Grambling, La. – The Centenary Ladies volleyball team is back in action on Tuesday as the Maroon and White will face the Grambling State University Lady Tigers in a non-conference match set for 6 p.m. at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
The Ladies (3-5) took a unique approach to the start of their season this past weekend as the roster was split evenly, with half of the team playing in the Lyon College Highlander Invitational in Batesville, Ark. and half participating in the Millsaps/Belhaven Invitational in Jackson, Miss. Grambling (0-3) fell to North Texas on the road in its most recent match on Aug. 28.
Centenary defeated Belhaven, 3-1, and lost to Mary Hardin-Baylor 3-0 in Jackson on Saturday and dropped both of its matches in the Highlander Invitational, falling to both College of the Ozarks and Mid-America Christian University by scores of 3-0. The Ladies opened their season on Friday by earning a split of their four matches, as they defeated Jarvis Christian (3-2) and Millsaps (3-1) and falling to LeTourneau (3-1) and Lyon (3-0).
Senior OH Alyssa Davis (Van Alstyne, Texas) had a big opening weekend for the Ladies as she recorded 73 digs and 57 kills, including 19 kills and 16 digs in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Belhaven. Sophomore MB/OH Robin Lemelle (Liberty, Texas) and fellow sophomore DS/L Jaycie Proctor (Paris, Texas) also had impressive weekends as they combined for 109 digs, 20 kills, 16 assists, and nine aces. Proctor's 59 digs are second on the team behind Davis' 73, and Lemelle has 50 to rank fourth.
Davis leads the way with 57 kills and a .204 hitting percentage and freshman RS Jaylin St. Martin (New Orleans, La.) is second with 45 kills after a dazzling debut. She added 37 digs, three aces, and two assists. Sophomore DS/L Tori Ligman (Bossier City, La.) tallied 54 digs, which are third-best on the team, and six assists and three aces. Ligman recorded a .200 hitting percentage.
Senior DS/L Marichael Clarin-Jante (Houston, Texas) recorded 1045 assists, 46 digs, four kills, and an ace while Senior OH Lauren Kelley Fort Worth, Texas) posted solid numbers all weekend as she finished with 35 kills and 33 digs. Senior MB Elizabeth Epley (Nashville, Tenn.) had 26 kills, seven assists, an ace, and posted a .170 hitting percentage. Junior DS Mariah Martinez (San Antonio, Texas) has 39 digs and 36 assists. Freshman OH/DS Kiara Liedy (Sugar Land, Texas) had 39 digs, three kills, six assists, and six aces. Junior MB Liz Lowe (San Antonio, Texas) recorded 29 kills, nine digs, three assists, and seven service aces, which ranks second on the team behind Martinez' eight.
Centenary will play its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 11 as the Ladies face Williams Baptist in a non-conference doubleheader (11 a.m. and 3 p.m.) and then remains at home for three consecutive matches; Wednesday, Sept. 15 versus Jarvis Christian at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 21 against Grambling at 6 p.m. and then Wednesday, Sept. 22 22 at 6 p.m. versus Louisiana College.
See the complete 2021 season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/wvball/2021-22/schedule
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests but be advised of current COVID-19 protocols for fans. Updated COVID-19 information will be available in the coming days via www.GoCentenary.com. Live stats and live video stream are available for all Centenary home contests.
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