MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The road-tested Auburn Montgomery volleyball team ventures to Florence, Ala., this weekend to take on a Gulf South Conference heavy slate in the UNA Volleyball Classic. AUM opens up play against the host Lions on Friday, Sept. 15 at 3 p.m., with matches against Dillard (La.) and Union on Saturday at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
 
Match Information: North Alabama
Date: Friday, September 15, 2017 | 3 p.m.
Location: Florence, Ala. | Flowers Hall
Media Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
 
Match Information: Dillard University (La.)
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2017 | 9 a.m.
Location: Florence, Ala. | Flowers Hall
Media Coverage: Live Stats
 
Match Information: Union University
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2017 | 5 p.m.
Location: Florence, Ala. | Flowers Hall
Media Coverage: Live Stats
 
About the Warhawks
AUM (5-2) is fresh off a doubleheader sweep, including a record-setting five-match triumph over Huntingdon. The Warhawks average 10.9 kills on a .194 hitting percentage with 13.5 digs, 10.1 assists, 1.7 service aces and 1.1 blocks.
 
Individually, freshman outside hitter Skylar Coppinger leads the offense with 3.00 kills per set, getting the bulk of her feeds from junior setter Carly Smart who's dishing out 7.57 assists. Sophomore defensive specialist Haley Toler paces the defense with 4.09 digs per set with junior middle blocker Brianna Garvin averages 0.65 blocks at the net while posting a team-best .325 hitting percentage.
 
About the Lions
North Alabama (7-2) enters their tournament on a five-match winning streak, going undefeated in the Dunn Hospitality Invitational followed by a 3-0 sweep of Division I Alcorn State. The Lions boasts one of the top offenses in the country, ranking 17th in kills per set with 14.29 and 11th in assists with 13.85. UNA also averages 17.74 digs, 1.69 blocks and 1.59 service aces.
 
The Lions' high-octane offense runs through Jayden Davila-McClary, who ranks 10^th in Division II with 11.94 assists per set while Lexie Bradley sits just outside the top-10 in kills per set with 4.55 which ranks 12^th. On defense, Ashtyn Kapovich paces UNA with 5.5 digs per set.
 
About the Blue Devils
Dillard (8-3) makes the trip to Ala., after a 1-2 weekend, winning its conference opener 3-1 over Talladega College. The Bulldogs average 10.88 kills per set on a .192 hitting percentage with 15.05 digs, 9.48 assists, 2.88 blocks and 1.8 service aces.
 
Corneisja Harrison paces the Dillard attack with 3.1 kills per set, while Kamryn Linton sets up the offense with 4.2 assists. On defense, Alexis Barnett boasts 4.2 digs per set with Tristan Cojoe averaging 0.9 blocks.
 
About the Bulldogs
Union (6-2) enters the classic following a 3-1 outing in the Emmanuel College Tournament last weekend, losing to Southern Wesleyan 3-2 in their last match. The Bulldogs average 11.7 kills per set on a .226 hitting percentage with 13.6 digs, 10.4 assists 2.0 service aces and 1.6 blocks. Union holds opponents to a .123 hitting percentage.
 
Katie O'Malley leads the Bulldogs on offense with 3.00 kills per set on a .325 hitting percentage, getting her passes from Bre Carlton who dishes out a team-best 6.28 assists. Taylor Chiaro paces the defense with 2.31 digs per set, while Ceciley Bianchard chips in 0.73 blocks.
 
Up Next
AUM's inaugural season will add two firsts next week, with the Warhawks' Gulf South Conference opener at Mississippi College scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. with the program's first home match slated for Friday, Sept. 22 against Montevallo at 6 p.m.
 
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