2019 Sun Belt Volleyball News and Notes:
Standings | Composite Schedule | Stats
AROUND #SUNBELTVB
• Conference play kicks in for Sun Belt Conference volleyball with a full slate of matches on the docket. The opening week of league matchups features four matches set for live coverage on ESPN+.
• A look at the standings shows Coastal Carolina (10-2) and Troy (10-2) atop the East Division and Arkansas State (9-3) atop the West Division through the first month of the regular season.
• With a 10-2 mark, Coastal Carolina is off to one of its best starts in program history. The Chanticleers started the season with a program-best nine-straight wins. Coastal Carolina enters the week still among the top 10 in NCAA Division I in hitting percentage and team service aces.
• Troy's 10-2 record marks its best start to a season since the school turned Division I in 1993. The Trojans' 10 non-conference wins also tie for the most in school history since 2002. Junior outside hitter Cheyenne Hayes paces the Sun Belt and ranks in the top 20 nationally in kills per set (4.56).
• Arkansas State enters the week ranked third nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.130), behind Colorado State (.088) and Washington State (.119).
• South Alabama middle blocker Kelley Hartman leads the Sun Belt in hitting percentage (.429). As a team, the Jaguars rank second in the conference (.242) behind Coastal Carolina (.287).
• 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
Anett Nemeth, Coastal Carolina (So., OH, Pecel, Hungary)
Coastal Carolina sophomore outside hitter Anett Nemeth averaged 4.14 kills per set at the Cy-Hawk Series. Nemeth crossed the 20-kill threshold twice, landing 22 kills against Iowa State and 20 against Lipscomb. She also had a 16-kill, 11-block double-double in the Chanticleers' four-set win over Iowa. In three matches, Nemeth totaled a tournament-high 71 points, adding 14 blocks and six service aces to her 58 kills.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tyeranee Scott, Texas State (Jr., MB, Houston, Texas)
Texas State junior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott led the Bobcats with 13 total blocks at the Creeds & Crests Classic. Scott capped off the tournament with a career-high 15 kills and seven blocks in the sweep of Sam Houston State. She finished second on the team with 3.00 kills per set and earned All-Tournament team honors.
SETTER OF THE WEEK
Amara Anderson, Troy (So., S, Alpharetta, Ga.)
Troy sophomore setter Amara Anderson went over the century mark in assists with 121 (12.10 per set) in three wins to capture the Trojan Classic title. Anderson posted two double-doubles – 38 assists and 10 digs vs. The Citadel and 37 assists and 12 digs vs. Florida A&M. She added six kills, three services and one block assist in earning All-Tournament team honors.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Julia Brooks, Troy (Fr., MH, St. Louis, Mo.)
Troy freshman middle hitter Julia Brooks put up the biggest weekend of her career, garnering Most Valuable Player honors at the Trojan Classic. Brooks hit .414 with 33 kills in three matches. She knocked down a career-high 17 kills and was responsible for a career-high 18.5 points in Troy's four-set win over Southern. Brooks added nine total blocks, including three solo blocks.
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
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
Setter
September 2: Amara Anderson, Troy
September 9: Amara Anderson, Troy
September 16: Brigitta Petrenko, Coastal Carolina
September 23: 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
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday, September 26
*Arkansas State at Troy (ESPN+), 6:30 p.m.
Friday, September 27
*Georgia State at Appalachian State (ESPN+), 5:30 p.m.
*Georgia Southern at Coastal Carolina, 5:30 p.m.
*ULM at UTA, 6 p.m.
*Little Rock at Troy (ESPN+), 6:30 p.m.
*Arkansas State at South Alabama, 6:30 p.m.
*Louisiana at Texas State, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 28
*Little Rock at South Alabama, 6:30 p.m.
*Louisiana at UTA, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 29
*Georgia Southern at Appalachian State (ESPN+), 11:30 a.m.
*Georgia State at Coastal Carolina, 11:30 a.m.
*ULM at Texas State (ESPN+), Noon
Tuesday, October 1
Louisiana Tech at ULM, 6 p.m.
*Sun Belt Conference contest
All Times Central and Subject to Change