| Little Rock vs. South Alabama |
| Date |
Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 |
| Time |
6:00 p.m. |
| Location |
Little Rock, Ark. |
| Arena |
Jack Stephens Center |
| Records |
Little Rock (8-5, 0-0 Sun Belt)
South Alabama (6-7, 0-0 Sun Belt) |
| Stats |
TrojanStats.com |
| Video |
Little Rock All-Access |
OPENING SERVE
After four weeks on the road, Little Rock will take to the court at the Jack Stephens Center for the first time in 2018 this weekend, opening Sun Belt Conference play with a pair of weekend matches. The Trojans take on South Alabama Friday, September 21 at 6 p.m., followed by a meeting with Troy on Saturday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m.
EARLY SEASON SUCCESS
Little Rock closed out the non-conference portion of its 2018 schedule with an 8-5 overall record, its most wins prior to Sun Belt Conference play since winning eight non-conference
| Little Rock vs. Troy |
| Date |
Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 |
| Time |
6:30 p.m. |
| Location |
Little Rock, Ark. |
| Arena |
Jack Stephens Center |
| Records |
Little Rock (8-5, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Troy (6-7, 0-0 Sun Belt) |
| Stats |
TrojanStats.com |
| Video |
Little Rock All-Access |
matches to start the 2013 season. The Trojans closed out the preseason tournament schedule in New Orleans, going 1-2 with a pair of hard-fought losses to Tulane and Clemson before notching a 3-1 win over Big East foe Villanova.
THIRD ALL-TIME
A pair of Trojan seniors continue to climb up the Little Rock record books as the duo of
Taylor Lindberg and
Sydnee Martin each rank third all-time in what they do best. Lindberg has dished out 2,606 career assists, third-most all-time, and is just 318 shy of matching Iva Adzic's total of 2,924 from 2002-05. Martin jumped three spots in the all-time dig leaders over the weekend and is now settled into the number three spot with 1,207, 89 back of second-place Edina Begic's total of 1,296 from 2011-14.
THE ROMANIAN WALL
Senior
Veronica Marin has been a force at the net all season thus far for the Trojans, ranking among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in a number of categories. Marin is fourth in the league in hitting percentage at .345, while ranking first in total blocks (71), second in blocks per set (1.45) and sixth in service aces per set (0.35). Marin has picked up a pair of All-Tournament honors this season and was named the Sun Belt's Defensive Player of the Week on September 12.
FORCE AT THE NET
Through the non-conference portion of the 2018 season, Little Rock leads the Sun Belt Conference in hitting percentage, posting a .253 clip through 13 matches this season. That effort has been led by
Carol Barbosa and
Veronica Marin, who rank third and fourth in the conference in hitting percentage at .352 and .345, respectively. Additionally, opponents have had a hard time finding their way past the Trojans' defense as Little Rock leads the Sun Belt in opponent hitting percentage (.127) and is second in blocks per set (2.62) and first in digs (16.00).
100 KILL CLUB
Through the first 13 matches of the season, Little Rock has five players that have recorded 100 or more kills, led by
Mya Robinson's 137.
Carol Barbosa ranks second with 114, followed by
Veronica Marin's 104, 103 from
Laura Jansen and 100 from
Maritza Mesa.
SEEING SEEING DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Little Rock's early season success has led to some impressive individual performances through the non-conference schedule. Five different Trojans have registered double-double performances, led by
Taylor Lindberg's seven matches. Lindberg has also registered a triple-double this season, finishing with 13 kills, 30 assists and 11 digs in the win over South Dakota on September 8.
Mya Robinson has recorded four double-double matches, followed by
Pamela Zuluaga with three and one each for
Veronica Marin and
Maritza Mesa.
SCOUTING THE JAGUARS
2018: 6-7 (.462), 0-0 Sun Belt (.000), 0-3 road matches (.000)
Last Three Matches: L vs. Purdue (3-2), W vs. Southern Miss (3-0), L at Alabama (3-1)
Head Coach: Amy Hendrichovsky (Seventh season at South Alabama)
Series: Little Rock leads, 29-7.
First: 1991 (W, 3-2),
Last: 2017 (L, 3-1).
Streak: USA won 2
Kill Leaders: #22 Kelley Hartman (158), #24 Hannah Harris (119), #19 Meghan Jones (81)
Hitting Pct. Leaders: #22 Kelley Hartman (.367), #25 Morgan Stalcup (.299), #9 Hannah Johnson (.245)
Assist Leaders: #4 Parker Harrell (323), #6 Rachael DeMarcus (175), #1 Ashlyn Roberts (39)
Dig Leaders: #1 Ashlyn Roberts (123), #4 Parker Harrell (113), #5 Arissa Chappell (68)
Block Leaders: #25 Morgan Stalcup (44), #22 Kelley Hartman (43), #9 Hannah Johnson (31)
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
2018: 6-7 (.462), 0-0 Sun Belt (.000), 2-1 road matches (.667)
Last Three Matches: W at Alabama State (3-0), W vs. Jacksonville State (3-2), L vs. Florida A&M (3-1)
Head Coach: Josh Lauer (Second season at Troy)
Series: Little Rock leads, 12-4.
First: 2005 (W, 3-0),
Last: 2017 (L, 3-1).
Streak: Troy won 1
Kill Leaders: #3 Cheyenne Hayes (188), #13 Jenni Young (109), #10 Belle Waldrop (103)
Hitting Pct. Leaders: #18 Halston Hillier (.352), #13 Jenni Young (.258), #6 Amara Anderson (.256)
Assist Leaders: #6 Amara Anderson (546), #9 Lacey Jeffcoat (32), #14 Isabella Mitchell (14)
Dig Leaders: #9 Lacey Jeffcoat (180), #6 Amara Anderson (108), #5 Saragrace Wilson (100)
Block Leaders: #16 Savannah Moore (42), #13 Jenni Young (29), #11 Logan Page (27)
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this weekend's matches at the Jack Stephens Center, Little Rock heads back on the road, playing its next four matches in enemy territory. The first stretch takes the Trojans to Texas, facing Texas State on Friday, September 28, before heading north for a showdown with UT Arlington on Saturday, September 29.
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