Follow @american_vball
COMPLETE NOTES • 2017 STATISTICS

>All 12 American volleyball teams will begin their quests toward the conference title with league play opening over the weekend. The American teams will compete in six matches on Friday, Sept. 22, and six more on Sunday, Sept. 24.
 
>Tulane posted the best nonconference record in the league after going 11-2 in tournament action to begin the season. The Green Wave are on a six-match winning streak, holding a 7-0 record in three-set matches and 8-0 record at home. However, Tulane will hit the road to face last year’s defending American champion SMU (6-5) on Friday before heading to Tulsa (6-6) on Sunday. The Green Wave are 23rd in the nation in service aces (81) with Justine Bowers leading the way with 0.49 aces per set, good for ranking 32nd nationally.
 
>Wichita State²⁴ (8-3) is in the national poll for the second time this season after taking down Creighton⁸ in four sets in its home opener. The Shockers tallied their second win over a top-10 opponent in their program history, but are coming off a 3-0 setback to Iowa State¹⁹. Wichita State will travel to Temple on Friday to start its inaugural American Athletic Conference season. The match will be streamed live on The American Digital Network at 7 p.m. ET. Wichita State will then head to UConn on Sunday. The Shockers have captured three weekly American honors already and lead the conference in hitting percentage and kills per set (13.69).
 
>The Owls (4-4) lead the league and rank 13th in the nation in blocks per set (3.02). Temple will look to bounce back after a 3-0 loss on the road to Villanova in its most recent action. The conference’s top three blockers are on Temple’s roster: Iva Deak, Izzy Rapacz, and Janine Simmons.
 
>ECU head coach Julie Torbett earned her 400th career win after posting two victories in nonconference action on Tuesday night. The Pirates hold an 8-4 overall record, good for ranking third in conference standings. ECU will take a trip to Florida to face UCF (7-5) on Friday and USF (4-5) on Sunday.
 
>The Knights will continue their home stand this weekend and are coming off four straight wins. UCF swept Virginia twice in their home opener last weekend, as Kia Bright was named the conference Offensive Player of the Week. She shares the league lead of seven double-doubles with SMU’s Lauren Mills. In addition to hosting ECU on Friday, UCF will welcome Cincinnati (2-10) to Orlando on Sunday.
 
>Memphis and UConn are both 7-5 and will square off on Friday in Storrs, Conn. The Tigers have won four in a row after sweeping their home-opening tournament. Both Brianna Kadiku and Natale Zanellato were named to the conference’s latest weekly Honor Roll. On the other hand, UConn is coming off a 2-1 weekend record at the Bradley Invitational. Kayla Williams leads UConn with 139 kills, 19 service aces, and five double-doubles.
 
>Houston (4-4) looks to rebound from a winless conference season in 2016. Coming off a 1-1 week, the Cougars lead the league and rank eighth in the nation with 1.84 aces per set. Houston has also held its opponents to their lowest hitting percentage in the conference (.145), which is 23rd in the nation. Houston will travel to Tulsa on Friday and SMU on Sunday.
 
Upcoming Schedule/Results
 
Wednesday, September 19
N.C. Central at ECU •  W, 3-0
North Carolina A&T vs. ECU • W, 3-0
 
Friday, September 22
Memphis vs UConn • 7 p.m.*
ECU vs. UCF • 7 p.m.*
Wichita State²⁴ vs. Temple • 7 p.m.*  (ADN)
Cincinnati vs. USF • 7 p.m.*
Tulane vs. SMU • 8 p.m.*
Houston vs. Tulsa • 8 p.m.*
 
Sunday, September 24
Wichita State²⁴ vs. UConn • Noon*
ECU vs. USF • Noon*
Memphis vs. Temple • 1 p.m.*
Cincinnati vs. UCF • 1 p.m.*
Houston vs. SMU • 2 p.m.*
Tulane at Tulsa  • 2 p.m.*
 
All times Eastern and subject to change
*Denotes conference matches