Sun Belt Conference Weekly News and Notes (Week 6)
2016 Sun Belt Conference Composite Schedule
2016 Sun Belt Conference Standings
2016 Sun Belt Conference Statistics
2016 Sun Belt Conference Scoreboard
Red Wolves Continue Hot Start in SBC Play
The Arkansas State Red Wolves jumped out to a 2-0 record early in conference play and are now undefeated in their past 18 conference matches dating back to last season. The Red Wolves’ last lost in conference play came in the final match of the 2014 regular season.
ULM Moves to 2-0
Though early in the season the ULM Warhawks are just one win away from matching their season total of three from last season. ULM defeated both Georgia Southern and Georgia State over the weekend and have won three consecutive matches.
Hardeman Earns Honor
Leah Hardeman, the preseason co-offensive player of the year from Coastal Carolina, earned her first Offensive Player of the Week honor this week. Hardeman tallied a pair of double-doubles and led the Chants averaging 4.88 kills per set with a .395 hitting percentage as Coastal split its matches against Little Rock and Arkansas State. The junior outside hitter put down 18 kills at a .593 pace in a three-set win over the Trojans while adding a pair of aces and 10 digs. She followed that with season highs of 21 kills and 20 digs against the Red Wolves. Hardeman also hit .286 and recorded an ace during the five-set loss.
Warrington Earns Fifth Consecutive Honor
Arkansas State’s Mallory Warrington continues to rack up the awards and honors as the senior picked up her fifth consecutive Setter of the Week award after helping lead the Red Wolves to a 2-0 week. She paced the Arkansas State offense to a pair of wins over Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina on the Sun Belt’s opening weekend of conference play. She handed out 84 assists (10.50 per set) in the two wins and also added 14 digs, 10 kills, two blocks, and a service ace.
Warrington’s teammate, Markie Schaedig picked up her second honor this season as she was named the Defensive Player of the Week after registering 55 digs for a 6.88 per set mark to lead the A-State defense. She picked up 19 digs against App State before posting a season-high 36 digs against the Chanticleers.
UTA’s McConnell Earns Freshman Nod
UT Arlington’s Madison McConnell was able to step into the UTA starting lineup for the first time in her collegiate career and made the most of it. The freshman was stellar in making her first two starts of the season at South Alabama and Troy (both victories), stepping into the middle blocker position with ease. She powered nine kills (2.25/s) and had five block assists as UTA started off Sun Belt play with a 3-1 win. Improving on her average, she knocked seven kills against Troy on Sunday (2.33/s) and matched her previous performance with five block assists.