University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagle Volleyball Set For Air Force Tournament
9/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Files associated with this release:
VBall Game Notes - Air Force Invitational
Lady Eagle Volleyball Set For Air Force Tournament
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - After beginning with a school record 7-1 start, the Southern Miss Lady Eagle volleyball team takes to the road once more.
The Lady Eagles, fresh off the title in the Mississippi State Tournament, now travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to compete in the Air Force Academy Invitational, Friday-Saturday, Sept. 12-13.
Southern Miss opens the event with a 4:30 p.m., match against McNeese State, and then faces the Naval Academy and host Air Force, at 9 a.m., and 7 p.m., respectively on Saturday.
The Lady Eagles and Head Coach Santiago Restrepo enter the event on the best start through eight matches in school history. The win in the MSU Tournament also was the first title won by Southern Miss since 1998.
Nicki Tribble, who was named as the MSU Tournament Most Valuable Player, paces the Lady Eagle attack with 127 points on the season, including a team-high 115 kills. Bridget Files follows with 126.5 points on the year, currently second on the team in kills (97) and leading the team in total blocks (32). Andrea Bush enters the tournament ranking third in overall points (94.5) and kills (83). Amy Truong leads the team with 307 assists and is tied with Files for a team-high 11 service aces.
After winning the opening match of the season, McNeese State (1-5) is on a five-match losing skid, the last loss being a 3-2 decision to Duquesne. Nicole James leads the team in kills with 92, while Marquita Williams follows with 87 kills.
Navy (2-3) is coming off a 1-2 record in its own Trident Classic, defeating Loyola and dropping to both Eastern Kentucky and Robert Morris. Four players on the team sport 30 kills or more as Beth McArthur leads all players with 46 kills.
The host Falcons (5-2) enter the event on a three-game winning streak, topping VCU, South Alabama and Georgia State last weekend. Delavane Diaz tops all players with 126 kills, while both Lamecca Jefferson and Kristin Hamlett have 80 kills each.
