TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida A&M volleyball begins its pursuit of a third straight Southwestern Athletic Conference championship this weekend at Al Lawson Center, hosting Alabama State on Friday and Alabama A&M on Sunday.

Match Information
Friday, Sept. 25: vs. Alabama State, 6 p.m. ET, Al Lawson Center - SWAC TV - Community Day
Sunday, Sept. 27: vs. Alabama A&M, 12 p.m. ET, Al Lawson Center - SWAC TV - Staff Appreciation

Setting the Scene
FAMU enters league play battle-tested after a nonconference slate that included three tournaments, and the numbers show a team ready to defend its crown.

The Rattlers lead the SWAC in blocks (2.09 per set) and service aces (1.71 per set), and rank second in the league in both points (14.84 per set) and hitting percentage (.181). 

Scouting the Rattlers
LaDonna Trantham leads the SWAC with 3.27 kills per set (167 total) and ranks second in the league with 3.82 points per set (195 total).

She is also third in the conference in service aces with 20 (0.39 per set). Sydney Whitfield gives FAMU a second top-10 attacker, ranking seventh in the SWAC in both kills (2.95 per set, 165 total) and points (3.23 per set, 181 total).

The Rattlers own the middle of the net. Farah Farooq leads the conference in both hitting percentage (.364) and blocks (1.05 per set). Tamia Coleman ranks third in the SWAC at 1.00 blocks per set with 56 total, and Iyonnie Sanford is ninth at 0.73 per set, giving FAMU three of the league's top 10 blockers.

Makenzie Taylor runs the offense and ranks third in the conference with 6.06 assists per set (327 total).

As a team, FAMU ranks third in the SWAC in kills (11.04 per set) and assists (10.30 per set), and holds opponents to a .224 hitting percentage.

Scouting Alabama State
The Hornets bring a strong serving attack to Tallahassee. Alabama State ranks second in the SWAC with 1.50 aces per set, led by Taylor Williams, whose 0.42 aces per set (19 total) top the conference. Mirra Riddle ranks fifth in the league in aces (0.37 per set) and fourth in digs with 3.80 per set (175 total).

Kaylen Hines is the focal point of the attack. She ranks third in the SWAC in points (3.63 per set), fourth in kills (3.15 per set, 145 total) and fourth in hitting percentage (.288). Setter Kamrynn Clay leads the conference with 8.26 assists per set (380 total).

Alabama State hits .155 as a team, fourth in the league, but ranks 12th in blocks (1.24 per set) and 11th in opponent hitting percentage (.274), an opening for a FAMU front row that has been the SWAC's best at the net.

Scouting Alabama A&M
Alabama A&M arrives in Tallahassee after opening its conference weekend at Bethune-Cookman on Friday, and the Bulldogs have been the SWAC's most productive offense. They lead the league in points (15.57 per set), hitting percentage (.217), kills (12.43 per set) and assists (11.64 per set), while ranking third in opponent hitting percentage (.202). Alabama A&M also leads the conference in fewest opponent aces allowed (1.45 per set).

Rayishon Jackman is the headliner. A former SWAC Volleyball All-Tournament Team selection, she leads the league with 3.88 points per set (205.5 total), ranks second in kills at 3.26 per set with a conference-best 173 total, and is second in aces with 22 (0.42 per set). Sunday sets up a head-to-head between the SWAC's top two attackers, with Trantham narrowly ahead of Jackman in kills per set.

Gerren Tomlin adds a second scoring threat, ranking eighth in points (3.14 per set) and ninth in kills (2.73 per set, 134 total). Amya Jennings ranks 10th in the league in hitting percentage (.252), Carys Sanabria is eighth in blocks (0.75 per set) and setter Briana Smith ranks fifth in assists (5.38 per set).

Keys to the Weekend
FAMU's league-best block and serve should be the difference makers. Against Alabama State, the Rattlers can lean on their size advantage at the net and keep Hines in check, while holding up in serve receive against the SWAC's top individual server.

Sunday is a meeting between the league's best defense at the net and its most efficient offense, and slowing Jackman and Tomlin on the pins will go a long way. On FAMU's side, cleaning up passing will be important in both matches, as Rattler opponents have averaged 2.36 aces per set.