LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Riding a five-match winning streak and off to a 7-1 start, the University of West Alabama volleyball team returns to Livingston for the first time this season as the Tigers host the UWA Invitational Tuesday and Thursday at Pruitt Hall.

West Alabama opens its home slate Tuesday against Albany State at 1 p.m. before facing United States Sports Academy at 7 p.m. The Tigers return Thursday for matches against Talladega College at 4 p.m. and Miles College at 6 p.m.

Tuesday's matches will serve as a Red Out in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month. The Tigers will wear red jerseys and red practice shirts, and fans attending Tuesday's matches are encouraged to wear red in support of the initiative.

UWA enters its home opener after going a perfect 4-0 at last weekend's Reddie-Tiger Invitational in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The Tigers swept LeMoyne-Owen, Texas A&M International and Erskine while earning a five-set victory over host Henderson State.


Last Time Out

West Alabama began its weekend with a straight-set victory over LeMoyne-Owen, winning 25-19, 25-12 and 25-12.

The Tigers were efficient throughout the match, hitting .446 as a team with 31 kills and only six attacking errors. Katerina Korre led UWA with nine kills on 13 attacks for a .692 hitting percentage. Rachele Zanini distributed 17 assists, while the Tigers recorded 14 service aces.

UWA faced its toughest challenge of the weekend later Friday against Henderson State. The Tigers prevailed in five sets, 25-19, 20-25, 25-17, 25-27, 15-10.

Duru Seber led West Alabama with 16 kills while hitting .382, while Klára Bobánová added 15 kills and 12 digs. Jazlyn Snow and Korre each contributed 12 kills, giving UWA four players in double figures.

Zanini directed the offense with 52 assists, while Bailey Keef anchored the back row with 32 digs.

West Alabama carried that momentum into Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Texas A&M International. UWA hit .403 while holding the Dustdevils to a .119 hitting percentage in a 25-20, 25-14, 25-18 victory.

Snow led the Tigers with 10 kills on 14 attempts for a .643 hitting percentage. Seber added eight kills, Bobánová finished with seven and Zanini totaled 30 assists.

The Tigers closed the weekend with their third sweep in four matches, defeating Erskine 25-20, 25-18 and 25-14.

Korre paced UWA with 12 kills and a .375 hitting percentage, while Bobánová recorded eight kills on a .467 clip. Seber added seven kills while hitting .600, and Zanini finished with 35 assists.

West Alabama hit .386 as a team while holding Erskine to .067.

The four victories extended UWA's winning streak to five matches after the Tigers closed the season-opening Bobcat Classic with a five-set victory over Southern Wesleyan.


Strong Start for the Tigers

The Tigers have shown an ability to win both quickly and in extended matches. Five of UWA's seven victories have come in four sets or fewer, including four sweeps, while the Tigers have also won both of their five-set contests.

The offense has featured production throughout the lineup. Four Tigers reached double figures in kills against Henderson State, while UWA hit better than .380 as a team in each of its three sweeps last weekend.

West Alabama now turns its attention to playing in front of its home crowd for the first time in 2026 after playing its first eight matches away from Livingston.


Albany State

Tuesday's home opener will feature a rematch from the opening weekend when West Alabama takes on Albany State at 1 p.m.

The Tigers defeated the Lady Golden Rams in four sets on Aug. 28 at the Bobcat Classic in Milledgeville, Georgia. Albany State has responded by putting together a four-match winning streak and enters Tuesday at 4-3.

The Lady Golden Rams swept Virginia Union on Friday before adding victories over Savannah State and Clinton College on Saturday at the Black Excellence Volleyball Circuit Showcase.

Jarianis Perez recorded 11 kills and 10 digs while hitting .500 in the sweep of Virginia Union. She followed with eight kills, seven digs and two aces in Albany State's four-set victory over Savannah State.

Shaniya Banks highlighted the sweep of Clinton with 10 kills without an attack error on 13 attempts, good for a .769 hitting percentage. Banks also recorded three solo blocks and three block assists.

Amiria Anderson enters the week leading Albany State with 55 kills, while Perez has 53 and Banks has 43.

Albany State has also been efficient during its winning streak, hitting .348 against Virginia Union, .297 against Savannah State and .353 against Clinton.

Tuesday's opener will therefore feature two of the hotter teams entering the Invitational, with West Alabama having won five straight and Albany State carrying a four-match winning streak.


United States Sports Academy

West Alabama closes Tuesday's action against United States Sports Academy at 7 p.m.

The Eagles enter the Invitational at 2-6 following a four-set loss to Stillman on Friday in Tuscaloosa.

After dropping the opening two sets, USSA responded with a 25-16 victory in the third before Stillman closed the match with a 25-19 win in the fourth.

Jeya Dupris led the Eagles with seven kills, four service aces and two solo blocks for a team-high 14 points. Jursey Foote recorded 19 assists and 11 digs.

The Eagles' two victories this season have come in straight sets against Wesleyan and Trinity College of Jacksonville.

USSA will face Albany State at 4 p.m. Tuesday before meeting the Tigers in the Red Out nightcap.


Talladega College

West Alabama returns to action Thursday at 4 p.m. against Talladega College.

The Tornadoes enter the week searching for their first victory after facing a demanding early-season schedule.

The road stretch continued at the Clark Atlanta University Tournament, where Talladega fell 3-0 to Livingstone College on Friday.

Thursday's contest will continue a challenging opening portion of the schedule for the Tornadoes and will mark their first meeting with West Alabama this season.


Miles College

West Alabama concludes the UWA Invitational Thursday at 6 p.m. against Miles College.

The Lady Bears enter the week 2-0 after opening their season with victories over Oakwood and Stillman. Miles will face another Gulf South Conference opponent before
traveling to Livingston, visiting Auburn Montgomery Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Miles opened the season with a 25-21, 23-25, 25-17, 25-16 victory over Oakwood.

SIAC Preseason Player of the Year Karea Copeland led the Lady Bears with 14 kills, 11 digs and two blocks. Copeland also recorded the 500th kill of her collegiate career during the opening set.

A trio of freshmen made immediate contributions for Miles. Jaharia Hunter finished with 11 kills while hitting .304, Alyzia Cola distributed 40 assists and added six digs and two blocks, while Aida Edwards recorded eight kills and three blocks.

The Lady Bears followed with a dominant 25-14, 25-15, 25-11 sweep of Stillman.

Copeland delivered 18 kills on a .406 hitting percentage, giving her 32 kills through the first two matches. Edwards added nine kills while hitting .538 and recorded three blocks. Cydney Moore distributed 19 assists, while Cola added 16.

Miles pulled away with several extended runs, including six consecutive points to close the second set. After Stillman tied the third at 8-8, the Lady Bears answered with seven straight points and eventually scored the final eight points of the match.

Miles enters the week unbeaten but will first be tested Tuesday at Auburn Montgomery before making the trip to Livingston.


Match Information

Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Red Out

1 p.m. – West Alabama vs. Albany State
Pruitt Hall | Livingston, Ala.

4 p.m. – Albany State vs. United States Sports Academy
Pruitt Hall | Livingston, Ala.

7 p.m. – West Alabama vs. United States Sports Academy
Pruitt Hall | Livingston, Ala.

Fans attending Tuesday's matches are encouraged to wear red in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month.


Thursday, Sept. 10

4 p.m. – West Alabama vs. Talladega College
Pruitt Hall | Livingston, Ala.

6 p.m. – West Alabama vs. Miles College
Pruitt Hall | Livingston, Ala.

West Alabama's four matches will be streamed on FloCollege with live statistics available through UWA Athletics.