FORT SMITH, Arkansas (October 4, 2017) - The Texas A&M International University Women's Volleyball team opens a two-week road trip on Thursday. The Dustdevils open the four game stretch with 2017 Heartland Conference Champion Arkansas Fort Smith. Play in Fort Smith is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Stubblefield Center on the campus of Arkansas Fort Smith. 

The Dustdevils are coming off a 1-3 loss to Lubbock Christian on Saturday, September 30. TAMIU took the first set of Saturday's match before falling in three straight, moving to 0-3 in conference play. The Dustdevils closed non-conference action two weeks ago in a tri-match with Henderson State and St. Edward's, closing out the final month and a half with Heartland Conference opponents. 

SCOUTING THE LIONS:
Coming off their fifth straight Heartland Conference Championship, the UAFS Lions sit atop the Heartland Conference Standings again in 2017. Their overall record of 13-5 stands as the best in the conference along with the only 3-0 record in the Heartland. UAFS is coming off a 3-1 win over Oklahoma Baptist on October 3. Prior to that game, the Lions took down St. Edward's University in a Heartland Conference matchup 3-1. Entering Thursday's match, UAFS rides a five game winning streak with their last loss coming to Central Oklahoma on September 18. The Lions are paced offensively by Anna Demmer and Susannah Kelley. Demmer leads the Lions with 244 Kills and 23 Service Aces. Kelley has tallied 694 assists in 65 sets. Defensively, the Lions look to Debra Rogers who has tallied 87 blocks while Autumn Reese leads the team with 439 digs. 

THE HEARTLAND CONFERENCE:
After UAFS, two Heartland teams boast 2-1 records as St. Mary's and Newman sit in a tie for second place. St. Edward's and Dallas Baptist take the next two spots at 2-2. Lubbock Christian sits one spot ahead of TAMIU with a 1-3 Heartland Conference record. 

DUSTDEVIL LEADERS:
Offensively, TAMIU is led by a trio of transfers in Leah McManus, Ronnie Fountain, and Yuliia Hupkovska. McManus leads the Dustdevils with 136 kills through 17 games. Yuliia Hupkovska and Ronnie Fountain find themselves on the Heartland Conference leaderboard in assists and service aces. Fountain's 444 assists put her third overall with an average of 7.28 assists/set. Hupkovska's 18 service aces have her in a tie for third overall with SEU's Katie Martin. Defensively, Panebi Shirey leads the team with 37 total blocks. Lacy Asdourian sits within the top 10 averaging 3.52 digs/set and a total of 215. 

KILLS:            (136)      Leah McManus

ASSISTS:       (444)      Ronnie Fountain

ACES:            (18)        Yuliia Hupkovska

DIGS:             (215)      Lacy Asdourian

BLOCKS:       (37)        Panebi Shirey

UP NEXT:
The Dustdevils will head to Wichita, Kansas after facing UAFS for a Saturday afternoon matchup with Newman University. Play in Wichita is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.

STAY TUNED:
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