Conway – The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears are set to hit the road for the third week of the 2016 season, travelling to Jonesboro, Arkansas to take place in the 2016 A-State Invitational. UCA will face off with Arkansas State on Thursday evening, Tulsa on Friday afternoon, and UT-Martin on Saturday morning.

Central Arkansas (3-4) has shared the load offensively this season, as four players have averaged over 2.00 kills per set. Sophomore Haley Tippett leads the UCA attack, averaging 2.38 kills and hitting .139, while freshman Samantha Anderson (2.38 K/S, .236 Pct.), senior Rachel Sharp (2.17K/S, .196 Pct.) and junior Megan Nash (2.04 K/S, .250 Pct.) round out the Sugar Bear offense. Central Arkansas has seen significant time from a pair of setters so far this season, with freshman Elizabeth Armstrong passing out 5.41 assists per set and junior Kristine Hjembo adding 3.59 assists per set. On the defensive front, the Sugar Bears are averaging 2.02 team blocks per set, led by sophomore Savanah Allen's 1.21 blocks per set. Sophomore Amanda Dimon digs a team-high 2.96 attacks per set, while Tippett pitches in 2.93.

Arkansas State (4-3) is coming off of a 2-1 weekend at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic in St. Louis, where the Red Wolves scored a 3-1 win over the Bilikens and a 3-2 win against Cal Poly before falling to #19 Western Kentucky by a score of 3-1. ASU then battled Ole Miss on Tuesday, falling to the Rebels 3-1 in Oxford, Mississippi. Senior Mallory Warrington was named the Sun Belt Setter of the Week last week, dishing out 12.38 assists per set while being named to the All-Tournament Team at the Hamilton Classic. Outside Hitter Kenzie Ward was named the SBC's Freshman of the Week, as she averaged 3.08 kills per set and 2.08 digs per set. This will mark the 24^th meeting between the Sugar Bears and the Red Wolves, with Arkansas State holding a commanding 22-1 lead in the series. The Sugar Bears' sole win came in 2006, while ASU picked up the win in the last meeting between the teams in 2011.

Tulsa (5-1) recorded a perfect 3-0 record at the Creeds and Crests Classic in San Marcos, Texas last weekend, defeating Kennesaw State, Stephen F. Austin, and Texas State by identical 3-1 scores. Outside hitter Rebecca Reeve was named Tournament MVP after recording three straight double-doubles, while fellow outside hitter Erica Bohannon and libero Brooke Berryhill were named All-Tournament. Berryhill also took home American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, as she averaged 5.83 digs per set. Tulsa holds a 3-1 edge in the all-time series with the Sugar Bears, with the Golden Hurricane winning the most recent matchup in 2014.

UT-Martin (3-6) took part in the Little Rock Invitational last weekend, tallying a 1-3 record. The Skyhawks defeated UAPB 3-0 while falling to Oklahoma 3-1 and Little Rock and Mississippi State 3-0. On Monday, UTM hosted Northern Arizona and Alabama A&M, defeating the Lady Bulldogs 3-0 and falling to NAU 3-1. The Skyhawks, like the Sugar Bears, feature a balanced offense, with four players averaging at least two kills per set. Senior Madison Welling leads the way with an average of 2.97 kills per set, while junior Macy Reigelsperger (2.57), junior Jemima Idemudia (2.53), and sophomore Sara Shaw (2.10) each contribute heavily. Junior Kelly Lean marshalls the UTM offense, handing out 10.30 assists per set, while Idemudia and senior Colleen Larson lead the Skyhawk defense, collecting 1.17 blocks and 3.33 digs per set respectively. UT-Martin leads the all-time series with the Sugar Bears by a mark of 4-3, though UCA has won three of the past four meetings, including a the last two times met in 2007.