Troy University Athletics
Friday, September 20
Madison, Wis.
7 p.m.
Troy University
at
Wisconsin
Troy Volleyball Travels to Wisconsin for a Pair of Matches
9/19/2024 2:16:00 PM | Volleyball
TROY, Ala. – After a strong showing in the Troy Invitational last weekend, the Troy volleyball team gears up for its toughest test yet, as it travels to Madison, Wis., to take on No. 7 Wisconsin on Friday night before going against SEC foe Texas A&M on Sunday. Both matches will be played in the UW Field House.
Troy (5-3) has won three straight matches and is looking to pick up its first ranked win in program history on Friday night. The Trojans defeated Alabama State on the road last Tuesday and handled their business against The Citadel and Kennesaw State in the Troy Invitational last weekend.
Match Information
Who: No. 7 Wisconsin (4-3) | Texas A&M (7-0)
When: Friday, September 20, 7 p.m. | Sunday, September 22, 1 p.m.
Where: Madison, Wis. | UW Field House (7,540)
Watch: B1G+ (Friday only)
Live stats: Troystats.com
Firing on All Cylinders
During its 3-0 week, Troy was led by a strong and efficient offense led by Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week Amiah Butler. The junior outside hitter earned the weekly conference honor after recording 43 kills in 10 sets (4.3 k/s) on .432 hitting. Butler is second on the team behind Tori Hester in kills (109) and kills per set (3.89). As a team, the Trojans recorded 133 kills (13.3 k/s) on .326 hitting in its three wins.
In Thursday's sweep of The Citadel, Troy had a season-best offensive showing as they recorded 46 kills with nine errors on a hitting clip of .389.
The Trojans offense has been set up this season in a two-setter system headlined by Janelle Stuempfig and Jordan Sinness. Stuempfig leads the team in assists this season with 149 (5.32 a/s), but Sinness is right behind her at 141 (5.22 a/s). The duo has helped lead Troy to an impressive 13.11 kills per set, a mark that is fourth in the Sun Belt this season.
In the serving game, Troy tied its season high in aces with 13 on Saturday against Kennesaw State. Prior to this season, the last time Troy had a higher number was 15 against Georgia Southern on Nov. 12, 2021.
Homecoming
The Trojans have three players from the state of Wisconsin on the 2024 squad, who will see plenty of family and friends in Wisconsin's sea of red come Friday night. Stuempfig is from Sussex, Wis., which is just over an hour drive to the campus of UW. Sophomore Maleah Howe, Ixonia, Wis., and freshman Olivia Kwiatkowski, Oconomowoc, Wis., are from neighboring towns and each attended Oconomowoc High School.
Scouting the Opponents – Wisconsin
The Badgers are currently ranked No. 7 in the AVCA National Poll and enter Friday's game coming off a 3-1 win over Marquette on Tuesday night. Wisconsin has won four straight matches after opening the season 0-3. Wisconsin has been ranked in the AVCA National Poll for 168 consecutive polls and has been in the top 10 for the last 71.
Sara Franklin – who had 33 kills in the Badgers win over Marquette – has 139 kills on the season and is just behind Troy's Hester in kills per set at 4.79.
Scouting the Opponent – Texas A&M
The Aggies are off to an impressive 7-0 start to the 2024 season, and it's tied for the third-best start in program history. Texas A&M leads the country in assists per set (14.04) and kills per set at 14.96. In addition to the high kill volume, the Aggies are doing it efficiently, as they rank 11th in the country in hitting percentage (2.92) and opponent hitting percentage (.136).
Maddie Waak and her 11.83 assists per set is the top mark in the country. She posted a career-high 58 assists in A&M's five-set win over UNH. Logan Lednicky leads TAMU in kills with 100.
Notables
• This weekend will be the first time in program history that Troy has played Wisconsin or Texas A&M. The Trojans are 0-2 all-time against Big Ten teams and 5-31 against SEC teams.
• Friday is Troy's eighth matchup against a ranked team, with the Trojans going 0-7 in the previous matches. Wisconsin is the second-highest ranked team the Trojans have played. Troy played No. 4 Louisville to open the 2023 season.
• Troy has recorded 367 kills as a team, for an average of 13.11 per set. The Trojans are fourth in the conference in kills per set, and 84th nationally.
• Tori Hester's 4.82 kills per set is first in the conference and ranks her sixth nationally. Just behind her in the conference rankings is Amiah Butler with 3.89. Butler is third in the SBC in total kills with 109.
• Tori Hester has recorded double figure kills in 30 consecutive matches dating back to last season. The last time she recorded less than 10 kills was Sept. 8, 2023, when she had nine against WKU.
• Troy is looking for its second Power Five win this season after it defeated LSU in five sets on Aug. 31 in Baton Rouge, La.
• The Trojans are second in the Sun Belt this season in aces per set with 1.93. Nationally, Troy is ranked 52nd.
Troy (5-3) has won three straight matches and is looking to pick up its first ranked win in program history on Friday night. The Trojans defeated Alabama State on the road last Tuesday and handled their business against The Citadel and Kennesaw State in the Troy Invitational last weekend.
Match Information
Who: No. 7 Wisconsin (4-3) | Texas A&M (7-0)
When: Friday, September 20, 7 p.m. | Sunday, September 22, 1 p.m.
Where: Madison, Wis. | UW Field House (7,540)
Watch: B1G+ (Friday only)
Live stats: Troystats.com
Firing on All Cylinders
During its 3-0 week, Troy was led by a strong and efficient offense led by Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week Amiah Butler. The junior outside hitter earned the weekly conference honor after recording 43 kills in 10 sets (4.3 k/s) on .432 hitting. Butler is second on the team behind Tori Hester in kills (109) and kills per set (3.89). As a team, the Trojans recorded 133 kills (13.3 k/s) on .326 hitting in its three wins.
In Thursday's sweep of The Citadel, Troy had a season-best offensive showing as they recorded 46 kills with nine errors on a hitting clip of .389.
The Trojans offense has been set up this season in a two-setter system headlined by Janelle Stuempfig and Jordan Sinness. Stuempfig leads the team in assists this season with 149 (5.32 a/s), but Sinness is right behind her at 141 (5.22 a/s). The duo has helped lead Troy to an impressive 13.11 kills per set, a mark that is fourth in the Sun Belt this season.
In the serving game, Troy tied its season high in aces with 13 on Saturday against Kennesaw State. Prior to this season, the last time Troy had a higher number was 15 against Georgia Southern on Nov. 12, 2021.
Homecoming
The Trojans have three players from the state of Wisconsin on the 2024 squad, who will see plenty of family and friends in Wisconsin's sea of red come Friday night. Stuempfig is from Sussex, Wis., which is just over an hour drive to the campus of UW. Sophomore Maleah Howe, Ixonia, Wis., and freshman Olivia Kwiatkowski, Oconomowoc, Wis., are from neighboring towns and each attended Oconomowoc High School.
Scouting the Opponents – Wisconsin
The Badgers are currently ranked No. 7 in the AVCA National Poll and enter Friday's game coming off a 3-1 win over Marquette on Tuesday night. Wisconsin has won four straight matches after opening the season 0-3. Wisconsin has been ranked in the AVCA National Poll for 168 consecutive polls and has been in the top 10 for the last 71.
Sara Franklin – who had 33 kills in the Badgers win over Marquette – has 139 kills on the season and is just behind Troy's Hester in kills per set at 4.79.
Scouting the Opponent – Texas A&M
The Aggies are off to an impressive 7-0 start to the 2024 season, and it's tied for the third-best start in program history. Texas A&M leads the country in assists per set (14.04) and kills per set at 14.96. In addition to the high kill volume, the Aggies are doing it efficiently, as they rank 11th in the country in hitting percentage (2.92) and opponent hitting percentage (.136).
Maddie Waak and her 11.83 assists per set is the top mark in the country. She posted a career-high 58 assists in A&M's five-set win over UNH. Logan Lednicky leads TAMU in kills with 100.
Notables
• This weekend will be the first time in program history that Troy has played Wisconsin or Texas A&M. The Trojans are 0-2 all-time against Big Ten teams and 5-31 against SEC teams.
• Friday is Troy's eighth matchup against a ranked team, with the Trojans going 0-7 in the previous matches. Wisconsin is the second-highest ranked team the Trojans have played. Troy played No. 4 Louisville to open the 2023 season.
• Troy has recorded 367 kills as a team, for an average of 13.11 per set. The Trojans are fourth in the conference in kills per set, and 84th nationally.
• Tori Hester's 4.82 kills per set is first in the conference and ranks her sixth nationally. Just behind her in the conference rankings is Amiah Butler with 3.89. Butler is third in the SBC in total kills with 109.
• Tori Hester has recorded double figure kills in 30 consecutive matches dating back to last season. The last time she recorded less than 10 kills was Sept. 8, 2023, when she had nine against WKU.
• Troy is looking for its second Power Five win this season after it defeated LSU in five sets on Aug. 31 in Baton Rouge, La.
• The Trojans are second in the Sun Belt this season in aces per set with 1.93. Nationally, Troy is ranked 52nd.
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ VolleyballGerad Parker Press Conference - Buffalo Game
Monday, September 15
Troy Football Press Conference (Players) - Buffalo Game
Monday, September 15
PODCAST - Kaleb Canales
Saturday, September 13
Players Postgame Press Conference - Memphis
Saturday, September 13