Stage Set for 2016 Southland Volleyball Tournament
Southland Conference
2016 Southland Volleyball Tournament Central
CONWAY, Ark. – After the conclusion of the regular season on Oct. 12, the seeds and match-ups were finalized for the 2016 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament. Central Arkansas will play host to the top eight teams in the conference at the Farris Center in Conway Ark. from Friday, Nov. 18 to Sunday, Nov. 20.
The undefeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders headline the All-Conference awards and will be looking for their second-straight tournament championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.
No. 1 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (21-7, 16-0 SLC)
The Islanders completed another clean sweep of Southland opponents this season, finishing 16-0 for the second straight year, this time under first-year head coach Steve Greene. His team finished 21-7 overall with only one home loss and enter the tournament under the full steam of a 10-match win streak. The Islanders were 48-7 in sets won/lost against Southland teams. They lead the league in hitting percentage (.291), kills per set (14.84) and assists per set (14.00). A deadly Islander front line is paced by five players ranked in the top ten for hitting percentage. Sophomore Madison Fitzsimmons leads the way with a .383 hitting percentage and 131 total kills. Defensively, junior Kate Klepetka has notched 285 total digs, averaging 5.18 per set and helping to hold Islander opposition to a .159 hitting percentage. They will face off against No. 8 McNeese (10-21, 6-10 SLC) on Friday at 4 p.m.
No. 2 Stephen F. Austin (19-10, 12-4 SLC)
The Ladyjack defense has been the backbone of their impressive performances this season. SFA ranks comfortably in first place in opponent hitting percentage, holding league foes to a .149 average. Senior Justice Walker (77 blocks, 1.45 blocks per set) paces an imposing net presence for the Ladyjacks that ranks first in blocks with 160 total and 2.27 average blocks per set. Walker has made it happen on both sides of the ball this season, also ranking second with a .375 hitting percentage (128 total kills). Stephen F. Austin will kick off the 2016 tournament with the first match of the competition against No. 7 Southeastern La. (7-22, 6-10 SLC) on Friday at 11 a.m. The Ladyjacks faced the Lady Lions once this season, sweeping them 3-0 in Nacogdoches on Nov. 5.
No. 3 Sam Houston State (16-13, 10-6 SLC)
After a somewhat rocky start to their conference schedule, the Bearkats surged at the right time, winning seven of their last ten matches to claim the No. 3 seed. Sam Houston State will be looking to keep their offensive momentum going, with a front line that ranks second in the Southland in hitting percentage (.219) and average kills per set (13.89). Junior Jordyn Vaughn ranks fifth in conference play with 3.33 kills per set (203 total) while sophomore Amanda Gooch is hitting .330 against Southland teams. Senior Michelle Griffith orchestrates this well-rounded Bearkat offense with a league-leading 11.03 assists per set (651 total). They will face off against No. 6 Northwestern State (12-19, 7-9 SLC) at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The Bearkats are fresh off a 3-1 victory over the Lady Demons in their regular season finale on Saturday, Nov. 12, and defeated them 3-2 on Oct. 20.
No. 4 Houston Baptist (18-14, 9-7 SLC)
The Huskies have flown largely under the radar this season while fielding one of the best all-around teams in the conference. Houston Baptist ranks third in overall play four categories: Hitting percentage (.202), opponent hitting percentage (.184), assists per set (12.22) and kills per set (13.00). In raw numbers, the Huskies lead the league in total assists (1540) and total kills (1638). Junior Bailey Banks paces the attack with the second-best kills per set number in conference matches (3.84) with 257 total kills. Senior Kayla Armer ranks fourth in Southland play with 10.36 assists per set and a league-best 694 total assists. On the defensive side, junior Blair Gillard ranks first in blocks per set (1.47) with 97 total. The Huskies take on the host No. 5 Central Arkansas (15-13, 9-7 SLC) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Houston Baptist faced the Sugar Bears once this season, winning 3-1 in Houston on Oct. 8.
No. 5 Central Arkansas (15-13, 9-7 SLC)
The host and fifth-seeded Sugar Bears ended the regular season on a five-match win streak and will take that momentum to their home court in Conway. The UCA offense will need to continue its solid play from the regular season, where it ranked third in hitting percentage (.215), fourth in kills per set (13.15) and fifth in assists per set (12.10). Sophomore Haley Tippett leads the front line with 2.97 kills per set while junior Megan Nash averages 1.29 blocks per set. The Sugar Bears face No. 4 Houston Baptist (18-14, 9-7 SLC) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The Huskies won their lone meeting with Central Arkansas this regular season 3-1 on Oct. 8.
No. 6 Northwestern State (12-19, 7-9 SLC)
The Lady Demons will look to regain their footing entering the conference tournament after ending the regular season on a three-match losing streak and dropping seven of their last 10. However, Northwestern State has their fair share of weapons on both sides of the ball. Senior Natalie Jaeger ranks third in the Southland with 10.37 assists per set and 612 total. Jaeger also ranks second in service aces against Southland opposition with 24 total (.41 per set). Sophomore Channing Burleson has been one of the most versatile players for the Lady Demons, ranking sixth in digs per set (4.46) while also notching 75 assists. Northwestern State faces No. 3 Sam Houston State (16-13, 10-6 SLC) on Friday at 1:30 p.m. The Lady Demons dropped both meetings with the Bearkats this season (2-3, 1-3), including the regular season finale in Natchitoches on Oct. 12.
No. 7 Southeastern La. (7-22, 6-10 SLC)
Southeastern La. enter the tournament as one of the top overall defensive teams, ranking fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.180). The defense has been the backbone for the Lady Lions this season, led by sophomore Monica Ramon who ranks seventh in digs per set (4.08, 265 total). They will be put to the test against the Southland’s top defensive team in No. 2 Stephen F. Austin (19-10, 12-4) on Friday at 11 a.m. The Ladyjacks swept Southeastern La. 3-0 in their meeting this season on Oct. 8.
No. 8 McNeese (10-21, 6-10 SLC)
The Cowgirls will look to their staunch back line for a strong performance in the 2016 tournament. McNeese ranks second in conference matches with 17.25 digs per set (1052 total). Senior Bridget Justis paced this statistic with a conference-best 5.23 digs per set (319 total). McNeese have a tall order and will need a top-notch outing from their defense in their opening round match with No. 1 A&M-Corpus Christi (21-7, 16-0) and their top-ranked offense. The Cowgirls met the Islanders once this season and were swept 3-0 in Corpus Christi.
2016 Southland Volleyball First Team All-Conference:
Brittany Gilpin, A&M-Corpus Christi
Bailey Banks, Houston Baptist
Justice Walker, Stephen F. Austin
Kristyn Nicholson, A&M-Corpus Christi
Chelsea Grant, Lamar
Kate Klepetka, A&M-Corpus Christi
Kayla Armer, Houston Baptist
Morgan Carlson, A&M-Corpus Christi
Megan Nash, Central Arkansas
Autumn Lockley, UIW
Jordyn Vaughn, Sam Houston State
Brooke White, Sam Houston State
2016 Southland Volleyball Second Team All-Conference:
Jacey Smith, Abilene Christian
Madison Fitzsimmons, A&M-Corpus Christi
Taylor Cunningham, Sam Houston State
Blair Gillard, Houston Baptist
Lexus Cain, Stephen F. Austin
Bryaunea Hall, UIW
Katrinka Jo Crawford Coach of the Year: Steve Greene, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Player of the Year: Brittany Gilpin, A&M-Corpus Christi
Freshman of the Year: Ann Hollas, Stephen F. Austin
Newcomer of the Year: Madison Fitzsimmons, A&M-Corpus Christi
Libero of the Year: Kate Klepetka, A&M-Corpus Christi
Setter of the Year: Kristyn Nicholson, A&M-Corpus Christi
Honorable Mention: Channing Burleson, Northwestern State; Danae Daron, Stephen F. Austin; Ann Hollas, Stephen F. Austin; Elyssa Purcell, Southeastern La.; Samantha Anderson, Central Arkansas; Ashlee Vann, Houston Baptist; Bridget Justis, McNeese; Natalie Jaeger, Northwestern State; Lexi Mercier, Abilene Christian; Haley Tippett, Central Arkansas
Broadcast Information
The championship match will be carried exclusively on ESPN3 with Ted Emrich on play-by-play and former Davidson student-athlete Brooke Bentley on color. ESPN3 is available via
WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.
In addition, opening round and semifinal games will be streamed live on the Southland Conference Digital Network, available at
southland.org/live and the Southland Conference app. Chris Mycoskie and Greg Miller will share play-by-play duties.