TUSKEGEE, Ala. ^__ Tuskegee volleyball is gearing up for a crucial SIAC rivalry match against Miles on Saturday, November 2, at 9 a.m. inside the Knox-Windham Gym in Fairfield, Alabama.
 
The Golden Tigers enter the matchup with a 9-13 overall record and 5-11 in SIAC play, coming off a confidence-boosting 3-1 victory over LaGrange earlier in the week. Tuskegee aims to carry this momentum into a pivotal road contest as they face a Miles squad looking to make their mark at home.
 
ABOUT TUSKEGEE (9-13, 5-11 SIAC)
Offensively, the Golden Tigers have leaned heavily on a group of standout hitters in Moriah Seay, Ma'Kayla Jones, and Lauren Canady, who have been instrumental in generating points.
 
Seay has been a consistent force with 191 kills, averaging 2.3 kills per set this season, while Jones has 164 (2.1 kills per set), while Canady and Sian Sprinkle have added valuable contributions with 158 and 139 kills respectively.
 
Setter Mikea Allen has been the leader of Tuskegee's passing attack, distributing the ball effectively with 425 assists, for an average of 5.8 assists per set, while Amara Dotson has 294 assists (4.0 per set), both creating numerous scoring opportunities for her teammates.
 
Tuskegee will look to use their offensive depth and aggressive serving to put pressure on the Miles defense. The Golden Tigers have averaged 1.76 service aces per set, and their ability to serve tough will be key in keeping Miles out of system.
 
Seay has also anchored Tuskegee on defense, leading the team with 225 digs, at 2.7 digs per set. Three other players have over 100 digs, including Ziniah Hardy at 165, Allen at 156, along with Canady and Chloe Edwards at 121 and 109 respectively.
 
The Golden Tigers have also shown strength at the net, with 77 total blocks from Jones, averaging 0.99 blocks per set, along with Sprinkle with 60, for a 0.73 average per set.
 
As a team, Tuskegee has held opponents to a hitting percentage of .184 and has been particularly effective at defending against strong offensive teams.
 
Defensively, the matchup will likely hinge on which team can better manage their serve-receive and transition play. Tuskegee's defense has shown resilience, especially in long rallies, and they will need to maintain that intensity to keep Miles from gaining any momentum.
 
ABOUT MILES (4-18, 4-12 SIAC)
Miles College comes into the match with a 4-18 overall record and 4-12 in SIAC play.
 
While the Bears have had their struggles this season, they have demonstrated the ability to compete in tight matches. Offensively, Miles is led by outside hitter Jasmine Davis, who averages 2.5 kills per set and provides a significant portion of their attack.
 
Setter Aaliyah Brown has facilitated the offense with an average of 6.3 assists per set, though the Bears will need a cohesive effort to keep up with Tuskegee's balanced attack.
 
Defensively, Miles relies on defensive specialist Kayla Green, who averages 2.9 digs per set. The Bears have faced challenges in blocking, averaging only 1.2 blocks per set as a team, which could be a focal point for Tuskegee to exploit. Miles will need to tighten up defensively and limit unforced errors to compete effectively against the Golden Tigers.
 
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