Troy University Athletics
Trojans to Face First SBC Road Trip
10/1/2009 6:30:00 PM | Volleyball
The Trojan volleyball team is looking to build on the momentum it has created with two Sun Belt Conference wins this past week.
Troy will travel to Arkansas this weekend to take on UALR and Arkansas State. The game against the Trojans is set for Friday at 7 p.m. and the contest with the Red Wolves is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday.
The Trojans (6-8, 2-1) defeated Florida Atlantic in five sets on Saturday, then swept South Alabama on Monday in front of 975 fans at Trojan Arena.
"We believe that you're only as good as your next match," said head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick, "we're just continuing to look forward and trying to get better with every match."
SCOUTING THE TROY TROJANS
Troy is led this season by senior Meghan Gilroy who has posted 180 kills in 42 sets, a 4.29 kills per set average, the second highest total in the Sun Belt and the 19th best in the country. Also, her .335 attack percentage is the fifth best percentage in the Sun Belt. Gilroy's 5.10 points per set is the 12th best average in the nation.
Junior Megan Henderson has done a good job setting up the Trojan attack, posting 475 assists thus far this season. Her 9.69 assists per set average is sixth best average in the Sun Belt. She is also tied for first on the squad with 135 digs.
Also posting 135 digs thus far this season has been freshman Lizzie Clough. The Mobile, Ala. native is averaging 2.70 digs per set.
Clough isn't the only freshman leading the Trojans' defense. Fellow rookie Devin Von Pingel currently leads the squad with 41 total blocks.
SCOUTING THE UALR TROJANS
The Trojans opened Sun Belt play last weekend on the road in Louisiana. They defeated ULM, 3-0, then lost to UNO, 3-1, and finally defeated ULL, 3-1.
UALR (8-6, 2-1) is led offensively by Preseason All-Sun Belt selection Anita Bucur who has 210 kills, averaging 3.96 per set. She has posted a .345 attack percentage. Giuliana DeFrancesco paces the Trojans with 512 assists, averaging 9.66. Defensively, Emily Pepperman leads the Trojans with 204 digs, averaging 3.85 per set.
The Trojans, under long time head coach Van Compton are looking to improve on their second place West Division finish last season. UALR posted a 24-8 record overall in 2008, including a 13-5 mark in Sun Belt play. The Trojans return three starters and five letterwinners from that squad.
Since joining Division I in 1993, Troy has never defeated UALR in four attempts. Last season, UALR defeated Troy in five sets at Trojan Arena.
SCOUTING THE RED WOLVES
The Red Wolves enter this weekend after going 2-1 on the road in the Louisiana to open Sun Belt play this past weekend. Arkansas State defeated ULM and ULL, but fell to UNO.
Arkansas State (12-5, 2-1) is one of the premier defensive teams in the conference. In fact, they lead the Sun Belt as a team in both digs with 15.72 per set and blocks with 2.36 per set.
Helping the Red Wolves accomplish that is recent Player of the Week Cayla Fielder and recent Defensive Player of the Week Heather Bowman. Fielder leads the Sun Belt with 72.0 blocks and 1.29 per set. Bowman leads the league with 348 digs, averaging 6.00 per set.
Offensively, Fielder paces the Red Wolves with 181 kills averaging 3.23 per set. She has also posted a team high .332 attack percentage. Laura Bennett currently sits second in the SBC in assists averaging 10.63 per set.
First year head coach Justin Ingram is hoping to place the Red Wolves higher than their fourth place finish in the West Division from 2008. During that campaign, ASU posted a 21-12 overall record with a 10-8 mark in the Sun Belt.
Since joining Division I in 1993, the Trojans have never defeated Arkansas State in five attempts. Last season, the Trojans lost in five sets at Trojan Arena
"We know we're up against two good teams this weekend," Kirkpatrick said, "It'll be a good measuring stick for our team."
After these two road matches, the Trojans will host four consecutive home matches, including a make up on October 14 of the Samford match that was postponed earlier this season. Check back with TroyTrojans.com for more scores and stats from the volleyball court, as well as all of Troy Athletics.
