ARLINGTON, Texas – The UTA volleyball team (4-2) will look to continue their solid start to the 2019 campaign with matchups against Liberty, Washington State and Idaho State this weekend in the Cougar Challenge hosted by Washington State.

On Friday (Sept. 13), the Mavs battle Liberty (12:00 p.m.) and tournament host Washington St. (9:30 p.m.), before wrapping up the event with a match against Idaho St. (2:30 p.m.) on Saturday (Sept. 14).

UTA (4-2) vs LIBERTY (4-2)
When: Friday, Sept. 13 | 12:00 P.M.
Where: Pullman, Wash. | Bohler Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

UTA (4-2) at WASHINGTON STATE (5-1)
When: Friday, Sept. 13 | 9:30 P.M.
Where: Pullman, Wash. | Bohler Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

UTA (4-2) vs. IDAHO STATE (3-4)
When: Saturday, Sept. 14 | 2:30 P.M.
Where: Pullman, Wash. | Bohler Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | LIBERTY
- Liberty outhits opponents .271-.149 so far, ranking first in the ASUN with 2.67 blocks per set.
- Liberty has defeated multiple ACC opponents in a single season for the first time in program history.
- Liberty downed Elon, Virginia Tech and Davidson in order to go 3-0 at the Liberty Invitational for the first time since 2015. Anna Gragg was voted Tournament MVP, while Macy Phillips was named Best Libero and Hannah Morris was named Best Setter.
- The Lady Flames are 5-1 in sets decided by just two points this year.
- Liberty hit .461 against Elon last Saturday, its third-highest single-match hitting percentage in the rally-scoring era and best since hitting .483 against Saint Francis (Pa.), Sept. 5, 2008.
- Liberty's 11 aces against Virginia Tech last Saturday were the team's most since serving up 11 aces against Hampton, Sept. 3, 2016.
- Liberty is 3-0 this year in extended sets, winning two 26-24 sets and one 30-28 session.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | WASHINGTON STATE
- Washington State currently sits at No. 31 (60 points) overall in the nation in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll after two weeks of action. The RichKern Poll slates WSU at No. 29 overall, just behind Tennessee. The 5-1 overall start to 2019 was noticed by the Pablo Rankings however, seeing the Cougars ranked No. 12 overall heading into the first home contest of the 2019 season this weekend.
- Redshirt sophomore Charity Bradley make a huge impression last weekend at the Portland Invite, earning Tournament MVP honors after helping lead the WSU offensive through three matches. Bradley finished with 31 total kills, and eight blocks in the three victories. Senior Jocelyn Urias and redshirt freshman Hannah Pukis also received all-tournament team honors after aiding in the winning effort throughout the weekend as well.
- Washington State is 14-0 in home openers over the past 14 seasons dating back to 2004. WSU fell to Colorado State inside Bohler Gym in 2003, and have not dropped a home opening match since.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | IDAHO STATE
- Idaho State is 3-4 on the season and have dropped three straight matches.
- The Bengals have six players with double digit kills on the season, led by Haylie Keck's team-leading 77 kills.
- Mahala Bradburn has recorded 111 digs through seven matches.

UTA NOTES
- The Mavs went 2-1 at the Maverick Classic last weekend. UTA picked up victories over Southern and Incarnate Word, but dropped a 5-set thriller to UNCG to conclude the event.
- Brooke Townsend and Kylie Jedlicka were named to the Maverick Classic All-Tournament team. Townsend registered 34 kills, including a 20-kill performance vs. UNCG on Saturday (Sept.7), while Jedlicka finished the classic with 32 kills and recorded an 11-kill, 17-dig double-double vs. UNCG.
- The Mavs return 11 players from last year, including four seniors (Madison Hill, Madelyn St. Germain, Petra Manderson, Kylie Jedlicka).
- UTA returns seniors Madison Hill and Kylie Jedlicka, who garnered 2018 All-Sun Belt First Team and Second Team honors, respectively.
- The Mavs return the team leaders in kills (Madison Hill; 289), digs (Madelyn St. Germain; 457) and total blocks (Bre Walp; 86) from the 2018 squad.
- Madison Hill, a 2018 Sun Belt First Team All-Conference selection, hit .395 on the season, to rank No. 2 in the SBC and 13th in the country.

NEW FACES
The Mavs will have eight newcomers (7 freshmen, 1 transfer) on the roster for the 2019 campaign.

UTA's 2019 class, which was given High Honorable Mention honors by PrepVolleyball.com, features Division II transfer sophomore Chase Davis (Azusa Pacific / Homeschool / Keller, Texas) and freshmen Danielle Dion (Plano East / Richardson, Texas), Meredith Fisher (Wichita Falls, Texas / Rider HS), Devon Martinka (Stanwood, Wash. / Stanwood HS), Jessica Stancliff (Carrollton, Texas / Hebron HS); Allison Wells (Waxahachie, Texas / Waxahachie HS), Megan Walsh (Grand Rapids, Minn. / Grand Rapids Senior HS); Gabriele White (Lewisville, Texas / Flower Mound HS).

SOLID SCHEDULE
- UTA will play one team that finished the year ranked in the AVCA Coaches' Poll: No. 16 Washington State. The Cougars were ranked No. 22 in the 2019 AVCA Division I Preseason Coaches Poll to open the year and now are receiving votes in the same poll.
- The Mavs will face three teams that finished the year ranked in the NCAA RPI Top-50: No. 14 Washington State, No. 22 Texas State and No. 42 SFA.
- The Mavericks will take on three teams that participated in the 2018 NCAA Tournament (Texas State, SFA, Washington State) and a pair of teams that participated in the 2018 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) (Appalachian State, Arkansas State).
- Two of UTA's opponents advanced in the NCAA Tournament (Washington State – Sweet 16; Texas State – Round of 32).
- UTA will face teams from nine different conferences this year.
- UTA opens SBC play at home on Sept. 27 vs. ULM, followed by a match against Louisiana at College Park Center on Sept. 28. The Mavericks wrap up conference action at Texas State on Nov. 15.
- UTA has posted a 60-42 record in SBC play since joining the league in 2013.
- The Mavericks have won 10+ SBC matches in four of their six season in the league.

SBC PRESEASON POLL
UTA volleyball landed one representative on the 2019 All-Sun Belt Conference Preseason Team it was announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon. Senior Madison Hill, a 2018 First Team All-Sun Belt selection, was named to the 13-person team, as voted on by the coaches.

Hill, a three-time Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week in 2018, started all 28 matches for the Mavs last season. The Rockwall, Texas native hit .395 with a team-high 289 kills, 91 digs and 77 total blocks. She tallied double digit kills 13 times, including a season-high 26 vs. Louisiana (Oct. 27) and also ranked 2nd in the Sun Belt and 13th nationally in hitting percentage (.395). In league play, she ranked 2nd in hitting percentage (.415) and 8th in kills per set (2.95).

The preseason poll has defending champion Texas State as the unanimous pick to win the West Division with all 12 first-place votes and 72 points. Coastal Carolina edged out Appalachian State as the East Division favorite with seven first-place votes and 67 points, just ahead of the Mountaineers' five first-place votes and 65 points. UTA earned 55 points to finish in second place behind TXST in the West Division.

SINGLE-MATCH TICKETS ON SALE
UTA Volleyball single-match tickets are now on sale for the 2019 season. Single-match tickets are general admission and are $6 for fans over the age of three, while children two and under get in free.
 
Fans can purchase their 2019 single-match tickets in person at the College Park Center Box Office or online by visiting UTATickets.com. For more information regarding single-match tickets, please contact the UTA Box Office at boxoffice@uta.edu or 817-272-9595.

Group tickets are $3 each for groups of 10 or larger. For more information regarding group tickets and group packages contact Assistant Director of Marketing & Outbound Sales Jeremy Malnes at jeremy.malnes@uta.edu or 817-272-9607.

Military, UTA faculty and staff and UTA students receive free admission to all home, regular season matches.

SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets for the upcoming 2019 UTA volleyball season are officially on sale with general admission seating available for $25. The $25 cost (less than $2 per game) is a 50% drop in price from last season.

Fans can purchase their 2019 single-match tickets in person at the College Park Center Box Office or online by visiting UTATickets.com. For more information regarding season tickets, please contact the UTA Box Office at boxoffice@uta.edu or 817-272-9595.

FOLLOW THE MAVS
For the latest news on UTA Volleyball, log on to UTAMavs.com or stay connected to the Mavs on social media. Follow the Mavericks on Twitter @UTAMavsVB, on Instagram @UTAMavsVB and on Facebook at Facebook.com/UTAMavsVB.