2019 Sun Belt Volleyball News and Notes:
Standings | Composite Schedule | Stats
AROUND #SUNBELTVB
• Sun Belt Conference volleyball moves into October with 14 matches on the schedule this week.
• Five teams are off to 2-0 starts in Sun Belt play – Coastal Carolina (12-2), Troy (12-2), South Alabama (10-5), Texas State (10-6) and Appalachian State (6-9).
• Troy enters the weekend on a seven-match winning streak and fresh off defeating Little Rock and Arkansas State in the same season for the first time in program history. The Trojans open 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2011.
• South Alabama is on a winning streak of its own, having won six in a row. The Jaguars are perfect at home (9-0) so far this season.
• Texas State has recorded 3-0 sweeps in three of its last five matches.
• One of the reasons Coastal Carolina is off to its hot start is service aces. The Chanticleers leads in NCAA Division I in service aces per set (2.28) and rank second nationally in total service aces (123). Leading the way is freshman setter Brigitta Petrenko, who ranks 10th nationally in total service aces (31).
• Appalachian State senior defensive specialist/libero Emma Reilly sits two spots ahead of Petrenko nationally in services aces with 32. Reilly has reached double figures in digs in 14 of 15 contests this season, including 20 or more in nine matches.
• Louisiana (5-10, 1-1 Sun Belt) leads the Sun Belt and ranks nationally in digs per set (18.04).
• Louisiana junior setter Avery Breaux is tied with Arkansas State junior outside hitter Peyton Uhlenhake and ULM sophomore outside hitter Kate Blasingame for the Sun Belt lead in double-doubles with seven each.
• The 2019 Sun Belt Women’s Volleyball Championship, hosted by Texas State, is set for Nov. 21-24 at Strahan Arena at the University Events Center in San Marcos, Texas.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cheyenne Huskey, Texas State (Sr., OH, Columbus, Texas)
Texas State senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey averaged 4.00 kills per set and 5.00 kills per set over 10 sets in the Bobcats' 2-0 start to Sun Belt Conference play. Huskey put together her first 20-plus kill performance against Louisiana, finishing with 21 kills, 11 digs and two service aces. She followed that performance with a match-high 14 kills in the sweep of ULM.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emma Reilly, Appalachian State (Sr., DS/L, Evergreen Park, Ill.)
Appalachian State senior defensive specialist/libero Emma Reilly posted 45 digs (5.63 per set), 12 assists (1.50 per set) and five service aces (0.63 per set) in a pair of Mountaineer victories. In the 3-1 win over Georgia State, Reilly tallied 22 digs (5.50 per set) and two service aces, while moving into 10th place in program history in all-time digs. She followed that up with 23 digs (5.75 per set) and three service aces in the 3-1 victory over Georgia Southern, moving into eighth place in all-time digs in school history.
SETTER OF THE WEEK
Amara Anderson, Troy (So., S, Alpharetta, Ga.)
Troy sophomore setter Amara Anderson continued to prove herself as one of the top setters in the country in the Trojans' second-ever win over Arkansas State. Anderson averaged 11.75 assists per set while adding five kills on six attempts. She also recorded seven digs against the Red Wolves. Anderson was one dig shy of a double-double in Troy's sweep of Little Rock and averaged 11.67 assists per set.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Sam Bickley, Appalachian State (Fr., S, Galena, Ohio)
Appalachian State freshman setter Sam Bickley dished out 92 assists (11.50 per set) while adding eight kills (1.00 per set) on a .533 hitting percentage and 18 digs (2.25 per set). Against Georgia State, Bickley tallied her fourth double-double of the season with 44 assists (11.00 per set) and 11 digs (2.75 per set), while adding six kills (1.50 per set). Against Georgia Southern, she added 48 assists (12.00 per set) and seven digs (1.75 per set).
2019 Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Player
September 2: Cheyenne Hayes, Troy
September 9: Kara Spicer, Appalachian State
September 16: Emma Longley, Appalachian State
September 23: Anett Nemeth, Coastal Carolina
September 30: Cheyenne Huskey, Texas State
Defensive Player
September 2: Lauren Bandera, Georgia State
September 9: Emma Reilly, Appalachian State
September 16: Diana Giordani, Little Rock
September 23: Tyeranee Scott, Texas State
September 30: Emma Reilly, Appalachian State
Setter
September 2: Amara Anderson, Troy
September 9: Amara Anderson, Troy
September 16: Brigitta Petrenko, Coastal Carolina
September 23: Amara Anderson, Troy
September 30: Amara Anderson, Troy
Freshman
September 2: Brigitta Petrenko, Coastal Carolina
September 9: Celeste Darling, Louisiana
September 16: Brigitta Petrenko, Coastal Carolina
September 23: Julia Brooks, Troy
September 30: Sam Bickley, Appalachian State
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, October 4
*South Alabama at Georgia State, 5:30 p.m.
*Troy at Georgia Southern, 5:30 p.m.
*Coastal Carolina at ULM, 6 p.m.
*UTA at Little Rock, 6 p.m.
*Appalachian State at Louisiana (ESPN+), 6:30 p.m.
*Texas State at Arkansas State, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 5
*South Alabama at Georgia Southern (ESPN+), 5:30 p.m.
*Troy at Georgia State, 6 p.m.
*Texas State at Little Rock, 6:30 p.m.
*UTA at Arkansas State, 6:30 p.m.
*Coastal Carolina at Louisiana, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 6
*Appalachian State at ULM, Noon
Tuesday, October 8
South Alabama at Southern Miss, 6 p.m.
*Texas State at UTA, 6:30 p.m.
*Sun Belt Conference contest
All Times Central and Subject to Change