Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Georgia Southern
Troy Volleyball Travels to Georgia Southern
10/9/2024 11:16:00 AM | Volleyball
TROY, Ala. – The Troy volleyball team looks to get back into the win column this week, as it heads to the Peach State for a pair of matches against Georgia Southern on Thursday and Friday at the Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Ga.
Troy (7-7, 2-2 SBC) dropped both of its matches to Texas State last weekend. The Trojans were competitive in each set, but couldn't quite out hit the high-powered Texas State offense. Georgia Southern (12-1, 2-0 SBC) has won 11 straight matches and is currently the highest ranked Sun Belt team in the RPI at No. 28.
Last season, the Trojans and Eagles split its two matches in Troy, with both teams winning a match 3-2.
Match Information
The Matchup: Troy (7-7, 2-2 SBC) at Georgia Southern (12-1, 2-0 SBC)
When: Thursday, October 10, 5 p.m. (CT) | Friday, October 11, 5 p.m.
Where: Statesboro, Ga. | Hanner Fieldhouse (4,325)
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Troystats.com
Time to Respond
The Trojans will turn to the dominant outside hitting duo of Tori Hester and Amiah Butler to help right the ship. After recording 18 kills and 14 kills in Troy's matches against Texas State, Hester has recorded double-digit kills in 36 straight matches dating back to last season, which is the longest known active streak in Division I Women's Volleyball. Madolyn Isringhausen of Tennessee Tech is the next closest at 28 matches.
Hester is fifth in the country in kills per set with 4.82 this season, a mark that is also first in the Sun Belt. She has 236 total kills this season, which leads the Sun Belt and is 36th nationally.
On the other side of the court, Butler has 174 kills this season which is sixth in the Sun Belt. She's averaging 3.55 kills per set which is fourth in the SBC. Hester and Butler are combining for 8.37 kills per set, which is the most for a duo in the Sun Belt.
The Trojans have also been strong from the service line this season, as Troy is third in the Sun Belt and 47th nationally in aces per set at 1.82. Sara Bates is pacing the Trojans with 0.45 aces per set, a mark that leads the Sun Belt. Bates is second in the SBC in total aces with 22.
Milestone Watch
Multiple Trojans are nearing career milestone marks heading into the second half of the season.
Hester is 33 kills away from 1,500 in her career. She currently sits fourth in program history in kills with 1,467. With 24 more digs, Hester will reach 1,000 in her career, and would be just the sixth player in program history with at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.
Butler is 91 kills away from 1,000 kills in her career, and just five points away 1,000. The junior from Pensacola, Fla., is looking to become just the 14th Trojan to record 1,000 kills.
Scouting Georgia Southern
The Eagles are one of the hottest teams in the country, having won 11 straight matches and 25 sets in a row. Georgia Southern is led offensively by Reagan Barth and her team-high 157 kills. Kirsten Barrett is leading the Eagles with 423 assists. They are first in the country in digs per set with 18.93. The Eagles have won six SBC player of the week awards so far this season.
Georgia Southern leads the all-time series 17-9 over Troy. The Trojans are 3-10 when playing in Statesboro.
Notables
• Josh Lauer is in his eighth season at the helm of Troy, and boasts a 114-106 record while leading the Trojans.
• In the first RPI rankings Troy comes in at No. 96 – third in the Sun Belt. Georgia Southern is the top SBC team at No. 28, while Arkansas State is ranked No. 82. The Trojans finished the 2023 season at 81 in the NCAA's RPI rankings. The Sun Belt had six teams in the top 100 of the final RPI rankings.
• Troy will play seven matches against teams who qualified for the 2023 Division I NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship.
• Troy is averaging 12.41 kills per set this season, which is seventh in the Sun Belt Conference and 169th in the country.
• Leading the offensive charge this season has been outside hitters Tori Hester and Amiah Butler. Both players have earned Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honors this season.
• Hester's 26 kills leads the Trojans and the SBC this season. Hester logged 29 kills in Troy's 3-1 win over New Hampshire on opening day, which is a program record for the most kills in a four-set match. The previous best was 28 held by Cheyenne Hayes. She also has a season-high 30 kills, which came in Troy's 3-2 win over South Alabama on Friday, Sept. 27.
• Hester's 4.82 kills per set is first in the conference and ranks her fifth nationally. Butler is second on the team with 3.55 kills per set, which is fourth in the Sun Belt. Butler is sixth in the SBC in total kills with 174.
