

With Sharp and Allen both missing time due to injury, Chatman has had to depend on her depth to keep the Sugar Bears fighting, and has seen some players come through in big ways. Inserted into the starting lineup after Sharp went down, Dunn set career highs in kills in each of the next two matches, while Peters filled in for Allen by leading UCA in blocks for the next four matches.

"I think its tremendous, getting some players that haven't been on the floor that experience," said Chatman. "And not only to get them experience, but see that not only are they getting that opportunity, but they're running with it. Both Kellen and Nicole have stepped up, but so has Rayna Jefferis, finding a role as that right-side defensive player and doing a nice job of passing and playing defense. The great thing is that as we move forward and hopefully stay healthy, now we've created depth in all of those positions. I'm so pleased with the mental toughness that all three of them have shown."

The Colonels took part in the Gamecock Classic, hosted by Jacksonville State last weekend, falling to ULM, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, and Evansville. On the season, the Nicholls offense is has five players averaging over 1.50 kills per set, led by junior Stephanie Tobison's 2.06 average. Defensively, the Colonels are led by sophomore Alexa Perry's 3.65 digs per set and junior Emily Weimar's 0.81 blocks per set. Central Arkansas leads the all-time series with Nicholls by a margin of 17-1, including an 8-1 mark in Thibodaux. UCA earned a 3-0 victory on the road last season.

McNeese (4-11, 0-0 SLC) turned in a 1-2 record at the Georgia Bulldog Invitational last weekend, falling to South Alabama and Georgia before defeating Bethune-Cookman to close out the weekend. The Cowgirl attack is led by freshman Katelyn Elliot, who averages 3.10 kills per set, and sophomore Alexandra Aguilere, who hands out 9.10 assists
per set. On the defensive front, senior Bridget Justis averages 4.13 digs per set, while freshman Hailey Schneider averaged 0.62 blocks per set. The Cowgirls will open SLC play on Thursday night, playing host to Northwestern State. Central Arkansas holds a 14-4 advantage in the all-time series with the Cowgirls, though McNeese owns the most recent victory, a 3-2 win in Lake Charles, Louisiana last season.

"We're excited to start conference play," said Chatman. "The fact that we get to play just one match per day, and have a day between matches, is exciting, because it's something we have had the opportunity to do yet this season. Obviously not everyone can start conference play at home, but I think it's okay that we're on the road this weekend. Nicholls is always a very scrappy, good defensive team that makes you really work for your points, and McNeese is a team that beat us last season in a really competitive match, and they're a good team again this season. They're at home, so we know they're going to bring it, and it's going to be competitive again."