Trojans Poised For Two Road Matches at South Alabama

Match Notes

TROY, Ala. – Troy is primed for its first road trip of the season as it ventures to Mobile, Ala. for a pair of matches against rival South Alabama Thursday and Friday. First serve for both matches is set for 6 p.m.

The Trojans are looking for their first 4-0 start since 2003 and first 5-0 start in the program's Division I era (1993).

"We're really trying to focus on our preparation and staying consistent and confident in what our preparation will do for us," head coach Josh Lauer said. "I think in the past we've allowed emotion to dictate weeks like this a little too much, but I think we're more mature now as a staff and a team. We're looking forward to playing some exciting volleyball this week."

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Matchup: Troy (3-0, 3-0 Sun Belt) vs. South Alabama (0-4, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Where: Mobile, Ala. – Jaguar Gym

Match One (Thursday, Oct. 1 – 6 p.m.)
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: https://gotroy.us/2SeS53k

Match Two (Friday, Oct. 2 – 6 p.m.)
Live Stats: https://gotroy.us/3jidPay

Hayes, Anderson Earn League Honors
Cheyenne Hayes and Amara Anderson each earned Sun Belt weekly honors this week. Hayes was named the league's offensive player of the week while Anderson was tabbed the Setter of the Week.

Anderson continued to run Troy's offense efficiently in three wins over Georgia State to open the season. Anderson averaged a nation-leading 13.7 assists per set with just one error last weekend and set a program record with 58 assists in the Friday night match, the most in a four-set match in school history.

Hayes led all scorers in all three matches against the Panthers, including a 23-kill outing in the Friday night contest. The senior flirted with a double-double in all three matches with seven, eight and seven dig outings for a total of 22 digs on the weekend.

Group Effort
The opening-weekend sweep of the Panthers was a true team effort as five Trojans set or tied single-match career bests. Lacey Jeffcoat recorded a career-high 30 digs in the Friday night match while Julia Brooks' 17 kills in the same match tied a career high set last season against ULM. Alison Siersma also tied a career high in the late match with eight kills. Avery Cason posted a career-best 10 kills on .450 hitting in the series finale while Isabella Mitchell closed the weekend by tying her career high in digs with 13.

Trojans' Scrappy Defense
Troy's defense stifled Georgia State's attack and will look to do the same this week against South Alabama. The Trojans are limiting opponents to a .091 hitting percentage, the second-best mark in the nation and best in the league. Troy is averaging 17.40 digs/set, the fourth-most nationally.

Know Your Opponent
Troy is 25-27 all-time against South Alabama and is 10-14 on the road against the Jaguars. The Trojans have dropped four straight matches to the Jags with the last win in 2017 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. South Alabama is off to an 0-4 start to the 2020 season after dropping a pair of matches to Louisiana and Stephen F. Austin. Hannah Maddux and Meaghan Jones lead the Jags offensively with 38 and 36 kills this season, respectively, while Rachel Hickey anchors South Alabama defensively with 77 digs on the season thus far.

Follow Troy Volleyball
Social: Twitter | Instagram
Join The Conversation: #BuildTheEmpire | #OneTROY

Trojans Poised For Two Road Matches at South Alabama

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Amara Anderson

Julia Brooks

Avery Cason

Cheyenne Hayes

Lacey Jeffcoat

Isabella Mitchell

Alison Siersma

Troy University Athletics