Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Arkansas State
Troy Hosts Arkansas State for a Pair of Matches
10/12/2023 11:51:00 AM | Volleyball
TROY, Ala. - Troy volleyball puts its seven-match winning streak on the line this weekend hosting Arkansas State in a pair of Sun Belt Conference matches inside Trojan Arena. Set for Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m., the matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Trojans (8-8, 6-0 SBC) return home on a seven-match win streak following a sweep at Marshall last week. Troy's six straight victories to open Sun Belt play match the 2015 squad for the best league start in program history, a seventh straight league win would set a new benchmark.
Since the start of conference play, Julia Brooks has recorded 19 of her 46 blocks to lead the Trojans at the net. Brooks led the offense with 30 kills, averaging 4.29 per set against the Thundering Herd.
Tori Hester joined the 1,000-kill club last weekend during the Trojans' sweep at Marshall, when she tallied 27 kills, averaging 3.87 per set. In her career Hester has racked up 1,015 kills averaging 3.60 per set. The Trojans are 0-5 in 2023 when she doesn't record double digit kills, but 8-3 when she reaches double figures.
Janelle Stuempfig was tabbed Setter of the Week for the second straight week after she recorded 77 assists, averaging 11 per set, in the sweep over the Thundering Herd. Under Stuempfig's guidance, the Trojan offense leads the league in conference matches hitting at a .276 clip.
The Red Wolves (11-7, 1-5 SBC) lead the all-time series with the Trojans by a 19-6 margin and this will be the first meeting between the two schools in Trojan Arena since 2019.
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Arkansas StateÂ
Offensively, Arkansas State is led by Kaitlin Whitlock, who tallied 175 kills, averaging 2.87 per set. Bailey Helzer and Tegan Seyring follow Whitlock with 157 and 125 kills, respectively. The trio totaled 457 of the Red Wolves' 827 kills.Â
Erin Madigan earned Sun Belt Setter of the Week a month ago. Madigan has 632 assists, averaging 10.03 per set. Meanwhile, Arkansas State ranks 10th in the conference under the assist category, averaging 10.71 as opposed to Troy, who leads with 13.52.Â
The Red Wolves rank fifth across the league in conference-only matches in digs, averaging 16.05 per set. Sarah Martinez leads Arkansas State with 278 digs, averaging 4.63 per set.Â
