2019 Sun Belt Volleyball News and Notes:
Standings | Composite Schedule | Stats
AROUND #SUNBELTVB
• Sun Belt Conference volleyball has 34 matches on the schedule this weekend. Seven matches are slated for live broadcasts – four on ESPN+ and three on ACC Network Extra.
• Schedule changes for the weekend due to impending weather from Hurricane Dorian:
- Coastal Carolina has relocated the Coastal Carolina Classic to Greensboro, N.C., on the campus of UNC Greensboro.
- Georgia Southern's matches in the Bash at the Beach by Marriott Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla., have been canceled. The Eagles are now set to play one match at USC Upstate on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. CT.
• Coastal Carolina (3-0) is the only Sun Belt team that finished the opening weekend with a perfect record. The Chanticleers open the season with three-straight wins for the first time since winning four-straight matches to begin the 2016 season.
• Troy (2-1) started its season 2-0 for the first time since 2014. The Trojans host their own invitational this weekend with all three matches live on ESPN+.
• ULM's 3-1 start is its best start since going 4-1 to open the 2011 season.
• Texas State (1-3) plays its next six matches on the road – three this weekend at the Long Beach State Mizuno Classic and three next weekend at the Texas A&M Invitational.
• UTA sophomore outside hitter Brooke Townsend recorded the first two double-doubles of her collegiate career at the Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup. In UTA's 3-2 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Townsend finished with 16 kills and 11 digs. In a 3-2 comeback win over host Houston, she went off for a career-high 26 kills and 11 digs.
• Texas State head coach Karen Chisum enters the weekend four wins shy of recording her 900th career victory. With that milestone victory, Chisum will become the seventh NCAA Division I volleyball head coach to reach the 900-win plateau.
• 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 Hayes, Troy (Jr., OH, Newnan, Ga.)
Troy junior outside hitter Cheyenne Hayes put up a big weekend for the Trojans, earning All-Tournament Team honors at the Jax State Invitational. Hayes posted three double-digit kill performances, hitting .307 and averaging 5.18 kills per set. She also tallied 20 digs, three total blocks and three service aces in three matches.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lauren Bandera, Georgia State (So., DS/L, Pembroke Pines, Fla.)
Georgia State sophomore defensive specialist/libero Lauren Bandera anchored the Panthers' defense in their first three matches of the season. Bandera posted three double-digit dig performances, including a career-high 29 against Fordham. She compiled 69 digs over 11 sets for a 6.27 per set average. Bandera also added five assists and one service ace as Georgia State went 2-1 at home.
SETTER OF THE WEEK
Amara Anderson, Troy (So., S, Alpharetta, Ga.)
Troy sophomore setter Amara Anderson picked up where she left off last season with an impressive opening weekend, averaging 11.64 assists per set in the Trojans' first three matches. Anderson put up double-doubles in her first two matches – 39 assists and 11 digs against Southeastern Louisiana and 52 assists and 10 digs against Jacksonville State. She was named to the Jax State Invitational All-Tournament Team for her efforts.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Brigitta Petrenko, Coastal Carolina (Fr., S, Eger, Hungary)
Coastal Carolina freshman setter Brigitta Petrenko was named Most Valuable Player at the Cavalier Classic as the Chanticleers swept Loyola (Md.), Furman and host Virginia. Petrenko averaged 11.33 assists per set and led Coastal Carolina with four service aces. She had a tournament-high 36 assists in the opener against Loyola (Md.).
2019 Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Player
September 2: Cheyenne Hayes, Troy
Defensive Player
September 2: Lauren Bandera, Georgia State
Setter
September 2: Amara Anderson, Troy
Freshman
September 2: Brigitta Petrenko, Coastal Carolina
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday, September 5
1-Texas State at Long Beach State, 8 p.m.
Friday, September 6
2-Appalachian State vs. UNC Wilmington (ACC Network Extra), 9 a.m.
3-Coastal Carolina vs. South Carolina State, 9 a.m.
4-Little Rock vs. Illinois State, 10 a.m.
5-South Dakota State vs. ULM, 10 a.m.
6-Georgia State vs. Providence, Noon
7-McNeese at Louisiana, 1:30 p.m.
11-Tennessee State at South Alabama, 2 p.m.
2-Wofford vs. Appalachian State (ACC Network Extra), 4 p.m.
5-ULM vs. Prairie View A&M, 4 p.m.
1-Texas State vs. UCLA, 4:30 p.m.
4-Air Force vs. Little Rock, 5 p.m.
8-Arkansas State at Southern Miss, 6 p.m.
3-Coastal Carolina vs. Charleston Southern, 6 p.m.
6-Georgia State at Morehead State (ESPN+), 6 p.m.
7-Eastern Michigan at Louisiana, 6:30 p.m.
9-Incarnate Word at UTA, 6:30 p.m.
10-Chattanooga at Troy (ESPN+), 6:30 p.m.
11-Northwestern State at South Alabama, 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 7
8-Arkansas State vs. Mississippi State, 10 a.m.
6-Presbyterian vs. Georgia State, 10 a.m.
4-Little Rock at Oral Roberts, 11 a.m.
10-Murray State at Troy (ESPN+), 11 a.m.
5-ULM at Lamar, Noon
7-Florida A&M at Louisiana, 12:30 p.m.
3-Coastal Carolina vs. East Tennessee State, 1 p.m.
2-Appalachian State at Duke (ACC Network Extra), 1:30 p.m.
9-Southern at UTA, 1:30 p.m.
11-Mississippi Valley State at South Alabama, 2 p.m.
Georgia Southern at USC Upstate, 3 p.m.
1-Texas State vs. Georgia, 4:30 p.m.
10-Jacksonville at Troy (ESPN+), 5 p.m.
8-Arkansas State vs. New Orleans, 5 p.m.
9-UNC Greensboro at UTA, 6:30 p.m.
All Times Central and Subject to Change
Key:
1-Long Beach State Mizuno Classic, Long Beach, Calif.
2-Duke Invitational, Durham, N.C.
3-Coastal Carolina Classic, Greensboro, N.C.
4-ORU Invitational, Tulsa, Okla.
5-Katrinka Crawford Invitational, Beaumont, Texas
6-Eagle Challenge, Morehead, Ky.
7-Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic, Lafayette, La.
8-Southern Miss Volleyball Classic, Hattiesburg, Miss.
9-Maverick Classic, Arlington, Texas
10-Troy Invitational, Troy, Ala.
11-Jaguar Invitational, Mobile, Ala.