NASHVILLE — After a seven-game road trip that included plane rides to Texas and California, the Tennessee State volleyball team is finally back home as they are set to host the Tiger Invitational. On Thursday TSU will take on former OVC foe and crosstown rival Belmont University (6 p.m. ESPN Plus) to open up the invite. Four games will be on the slate on Friday. At 10 a.m., Belmont with take on North Alabama. At noon, North Alabama will be back in action taking on Alcorn State. At 3 p.m., Belmont will play Alcorn State and the nightcap will feature the TSU against Bethune-Cookman (ESPN Plus).
 
TSU will be back in action early on Saturday with a 9 a.m. tilt against Alcorn State. Bethune-Cookman and North Alabama will meet at noon. TSU and North Alabama (ESPN Plus) will finish the classic at 3 p.m. All the matches will take place at Kean Hall. Tickets will be sold for $10 per day, or fans can buy a three day pass for $20. You can see ticket information here.

THURSDAY
The Matchup:  Belmont (2-8) at Tennessee State Tigers (2-7)
Date/Time: Thursday, September 15 || 6:00 p.m. (CST)
Location: Kean Hall || Nashville
Watch Live:  https://plus.espn.com/
Live Stats https://tsutigers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary

The Matchup: Belmont (2-8) vs. North Alabama (8-1)
Date/Time: Friday, September 16 || 10:00 a.m. (CST)
Location: Kean Hall || Nashville
Live Stats https://tsutigers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
 
The Matchup: Alcorn State (1-8) vs. North Alabama (8-1)
Date/Time: Friday, September 16 || Noon (CST)
Location: Kean Hall || Nashville
Live Stats https://tsutigers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
 
The Matchup: Alcorn State (1-8) vs. Belmont (2-8)
Date/Time: Friday, September 16 || 3 p.m. (CST)
Location: Kean Hall || Nashville
Live Stats https://tsutigers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
 
The Matchup:  Bethune-Cookman (0-9) at Tennessee State Tigers (2-7)
Date/Time: Friday, September 16 || 6:00 p.m. (CST)
Location: Kean Hall || Nashville
Watch Live:  https://plus.espn.com/
Live Stats https://tsutigers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
 
The Matchup:  Alcorn State (1-8) at Tennessee State Tigers (2-7)
Date/Time: Saturday, September 17 || 9:00 a.m. (CST)
Location: Kean Hall || Nashville
Watch Live:  https://plus.espn.com/
Live Stats https://tsutigers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
 
The Matchup: Bethune-Cookman (0-9) vs. North Alabama (8-1)
Date/Time: Saturday, September 17 || Noon (CST)
Location: Kean Hall || Nashville
Live Stats https://tsutigers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
 
The Matchup:  North Alabama at Tennessee State Tigers (2-7)
Date/Time: Saturday, September 17 || 3:00 p.m. (CST)
Location: Kean Hall || Nashville
Watch Live:  https://plus.espn.com/
Live Stats https://tsutigers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary

SCOUTING The Tigers
After a huge road win at Evansville, the Tigers traveled to Berkeley, Calif., to participate in the Cal Tournament. TSU lost all three games to finish the week at 1-3.

• After winning the first set against Nevada, the Tigers fell in the next three sets. Johanna Alcantara finished with 10 kills in the match to lead the Tigers attack. Defensively, TSU had four players reach double figures in digs, highlighted by Gina Rivera-Ortiz's 22, 16 from Hadley Pride, and 12 more from Login Williams.
• Against the host Cal, Alcantara finished with eight kills to lead the Tiger offense. Defensively, TSU had two players reach double figures in digs as Rivera-Ortiz had 16 and Pride chipped in with 10. From the front row, Alondrah Santana-Rodriguez contributed five blocks, but it was not enough as the Tigers fell in three sets.
• The Tigers started fast against Utah Tech, winning the first two sets before falling in a five-set classic. Once again it was Alcantara who finished the day with 19 kills. She was also named to the All-Tournament team. Celestial Miller added 11 kills and Kennedy Davis chipped in with 10 as part of balanced Tennessee State attack. Rivera-Ortiz tallied 36 digs, along with six blocks from Santana-Rodriguez to lead them defensively.
• Junior Nicole Taylor will be making her Tiger debut.

SCOUTING Belmont
This weekend marks the final non-conference contests for the Bruins before their inaugural season in the Missouri Valley Conference. Last season, Belmont went a combined 3-0 versus invite foes TSU and Alcorn State.  

• Laura Shoopman currently leads the MVC in kills (152) and is third in kills per set (3.80)
• Kristen Clemons is fourth in the MVC in blocks (36) and fifth in hitting percentage (.346)
• Junior middle blocker Kristen Clemons ranks fifth in the MVC in total blocks (36), fifth in hitting percentage (.346), and 11th in kills (96) 
• Junior outside hitter Ally Peterson is eighth in the MVC in service aces (12) 
• Junior libero Rachel McBride is sixth in the MVC in digs (134). On Saturday against Grambling State, McBride recorded her 750th career dig.

SCOUTING North Alabama
 North Alabama comes in with the best record (8-1) of the five teams in the invite. They are riding into Nashville on a two-game winning streak after going 2-1 in the Morehead State Invitational.  

• This week, Taylor Floyd was named the A-Sun's Player of the Week. The outside hitter led UNA in kills (51) and digs (51). She added three blocks, a service ace and a .224 hitting percentage as the Lions posted a 3-1 record.
• UNA is one win away from tying their Division 1 record in wins.
• UNA has a combined 4-2 record against invite foes Tennessee State, Alcorn State and Bethune-Cookman.
• Alleah Dallas leads the SWAC in blocks per set (1.09) and total blocks (35.0)

SCOUTING Alcorn State

• Alcorn State has been swept in eight of their ten matches this season 
• Opponents are out-hitting Alcorn State, .300 to .061 
• Faith Archibong leads the team with 60 kills
• Mikensie Young-Mullins and Meagan Alfaro are tied for the team lead with 56 digs

SCOUTING Bethune-Cookman

• Bethune-Cookman is still searching for their first win of 2022
• The Wildcats are coming off a 3-0 loss to former Belmont conference opponent, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
• Opponents are out-hitting Bethune-Cookman, .268 to .106 this season 

UP NEXT:
 The Tigers will start OVC play when they travel to UT-Martin on September 20.