JACKSON, Miss. -- The quest for the 2013 Southwestern Athletics Conference (SWAC) volleyball title begins Saturday morning at Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center and T.B. Ellis Physical Education Center on the campus of Jackson State University.
The UAPB Lady Lions have their hands full right off the bat, facing two-time defending champion and host Jackson State University. Game time is set for 9 a.m. CT at the Williams Center. Second round action continues on Saturday afternoon and climaxes on Sunday with the championshiop match. Admission to the tournament championship is free.
This year marks the 25th annual league championship tournament. The winner of the championship receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The championship match will broadcast live on ESPN3.com at 3 p.m. CT and will air tape delay on ESPNU on Sunday, November 24 at 8:30 p.m. CT.
The Lady Lions enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the Western Division, while JSU is the third seed in the Eastern Division. In the other opening round matches, Alabama A&M (East # 2) plays Prairie View (West # 3) in the other 9 a.m. match at T.B. Ellis, while Texas Southern (West #1) faces Mississippi Valley State (East #4) and Alabama State (East #1) battles Southern (West #4) in the 11 a.m. matches.
While UAPB is looking for their first SWAC volleyball tournament title, and JSU seeks a 3-pete, Alabama A&M is hoping for their league-leading 11th crown. The Lady Bulldogs strung together six straight from 2000-2005, then won four more from 2007-2010. TSU is next in line, carrying the banner in the early years of the tournament, winning the first three (1989-91) and in 1994. Then, Prairie View and Grambling State have each won three titles and Southern has two.
Visit the SWAC Volleyball Tournament Central to follow the action through the crowning of the 2013 champion.
JONES AND BRAND EARNED SPOTS ON THE 2013 ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
BIRMINGHAM -- Junior Ashlie Jones and Courtney Brand were both voted to 2013 All-SWAC volleyball team. The teams were announced on Thursday by the conference office.
Jones, an outside hitter from Plano, Illinois, played in all 33 matches during the regular season. She led the Lady Lions in kills with 258, averaging 2.39 kills per set. She had 10 assists, a team-high 43 aces, 188 digs (1.74 per/set) and 31 blocks (4 solo). Jones is ranked 6th in the SWAC in kills and 3rd in aces.
Brand a DS/L from Ontario, Canada/ Holy Trinity Catholic, played in all 33 matches this season, starting 30. She led the team in blocks with 52 (13 solo). She is also third onthe team in kills with 196 (1.90 per/set). Brand is ranked 7h in the SWAC in hitting percentage, hitting .238.
