BATON ROUGE, La. — Southern University returns to tournament play this weekend when the Lady Jaguars travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the Crimson Classic, Sept. 18-19, at Foster Auditorium. Southern will face Jacksonville State, Nicholls and host Alabama during the two-day event.
 
Southern opens the tournament against Jacksonville State, marking the third meeting between the two programs. The Gamecocks have won the previous two matchups, including a 3-0 victory over the Lady Jaguars at the Gamecock Classic earlier this season.
 
The Lady Jaguars have faced Nicholls 18 times, with Southern earning its first victory in the series last season at the Ragin' Cajun Classic in Lafayette, Louisiana. Southern rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Colonels.
 
Southern will close the tournament against Alabama. The Lady Jaguars and Crimson Tide have met once previously, with Alabama earning a 3-0 victory in 2017.
 
Southern enters the tournament following a 3-0 victory over Southern University at New Orleans on Tuesday. The Lady Jaguars had 11 players record at least one kill, led by Sereniti Johnson with 13. Mariah Mott added eight kills, while Nyla Hoult and Norielle Battle each finished with five.
 
Freshman Maleah Faust directed the Southern offense with 23 assists, while Penina Vito added 16. Najah Harris paced the defensive effort with a career-high 33 digs, while Logan Hart recorded a team-high seven blocks and Mott added six.
 
Faust enters the Crimson Classic after being named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Week on Sept. 15 following a standout week for the Lady Jaguars.
 
The freshman totaled 80 assists across four matches, averaging 5.71 assists per set, while adding 18 digs, six kills, two blocks and an ace. Her 80 assists ranked third in the SWAC, while her 5.71 assists per set ranked fourth in the conference.

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