Trojans head to East Texas for opening weekend of action

One week after setting a new program attendance record during an exhibition against Arkansas, the Little Rock Volleyball team is set to officially begin its 2025 season with three matches in East Texas during the Lion Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
 
Little Rock will open against North Texas at 10 am Friday, then face host East Texas A&M in the nightcap at 7 pm. The Trojans wrap up Saturday with an 11 am contest against Providence. The match against East Texas A&M can be streamed on ESPN+, while the other two are available to watch on the East Texas A&M Athletics website.
 
For all tournament information, including schedule, tickets, live stats, and live stream links, CLICK HERE.
 
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Little Rock and Arkansas competed last weekend in front of 2,725 fans at the Jack Stephens Center, with the Razorbacks winning by a 3-1 score (25-18, 25-13, 25-27, 26-24). The previous volleyball attendance record was 965, set in 2021. Crismeyli Rodriguez and Bella Cherry led the Trojan attack with 10 kills each. Cherry completed a double-double with 18 digs, A'lanae Margaritha posted nine kills and four blocks, and Andrea Roman had a team-high 20 digs. Dariana Valencia had a double-double with 18 digs and 17 assists, and Kaylee Smith added 13 assists.
 
OLD FOES MEET AGAIN
Little Rock and North Texas meet for the 27^th time, but the first in almost a decade for the former Sun Belt Conference schools. Little Rock leads the all-time series, 17-9, but the schools have split the last 10. Little Rock is 3-1 against North Texas at neutral sites.
 
REMATCH IN COMMERCE
Little Rock and East Texas A&M (formerly Texas A&M-Commerce) meet for just the second time after their first-ever contest last year at the same event. The Trojans topped the Lions in four sets on the way to a sweep of the Lion Invitational – part of Little Rock's 5-0 start. Margaritha and Cherry each had six blocks during last year's contest.
 
IT'S BEEN A WHILE
Little Rock will also be facing Providence for just the second time in program history, but the first meeting was way back in 1998. The Trojans and Friars faced off in Arizona early in the 1998 season, and Little Rock won in straight sets.