MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team will host a pair of matches this weekend at Jag Gym to open Sun Belt Conference play.

USA (8-5) will host Arkansas State (9-3), who enters the weekend tied with UT Arlington for the best overall record in the Sun Belt West Division, at 6:30 p.m. Fri., Sept. 27. The Jaguars will cap the weekend with a 6:30 p.m. match on Sat., Sept. 28, against Little Rock (2-10), who enters the weekend with the worst overall record in the Sun Belt's West Division.

Both matches will be broadcast live and available for free through JagNationTV.com. Live stats for each match will also be available and accessible through the multimedia section of USAJaguars.com, or through the Jaguar volleyball schedule page.

South Alabama ranks second in the Sun Belt in hitting percentage (.242), and sixth in service aces per set (1.50) and opponent hitting percentage (.172). Arkansas State leads the conference in opponent hitting percentage (.128) and blocks per set (2.23), and ranks second in the league in kills per set (13.32), assists per set (12.11) and digs per set (16.18). Little Rock ranks last in the Sun Belt in hitting percentage (.115), opponent hitting percentage (.253), assists per set (8.41) and kills per set (8.49).

Jaguar middle blocker Kelley Hartman leads the Sun Belt in hitting percentage (.429), Lillie Fromdahl ranks seventh in assists per set (7.06), Ashlyn Roberts ranks seventh in digs per set (4.15) and Paige Lynn ranks tied for eighth in service aces per set (0.38).

USA carries a seven-match home win streak into the weekend after sweeping last weekend's South Alabama Invitational at Jag Gym. The Jags defeated Louisiana Tech, Bethune-Cookman and Nicholls State in three sets each to remain unbeaten at home. 

Arkansas State carries a four-match win streak into Friday's contest. The Red Wolves defeated Charlotte, Virginia Tech and Chattanooga last weekend at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. ASU is 3-0 in road matches this season. 

Little Rock carries a three-match losing streak into the weekend after dropping matches to Mercer, Evansville and UT Martin last weekend at the Skyhawk Invitational in Martin, Tenn. The Trojans are 0-3 in road matches this season.

ASU holds a 32-5 all-time lead over USA in a series that began in 1988. The Red Wolves carry an eight-match series win streak into Friday's contest after defeating the Jags in five sets in Jonesboro, Ark., in last year's meeting in the regular season and a five-set win in the opening round of the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championship. South Alabama last defeated Arkansas State in 2013, which came in straight sets in Mobile.

Little Rocks owns a 31-6 all-time lead over USA in series that dates back to 1991. The Trojans defeated the Jags in four sets last year in Little Rock, Ark. South Alabama's last win over Little Rock came in 2017 in a four-set victory in Mobile. 

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Rally Score Club, the volleyball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Rally Score Club go directly to support the South Alabama volleyball program. For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/rallyscoreclub.