LITTLE ROCK – With non-conference play out of the way, Little Rock volleyball (4-9) will open up Sun Belt Conference action at Coastal Carolina (9-3) in Conway, S.C., on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. (CT). The Trojans will then head to Appalachian State (2-11) for Sunday's 11:30 a.m. (CT) match in Boone, N.C.
Â
Friday will not only be the Trojans' first time playing Coastal Carolina, it will also mark Little Rock's first-ever visit to the state of South Carolina.
Â
Little Rock is coming off a 2015 Sun Belt schedule in which
the team finished 9-7 in conference play. The last time the Sun Belt was split into divisions, Little Rock tied for first in the West in 2012.
Â
The Trojans have won their last four Sun Belt openers with three of those being on the road. Little Rock has an all-time record of 16-9 in Sun Belt openers and an 8-6 record when opening conference play on the road.
Â
- Little Rock and Coastal Carolina will play each other for the first time.
- Little Rock has a 4-1 advantage in its series with Appalachian State.
- Little Rock ranks third in the nation for total blocks (153.5) and fifth for blocks per set (3.27)
- The Trojans rank third in the Sun Belt for aces per set (1.51).
- Carolee Dillard leads the conference and ranks fifth in the nation for total blocks (72).
- Dillard has the fourth-most blocks among active Division I players at 501.
- Edina Selimovic ranks second for blocks per set in the Sun Belt with 1.22.
- Sydnee Martin continues to lead the Sun Belt in aces (20) and aces per set (0.43).
- Martin, Selimovic and Marina Avram rank in the top five for aces per set in the Sun Belt.
- Coastal Carolina was voted as the preseason favorite in the Sun Belt's East Division.
- Miona Milovanovic will go up against her former school at Coastal Carolina.
- A win against Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State would give Little Rock a 2-0 record to start Sun Belt play for the fifth consecutive season.
