No. 10 Tiger Volleyball swept the opening weekend of Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play at the SCAC Crossover hosted by Southwestern University. The Tigers will go into the weekend looking to knock off Austin College, the top-ranked team in the conference thus far.
 
The Tigers (11-3) will make their way to Colorado Springs to compete in the second SCAC crossover of the 2023 season. During the first SCAC event, the Tigers won matches against the University of St. Thomas, Southwestern, and Texas Lutheran. 
 
The previous weekend for the Tigers was all-around dominance, both offensively and defensively. The Tigers would put up more kills as a team in a three-game stretch than they have during any other stretch in the season. It would be another outstanding weekend for the outside hitter duo of Mackenzie Logan (Calgary, Canada / Bishop Carroll) and Reagan Whatley (The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands). The two Tigers had a combined 86 kills on the weekend. 
 
Although the offense was good, we can't forget about the Tiger defense. Again, the Tigers put up more digs in this stretch than any other three-game stretch in the season. The Tigers put up a total of 263 digs, with 99 of them coming in the match against Texas Lutheran. The Tiger defenders were excellent, with fifth-year Nadia Kern (El Paso, Texas / Montwood) leading the way with 79 total digs and sophomore setter Jozie Dhayer (Houston, Texas / Summer Creek) behind her with 37 digs. 
 
The Tigers are setting career-highs left and right, and they did it again this weekend. Senior Maddie Fate (Croton on Hudson, New York / Croton Harmon) put up a career-high in kills with 13 while Kern put up a career high in digs with 37. As a team, the Tigers rank 3rd in total team blocks (132.0) and 6th in blocks per set (2.44). Individually, Fate ranks 11th in blocks per set (1.26) and 4th in total blocks (68.0). Fifth-year Brette Thornton (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall) keeps going and going as she now ranks 10th in total blocks (60.0). Through her defensive effort, Nadia Kern was selected as the SCAC Defensive Player of the Week.
 
AVCA Rankings - Tigers Climb to 10
 
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) bumped the Tigers up one spot after their victories on the weekend. After previously being ranked 11th, the Tigers are now ranked 10th heading into the second weekend of SCAC play.
 
SCAC Player of the Week - Nadia Kern, Defensive
 
Fifth-year libero Nadia Kern was selected as the SCAC Defensive Player of the Week for week four. This marks the fourth Tiger in a row to win the award this year after Fate took the award in weeks one and three, and Jenna Rodriguez (San Antonio, Texas / Antonian) took it in week two. 
 
Kern finished with a team-best 79 digs and averaged 6.08 digs/set 13 sets. She also led the team with eight service aces.
Kern had her best outing against the defending SCAC Champions, Texas Lutheran. She collected a career-high 37 digs. Those 37 digs moved her to third in school history for a single match.
 
Weekend Preview: Colorado SCAC Crossover

The Tigers will take their SCAC momentum into the second weekend of conference play. The Tigers will begin the tournament on Saturday, September 30th against the University of Dallas at 1:15 (MT), and then against Austin College at 6:00 PM (MT). Then, the next day, the Tigers will take on Centenary College at 10:00 AM (MT) and then host the other Tigers of the conference, Colorado College at 12:15 PM (MT). 
 
On the Dallas Crusaders: The Crusaders bring a 10-4 (1-1 SCAC) record into Colorado. The Crusaders had a hot 4-0 record to begin the season before dropping a contest to Hendrix College. The Tigers opened up their SCAC play with a 3-1 victory over Centenary College and a 3-1 loss against Austin College. The Tiger block will look to stop senior outside hitter Cassie Dyoub, who is a nationally ranked player in kills per set (3.74). The Tigers hold a 25-1 record against the Crusaders since 2011, with the one loss coming in a 2015 matchup.
 
On the Austin College Roos: The Roos come into the second weekend of SCAC play with an 11-1 (2-0) record and are ranked number one in the conference standings. The Roos' one loss came against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on September 8th. Of the Roos' 44 sets played, they have only lost 9 of them. The Roos come into the weekend ranked 4th in the country in blocks per set (2.57) and 16th in total team blocks (113). The Tiger defenders will look to slow down senior outside hitter Victoria Smith who leads the team with 82 kills. The Tiger hitters will look to hit around the block of Jaiden Tocquingny, who leads the team with 36 blocks. 
 
On the Centenary College Ladies: The Ladies hold a 4-7 (0-2 SCAC) record in 2023 so far. The Ladies started off the season with a win against Millsaps, but have dropped their last five games. The most recent being conference losses against the University of Dallas and Austin College. The Tigers will set their sights on defending the arms of Elizabeth Canady and Jaylin St. Martin, who lead the team in kills. The Tigers hold a 23-0 record against the Ladies since 2012, sweeping every match but one. 
 
On the Colorado College Tigers: The Tigers take a 5-6 (2-2 SCAC) record in the young 2023 season. The Tigers lost their opening match and were also at the 2023 East-West Battle where they would go 1-2. In their opening weekend of SCAC play, the Tigers took matches against Southwestern and Schreiner but lost to Texas Lutheran and the University of St. Thomas. Trinity will look to stop Carolyn Dormady, who has over 100 kills on the season. Trinity holds a 16-17 record against Colorado College, but have won the last four matchups.
 
Looking Ahead -  Back to Home Court

The Tigers will get back to Calgaard Gym to take on two non-conference opponents before jumping back into SCAC competition. On Wednesday, October 4th, the Tigers will take on Concordia University (TX) at 5:00 PM and Hardin-Simmons at 7:00 PM.