BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University volleyball team will return to action on Friday, Sept. 2, just two days after a midweek contest against in-state rival Alabama. The Bulldogs will co-host the Samford-UAB Invitational and will play three matches over the two day span.

Samford (2-2) will open up play against Tennessee Tech (3-0) at 2 p.m. Friday, September 2, inside the Pete Hanna Center then will turn around to face Northwestern State (2-3) in the very next match at 7 p.m.

The invitational will conclude with a match against Radford (3-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Redshirt-sophomore Kate Neisler has been the offensive catalyst for the Bulldogs so far this season. The Jacksonville, Alabama native has produced 48 kills (3.69 k/s) and leads the team with a .351 attack percentage.

Defensively the Bulldogs have emergence of freshmen libero Grace Tiesman. Tiesman leads the team with 48 digs and is supported by Neisler's 36 digs on the season.

Scouting the Golden Eagles

• Tennessee Tech sports three attackers with 30 kills or more coming into this weekend's action. Shealene Little (39), Rachel Thomas (32) and K'Vonna Johnson (33) have all made an impact offensively for the Golden Eagles.
• Samford is 6-10 against Tennessee Tech heading into this weekend. The last time the two programs met the Bulldogs pulled out a 3-0 victory in 2013.
• The Golden Eagles defeated cross-town rival UAB, 3-2, and SoCon foe Western Carolina, 3-1, just last weekend.
• Setter Sharon Anderson was tabbed as the Adidas 2016 OVC Setter of the Week after having a pair of double-doubles and is averaged above 40 assists per match.

 
Scouting the Lady Demons

• Alexis Warren paces the Lady Demon offense with 54 kills (3.00 k/s) on 222 total attacks this season but Lauren Agan has the hot hand as she has had 17 kills in each of her last two matches.
• Channing Burleson leads the team with 86 digs on the season for an average of 4.78 digs per set.
• Samford is 3-2 all-time against Northwestern State. The Bulldogs prevailed in the last outing 3-0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-14) in 2010.
• Former Bulldog and current Northwestern State Assistant Coach Alicia Roth will make her return to the Pete Hanna Center. Roth was a four-year letter winner with the volleyball program and graduate of Samford.

 
Scouting the Highlanders

• The Highlanders are off to a hot start to the season after going 3-0 at the Highlander Invitational. The weekend sweep included wins over Wake Forest, Norfolk State and St. Fancis (N.Y.)
• Maddie Palmer earned MVP of the invitational and was named Big South Player of the week. She recorded conference-bests of 56 kills (5.09 k/s) and a .480 attack percentage.
• Radford leads the Big South with a .353 hitting percentage.
• Amaya Rousseau tallied 10 blocks. Radford as a team has notched an average of 2.09 blocks per set.

Fans can follow along with the action by following @SamfordVB on Twitter, watching live on YouTube or through live stats found on SamfordSports.com.