TUSKEGEE, Ala. ^__ Coming off a non-conference win earlier this week, Tuskegee volleyball will now head to Mobile for the first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) West Cluster, where they will have four games in two days.
 
The Golden Tigers will start with Central State on Friday at 12 p.m., followed by Kentucky State at 5 p.m. TU will battle LeMoyne-Owen on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. before closing out the weekend against Lane at 2 p.m.
 
ABOUT TUSKEGEE OVERVIEW (4-5, 1-3 SIAC)
Tuskegee enters the weekend on a three-game win streak with a 4-5 overall record, including a 1-3 mark in conference play, looking to continue to build momentum as they compete against conference opponents in what promises to be a pivotal weekend for their season.
 
The Golden Tigers, led offensively by the trio of Ma'Kayla Jones, Moriah Seay and Sian Sprinkle, who have all shown flashes of dominance throughout the season. Jones, who leads the team with 73 kills, is averaging 2.43 kills per set, and currently second in the SIAC in hitting percentage at .335 and fifth in blocks at 0.93 blocks per set (28 total).
 
Meanwhile, Seay is second on the team with 72 kills team-highs of 97 digs and 12 service aces. Her 3.13 digs per set average is 10th in the conference so far. Sprinkle has also been strong in her role, contributing 62 kills at a 2.00 kills per set clip, along with 13 total blocks.
 
Setter Mikea Allen has been a crucial component of the team's offense, averaging 5.95 assists per set, marking third in assists per set at 6.34 and tied for fourth in total assists with a team-high 184.
 
As a team, Tuskegee is averaging 10.9 kills per set while hitting .162 overall. This weekend's matches will be critical in determining their trajectory for the remainder of the season. This Cluster offers Tuskegee a chance to gain ground in the standings and build confidence as the season progresses.

ABOUT KENTUCKY STATE (1-6, 1-3)
Kentucky State enters the cluster at 1-6 overall, with the lone win being against conference foe Fort Valley State in the SIAC Crossover last month.
 
The Thorobreds are led by Timaia Sugars, who is averaging 2.19 kills per set, and setter Amber Gregory, who has 132 assists and 36 digs.
 
Kentucky State's offense has struggled at times, with a hitting percentage of .108 as a team, but they have been competitive in matches, especially their five-set victory over Fort Valley State.
 
ABOUT LEMOYNE-OWEN (0-8, 0-4 SIAC)
LeMoyne-Owen is still searching for its first win of the season, having struggled mightily in both non-conference and SIAC play.
 
The Magicians have had difficulty offensively, hitting just .016 as a team, and have been overwhelmed by opponents, particularly at the net.
 
The team is led by Madison Stepter, who leads the team with 49 kills, and Sy'Raia Sandifer, who has 49 kills and 40 digs.
 
ABOUT LANE (3-6, 2-2 SIAC)
Lane has been competitive in conference play, sitting at 2-2 in the SIAC.
 
The Dragons are led by Kyra Gaston, who has 74 kills and 18 blocks on the season. Lane's strength lies in their ability to block, with multiple players contributing at the net, and they have shown resilience, particularly in five-set matches.

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