GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay volleyball returns to the hardwood for their third tournament of the season this weekend, facing Alabama, Arkansas State, and Ball State at the Ball State Tournament in Muncie, Indiana.

Friday, September 9 – Muncie, Ind. – Worthen Arena
Alabama vs. Green Bay
11:00 a.m.
Follow the action: Watch | Live Stats
 
Friday, September 9 – Muncie, Ind. – Worthen Arena
Arkansas State vs. Green Bay
3:00 p.m.
Follow the action: Watch | Live Stats
 
Saturday, September 10 – Muncie, Ind. – Worthen Arena
Green Bay vs. Ball State
5:00 p.m.
Follow the action: Watch | Live Stats
 
Green Bay has played Alabama just once, losing 3-0 on August 28, 2010. Meanwhile, the Phoenix and Red Wolves have never matched up, with Arkansas State playing in the Sun Belt Conference. GB and Ball State will be facing off for the fourth time. The Phoenix and Cardinals last met on August 27, 2021, when the Cardinals won 3-1. BSU has won two of the first three meetings.
 
ABOUT THE CRIMSON TIDE
Alabama is 4-2 to start 2022, including 1-1 when playing neutral at a neutral site. First-year head coach Rashinda Reed leads the Tide, coming to Bama from Illinois after spending five years with the Illini as an assistant.
 
Micah Gryniewicz, a freshman, paces Bama with 91.5 kills, an impressive 3.98 per set. Victoria Schmer leads the Crimson Tide in digs with 69, an average of three per set.
 
ABOUT THE RED WOLVES
Arkansas State is 5-1 entering the Ball State Tournament, including 2-0 in neutral site contests. Brian Gerwig is at the helm in his first season with the Red Wolves, coming from Houston after a three-year stint with the Cougars.
 
Macey Putt, a graduate student, leads Arkansas State with 111 points. Sarah Martinez paces the team with 96 digs, an average of 3.84 per set. Kyla Wiersema, a Fremont, Michigan native, leads the team in blocks, denying opponent attacks 17 times.
 
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
Ball State, the host, is 5-1 entering the weekend. Kelli Miller Phillips is in her sixth season with the Cardinals, boasting a winning record of 118-68.

Lauren Gilliland, a junior, is the primary threat on the Cardinals squad. She leads the team in points (80, 3.48 per set) and blocks (21, 0.91 per set).
 
WINNING WAYS
Since the appointment of Abbey Sutherland as the program's head coach in 2018, the Phoenix has finished in the top half of the Horizon League in all but one season. GB also made the NCAA Tournament during Sutherland's first year in 2018, when the Phoenix finished 20-11 in the regular season. Sutherland is 63-51 as the head coach at Green Bay.
 
COMING OUT SWINGING
Tiffany Paalman has had a big influence on Green Bay's play during GB's first two invitationals. She led the team with 33 points and 28 kills at the Buffs Invitational two weeks ago. Through the first six matches, Paalman paces GB with 72.5 points, and is second on the team with 55 kills. Last season, she was second on the squad in points (328.5) and third in kills (251). Only Alexandra Zakutney was in front of Paalman for kills (400).
 
FAMILIAR FACES
Multiple returners lead the Phoenix attack, including Alexandra Zakutney. Last season, she led the team with 400 kills, the eighth-most in the HL, while recording a team-leading 51 service aces and 479.5 points. Shannon Coughlin, Tiffany Paalman, and Cora Behnke rounded out the top four in kills last season for the Phoenix. All four are returning in 2022.
 
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