Trojans Take Momentum on the Road

Bear Brawl Schedule
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With the momentum of a convincing home-win in their back pockets, the Troy volleyball team hits the road once again as they travel to Macon, Ga., for this weekend's seventh annual Bear Brawl hosted by Mercer.

The Trojans are set to play three matches at the University Center, beginning with a date with Mercer at 12:00 p.m. CT on Friday. Troy will also take on Norfolk State on Friday at 4:00 p.m. CT before closing the weekend with Tennessee State at 12:00 p.m. CT on Saturday.

“We always look forward to getting back out on floor,” head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick said. “We look forward to playing three good teams and seeing where we are as a program.”

“It's always nice to win, and it's nice to go into the weekend on a little streak,” Kirkpatrick said. “But we know we're going to have to play well to keep that streak going.”

Live stats for the match against Mercer will be available at the above link. The availability of live stats for the other two matches is yet to be determined.

Be sure to check back in with TroyTrojans.com for results and recaps. Fans can also follow Troy University Athletics on Twitter @TroyAthletics or become a fan on Facebook.

TROY

2011 Record: 2-2
Last Time Out: W (3-0) vs. Alabama State
Head Coach: Sonny Kirkpatrick (Sixth Season)

The Trojans enter the weekend after taking a straight-set victory from Alabama State at Sartain Hall on Tuesday. Troy opened its season with a 1-2 showing at the Samford/UAB Invitational last weekend.

True freshman Kayla Pickart leads the squad with a 3.29 kills/set average and 46 total kills while junior Devin Von Pingel's .435 attack percentage is tops on the team. The Trojans are hitting .233 as a team while holding opponents to a .195 clip.

Pickart (3.29), Breanna Cullity (2.71), Von Pingel (2.54), Natasha Kolunija (2.00) and Lucy Cikra (2.00) are all averaging 2.00 or more kills/set for the Trojans.

Alexander Alexandra sets up the offense and sits with a 10.93 assists/set average and 153 total assits.

Defensively, Courtney Cohen's 4.86 digs/set average and 68 total digs pace the Trojans while Cullity and McClelland have each posted seven total blocks to pace the squad.

MERCER

2011 Record: 0-4
Last Time Out: L (0-3), vs. Georgia Southern
Head Coach: Noelle Rooke (Eighth Season)
Series: Troy leads 11-5

The Bears are coming of off a mid-week loss to Georgia Southern on Wednesday, combine that with losses to Davidson, Winthrop and UNC Wilmington as last weekend's Winthrop Classic and the bears have yet to win a set this season.

Jennifer Katona leads Mercer with 25 kills while Charlotte Harris' 54 digs are tops for the Bears.

The Trojans lead the series with Mercer, which dates back to Troy's A-Sun days, 11-5. However, the Bears took the last match, 3-0, in 2009's Bear Brawl.

NORFOLK STATE

2010 Record: 13-20
Interim Head Coach: Brandon Duvall (Second Season)
Series: First Meeting

The Spartans were scheduled to begin their season last weekend at the Asics Invitational at Hofstra, located on Long Island, however the tournament was cancelled due to Hurricane Irene.

NSU brings back nine letterwinners and two redshirt players from the 2010 team that went 13-20 overall, 5-3 in the MEAC Southern Division. Both records were the best by an NSU team since moving to Division I in 1997. Among those returning include 2010 All-MEAC Second Team performer Charlotte Armstead, who led the Spartans with 2.67 kills per set

Troy and Norfolk State have never met on the volleyball court.

TENNESSEE STATE

2011 Record: 2-1
Last Time Out: W (3-1), vs. Loyola (MD)
Head Coach: Kathy Roulhac (Eighth Season)
Series: Troy leads 5-0

The Tigers are coming off of a second place finish at the Big Orange Bash this weekend hosted by Clemson. The Tigers defeated South Carolina State and Loyola (MD) but fell to Clemson.

Shaquita Williams, who was named to the Big Orange Bash All-Tournament team, led the Tiger offense with 40 kills and seven service aces. She hit .365 and only committed nine errors on 85 total attempts.

Troy leads the all-time series over TSU, 5-0. The two sides last met in 2007 in a season-opening tournament at Auburn. Troy took the match in five sets.

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