KEARNEY, Neb. – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (3-3) remains on the road this weekend, traveling to Nebraska to participate in the New Victorian Inn & Suites Invitational hosted by No. 5 University of Nebraska-Kearney.  
 
The Javelinas look to make a statement after a pair of tough matches Wednesday against Sioux Falls and No. 9 Augustana which resulted in losses. The Hogs hit .210 as a team this season and contains their opponents to a .149 attack percentage. TAMUK leads the Lone Star Conference (LSC) with 18.76 digs per set and sits second with 37 total blocks. 
 
Senior outside Krystal Faison has a team-best 2.64 kills per set and 11 service aces. In fact, the Converse, Texas native now sits second all-time in career service aces with 137 behind legend Kim Martinez (164). Madison Brabham has had a hot hand early on, registering 2.63 kills per set to go along with eight total blocks. Lexi Wick averages 2.36 kills per set and heads the defense with 0.76 blocks per set, although Haley Hutchinson is not far behind with 0.72 blocks per set. Hutchinson is fourth in the conference with a .373 hitting percentage on 37 kills, Casey Klobedans leads the league in total assists (228), and freshman libero Jasmine Jacinto is fourth with 4.83 digs per set.  
   
Scouting Western State Colorado: The Mountaineers are still searching for their first win of the season. They are 0-4 overall and 0-3 when playing on a neutral floor. The team connects .068 on hits, while their opponents average a .267 percentage. The Mountaineers are led by senior Jordan Eatwell who averages 2.23 kills per set. Redshirt freshman Taylor Ferrel has 1.46 kills per set but has a team-high 0.69 blocks per set. Western State and Texas A&M-Kingsville will go head-to-head for the first time in each school's history. 
 
Scouting Northwestern Oklahoma State: The Rangers will be the only team entering the tournament who has yet to taste defeat in 2017. Jennifer Eubanks has been on a tear with 58 kills averaging 3.54 per set and has a team-high 15 total blocks. Hannah Williams follows with 48 total kills, seven blocks and five aces, followed by Brooklynn Hesson with 42 kills and eight aces. The trio each had 12 kills in their last win over Newman University. This match will also be the first match ever between the two clubs.  
 
Scouting Southeastern Oklahoma State: Former LSC member, SE Oklahoma State is at .500 with a 2-2 record. Abby Jameson leads the Storm with 4.08 kills per set. She is one kill short of 50 and has a hitting percentage of .320. Arianna Baker has a team-high .333 percentage, with 44 kills and leads the team with 0.92 blocks per set. Setter Alissa Benson averages 11.23 assists per set and has 11 kills. 
 
The Javelinas are 7-4 all-time against the Storm and are 5-1 when playing on a neutral floor. However, the last time they met in 2010, SE Okla. State swept Kingsville inside of the SPEC.  
 
Scouting #5 Nebraska-Kearney: The host and nationally ranked Lopers enter the tournament with one loss at the hands of Lewis University in five sets. They are a tough and well-balanced unit that hits .301 and holds their opponents attacking to .193 percent. Kendall Schroer has 50 total kills, averaging 3.57 per set to lead UNK. Kaitlynn Thomas follows with 3.25 kills per set and Tara Ziegelbein rounds out the top three with 2.57 kills per set. Ziegelbein is tied with Anna Squires with 0.43 blocks per set and junior Lindsey Smith directs the offense with 10.07 assist per set. The Lopers will take on Western State tonight at 6 p.m. 
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville and Nebraska-Kearney has met two times with the Lopers claiming sweeps in both matches. The last match played dates back to 2001 in Kearney, Neb. And the first meeting was on a neutral floor in Edmond, Okla.  
 
Live stats will be available for two of our four matches this weekend including our match on Friday versus NW Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. and against No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, September 9 at 6 p.m.  The match versus UNK will be the only match streamed for the Javelinas. 
 
Come and join us on September 23 for our special brunch honoring Fred Nuesch's 50 years with Javelina Nation during Hall of Fame Weekend. The event will be held at 11 a.m. in the Grand Ballrooms at Memorial Student Union Building at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Tickets and tables are still available and all proceeds will benefit the Joan & Fred Nuesch Endowment at TAMUK. For more information on ticket and/or tables, please contact Dennis Hawkins via email (dennis.hawkins@tamuk.edu) or phone (361-593-4787) by September 18.