SPARTANBURG, SC – The Kentucky State University volleyball team embarks on the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament Monday as the two seed in the West Division.
 
The Thorobreds plays #3E Paine 10 a.m. at the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg, S.C. Kentucky State knocked off the Lions in straight sets (25-19, 25-21, 25-13) during the SIAC Crossover on September 27.
 
Senior Tapanga Moten (New Orleans, La.) finished with 10 kills, while junior Robin Poole (Katy, Texas) and sophomore Mariah Peachey (Liverpool, Ohio) added nine kills.
 
#1W SPRING HILL (30-4 overall, 18-0 SIAC)
The defending SIAC champion Badgers enter the tournament on a 29-match winning streak. Four Badgers - Kassandra Fairly, Bentley Odom, Cassidi Sterrett, and Emmarose Neibert – all earned First Team All-SIAC honors. Sterrett was the SIAC Libero of the Year, while Neibert was the SIAC Setter of the Year.
 
Coach Peggy Martin was named the SIAC Coach of the Year.
 
#3W CENTRAL STATE (10-20 overall, 9-9 SIAC)
The Marauders are led by SIAC Player of the Year Deja Clark is making its first ever trip to the SIAC Tournament. Former KSU head coach Christina Coleman is leading Central State.
 
Clark set CSU single-season record with 314 kills, and finished in the top 10 in three different categories – kills, blocks, and aces.
 
#4W LEMOYNE OWEN (16-13 overall, 8-10 SIAC)
The Magician qualified for the tournament via the tiebreaker with Lane College. LeMoyne Owen is led by Jasmine Davis, who has 134 kills, and Andrea Martin, who has 112 kills. Zaria Brazier has 644 assists.
 
#1E ALBANY STATE (16-12 overall, 13-3 SIAC)
Reigning East Division champion Albany State is paced by SIAC first team selection Jannai Cheeks. The outside hitter enters the tournament with 261 kills, 42 service aces and 262 digs, all team high bests.
 
#2E BENEDICT (20-10 overall, 11-6 SIAC)
Benedict enters the tournament on a nine-match winning streak, and hasn't lost in almost a month. The Tigers have a pair of All-SIAC selections as V'Aira Harris and Adrionna Washington were both named second team.
 
Washington finished the season with 371 kills, while Harris added 247 kills and 228 digs.
 
#3E PAINE (13-11 overall, 8-8 SIAC)
Paine backed its way into the SIAC tournament, going 5-11 in their last 16 matches – including 4-8 in its last 12 SIAC games. Kennedy Curtis leads the team with 194 kills, while Shavonne Boggs tallied 167 kills. Six different players have at least 115 digs.
 
#4E SAVANNAH STATE (8-15 overall, 6-10 SIAC)
Newcomer Savannah State qualified for the postseason tournament in its first season back in the conference. The Tigers have lost five of their last six matches coming into Monday's match.
 
Two players, Iman Williamson and Jeilynn Brown, have recorded at least 200 kills with 229 and 210 kills, respectively. Second team All-SIAC selection Valeria Aldarondo has 669 assists.