NEW ORLEANS – The first week of Sun Belt volleyball action will feature 12 divisional matches. James Madison and App State rank atop the national standings in different statistical categories with 13 of the 14 matches to be broadcast on ESPN+.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• AT THE BLOCK – James Madison currently leads the country in blocks per set at 3.79 and total team blocks with 144. With the strong defensive play at the net, the Dukes have also limited opponents to a 0.151 hitting percentage, which ranks 12th in the country. The Dukes will welcome the Jaguars from South Alabama for the league opening matchup in Harrisonburg. Individually, Anna Wilson and Ayen Nhial rank inside the top ten for blocks per set. Wilson ranks second at a 1.76 clip as Nhial ranks sixth averaging 1.66 per set and was the Defensive Player of the Week this past week. Wilson also leads the league with 67 total blocks and ranks fourth nationally, while Nhial sits 11th nationally with 63.

 

• POTENT OFFENSE – App State has separated itself in the non-conference portion of the schedule as one of the most lethal offenses in the league. The Mountaineers rank fifth nationally in team assists with 651 and rank fourth nationally in team kills with 723. The program also leads the league with 93 service aces, a mark which ranks 19th nationally. Individually, Bella Hutchens ranks 20th nationally in total points with 205.5 as the Mountaineer’s libero MeMe Davis ranks second nationally in total digs at 276. Hutchens also ranks in the top 20 in total kills with 180, a mark that also paces the league.

 

• REGIONAL RIVALRIES – Six of the seven matchups during the opening weekend of league play will feature divisional opponents. The lone matchup outside of the division is South Alabama at James Madison. In the East Division, Marshall will welcome Georgia State as Old Dominion plays host to App State. Coastal Carolina will host the Eagles from Georgia Southern to round out East Division matchups. In the West Division, last year’s tournament champion Arkansas State will host ULM as the Bulldogs from Louisiana Tech will host their first Sun Belt Conference matchup since joining the lead with the Golden Eagles from Southern Miss. The Trojans from Troy will host the Ragin Cajuns from Louisiana to round out the divisional matchups.

 

• HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS – Ten of the league’s 14 programs have winning records at home as Georgia Southern, App State, Georgia State, James Madison, Southern Miss and ULM all boast undefeated marks on their home court. Marshall and Troy have only lost one match at home as Old Dominion and Louisiana Tech have lost a pair but still hold an overall winning record at home. Georgia Southern also enters the weekend of league play on the longest winning streak at four matches as James Madison and Troy enter the weekend with three match win streaks.

 WHERE TO WATCH
 

Date	Time	Matchup	Broadcast
Thurs. Sept. 24	5:00 p.m.	Georgia State at Marshall	ESPN+
Thurs. Sept. 24	5:00 p.m.	App State at Old Dominion
Thurs. Sept. 24	6:00 p.m.	ULM at Arkansas State	ESPN+
Fri. Sept. 25	3:00 p.m.	Georgia State at Marshall	ESPN+
Fri. Sept. 25	5:00 p.m.	South Alabama at James Madison	ESPN+
Fri. Sept. 25	5:00 p.m.	Georgia Southern at Coastal Carolina	ESPN+
Fri. Sept. 25	5:00 p.m.	App State at Old Dominion	ESPN+
Fri. Sept. 25	6:00 p.m.	Southern Miss at Louisiana Tech	ESPN+
Fri. Sept. 25	6:00 p.m.	ULM at Arkansas State	ESPN+
Fri. Sept. 25	6:00 p.m.	Louisiana at Troy	ESPN+
Sat. Sept. 26	12:00 p.m.	South Alabama at James Madison	ESPN+
Sat. Sept. 26	1:00 p.m.	Georgia Southern at Coastal Carolina	ESPN+
Sat. Sept. 26	1:00 p.m.	Southern Miss at Louisiana Tech	ESPN+
Sat. Sept. 26	2:00 p.m.	Louisiana at Troy	ESPN+

All Times CT