Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Alabama
Troy Volleyball Hosts Alabama, Grambling State
9/13/2023 11:35:00 AM | Volleyball
TROY, Ala. – Troy Volleyball closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule this week, hosting Alabama on Thursday and Grambling State on Friday in Trojan Arena for its first two home matches of the season. Both matches will be played at 6 p.m. Admission to all Troy Volleyball matches is free, and both contests will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Alabama's visit to Trojan Arena is the SEC foe's first trip to Troy since 1997 and comes on the heels of Troy knocking off the Crimson Tide (8-1) in Tuscaloosa in 2021. The Trojans open at home after playing their first eight matches on the road, including six against NCAA Tournament opponents from a year ago and three ranked teams.
Troy has played remarkably well at home over the last four years under head coach Josh Lauer, posting a 38-9 record, including a 9-3 mark last season. The Trojans won their last six regular season home matches last year, dropping just four combined sets in those six matches.
Tori Hester earned all-tournament team honors last week at the Holiday Inn-University Plaza Invitational after leading the Trojans with 49 kills. Sophomore Amiah Butler added 35 kills over the weekend as the Trojans knocked off College of Charleston and took a set from No. 17 Arkansas.
Butler leads the Trojans, averaging 3.52 kills per set on the year, while Hester is close behind with 3.44 and Julia Brooks is contributing 2.78. At the net, Troy averages 1.70 blocks per set, paced by Brooks' team-best 23 overall blocks.
On the defensive front, Jaci Mesa leads the Trojans, averaging 2.62 digs per set, while Hester and Janelle Stuempdfig are adding 2.15 digs per set.
Serving Up
Alabama
Alabama opened the season with six straight victories before falling for the first time last Friday against Texas A&M-Commerce before bouncing back with victories over Tarleton State and UAB. Alabama sits atop the SEC rankings with 78 aces (2.44/set) and ranks third in hitting percentage (.308) and opponent hitting percentage (.153).
Thursday's matchup marks the 10th all-time meeting between the two schools at the NCAA level, dating back to 1995. Alabama holds an 8-1 advantage in the series after Troy's 3-1 win in Tuscaloosa in 2021. This year's meeting is just the third in the last seven years.
Grambling State
Grambling State (2-9) enters the non-conference matchup with the Trojans with victories over Lamar and ULM on the young season. The Tigers are led by Zyonn Smith's 2.84 kills per set and Nyah Ellis' 4.09 digs per set.
The meeting is just the second all-time between the two programs and first since a Grambling State victory in 2006.
