NASHVILLE — The Tennessee State University Tiger Volleyball Team will celebrate six of their seniors this weekend when they take on the Little Rock University Trojans at Kean Hall (Friday 6 p.m. and Saturday 2 p.m.). The games will be the final two regular season matches for both teams.
 
This is the first meeting between the two programs and the series is important for both teams. With a sweep, the Tigers can finish the regular season over .500 in overall and conference play for the first time since 2015. TSU sits at sixth place in the standings but can move up as high as the third spot. The Tigers were voted to finish last in the preseason poll. Little Rock will need to sweep and some help to have a chance of making the OVC tournament in their inaugural season in the conference,
 
"This is a great chance for us to go into the tournament on a high note, said TSU head coach Donika Sutton. This is another team that we had to watch a lot of film on because we don't know their tendencies. We are excited to be at home again and look forward to the challenge that Little Rock will give us."
 
For the third time in as many weeks, Johanna Alcantara earned Offensive and Newcomer of the Week honors. In the road sweep against Southern Indiana last week, Alcantara led the team in kills in both games. On Friday, she had 16 kills and swung at a .231 clip. Her three block assists gave her 17.5 points on the night. She followed that up with her season high 28 kills including seven in the decisive fifth set. Her hitting percentage was .231 and she had a season high 28.5 points.
 
The game will be a battle of the top two teams in blocks in overall games, with both averaging 2.37 per set. Both teams have two players apiece with over 100 kills on the season. Gabrielle Williams (109) and Kennedy Davis (105) for the Tigers and Zanobia Willis (114) and Daedrianna Cali (105) for Little Rock.
 
Alcantara, Carla Boudal, Sofia Garcia-Guerrios, Gina Rivera-Ortiz, Aleksandra Rojecka and Alondrah Santana-Rodriguez are the six Tigers that will be honored in a ceremony prior to the Friday match starting at 5:50 p.m. Former Tiger Aniya Williams will also be recognized for being the Tiger all time leader in hitting percentage. 
 
The Matchup: Little Rock (7-22, 4-12 OVC) at Tennessee State Tigers (14-15, 8-8 OVC)
Date/Time:  Friday, November 10 || 6:00 p.m. (CST)
Date/Time:  Saturday, November 11 || 2:00 p.m. (CST)
Location: Kean Hall | Nashville, Tennessee
Live Stats      https://tsutigers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Johanna Alcantara is second in the OVC in total kills (205) and is third in kills per set (3.66) She earned her third consecutive OVC Offensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week award this week.
• Gina Rivera-Ortiz is two digs away from joining the 2500 club in career digs. She 20 kills away from being in second place in the OVC in career digs.
• Carla Boudal leads the OVC in services aces with 45 in overall games.
• Kennedy Davis is leading the OVC in hitting percentage in overall matches at .357.
• Gabrielle Johnson's 84 blocks leads in OVC play. She has 109 total blocks on the season.

 
SCOUTING THE TROJANS

• Little Rock has six players that have over 100 kills on the season led by Laure Jansen's 232. Jansen also leads a balanced attack in digs with 270.
• Zanobia Willis leads the team in blocks 114.
• The Trojans have struggled on the road this season going 0-11.

 
 
UP NEXT: The Tigers will be in action in the OVC Postseason tournament starting November 17. Opponent, time, and venue to be determined.