Rumble at the Roane
August 29, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. / 5:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (0-0; 0-0 Big South) vs. Memphis (0-0; 0-0 American)
USC Upstate (0-0; 0-0 Big South) vs. Tennessee State (0-0; 0-0 OVC)
 
August 30, 2025 | 10:30 a.m.
USC Upstate (0-0; 0-0 Big South) vs. Northwestern State (0-0; 0-0 Southland)
Elma Roane Fieldhouse | Memphis, Tenn.
 
TV: ESPN+ (Memphis only) | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
How They Stack Up
vs. Memphis
Records: USC Upstate (0-0; 0-0 Big South); Memphis (0-0; 0-0 American)
Series: First Meeting
Last Five Meetings: First Meeting
 
vs. Tennessee State
Records: USC Upstate (0-0; 0-0 Big South); Tennessee State (0-0; 0-0 OVC)
Series: Tennessee State leads 1-0
Last Five Meetings: Aug. 26, 2017 (TSU 3; UPST 2)
 
vs. Northwestern State
Records: USC Upstate (0-0; 0-0 Big South); Northwestern State (0-0; 0-0 Southland)
Series: First Meeting
Last Five Meetings: First Meeting
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: The reigning Big South Freshman of the Year and one of three preseason All-Conference selections for the Spartans entering the new season, sophomore setter Kamyla Vega David returns to pace the Upstate offense. Last season, she totaled 932 assists, averaging 8.88 assists per set, ranking ninth and 10^th among NCAA freshmen, respectively, in the two categories. Adding 373 digs, Vega David tallied 19 double-doubles a season ago, the most among NCAA freshmen in 2024.
 
Memphis: One of three returners for the Tigers, junior libero Abigail Schlueter returns to captain the Memphis defensive unit in 2025. Last season, she finished the year ranked third in the American in total digs, plucking up 401 balls, an average of 3.97 per set to rank fourth in the conference in the category. Schlueter also contributed 34 service aces, second among Tigers last season.
 
Tennessee State: Anchoring the Tigers' defensive efforts at the net, senior middle blocker Maygan Miller-Garcia represents one of four returners for Tennessee State. She finished the 2024 campaign with 93 total blocks, comprised of 20 solo blocks and 73 block assists, with her 1.02 blocks per set mark ranking sixth in the OVC. Offensively, she contributed 121 kills, an average of 1.33 per set while posting a .236 hitting efficiency.
 
Northwestern State: Leading a group of four returners, senior middle blocker Deja Benjamin heads a trio of Demon returners that led the team's blocking efforts last season. She ended the year with 117 total blocks (15 solo blocks and 115 block assists), ranking fourth in the Southland Conference in the category. Benjamin averaged 1.02 blocks per set while turning in 139 kills behind a .300 hitting efficiency.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Following the season's opening weekend, USC Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center for the first time in the new campaign. The Spartans host Queens in the team's home opener, seeing first serve set for 6 p.m. ET next Wednesday.
 
Connect with the Spartans 
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateVB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateVB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
 
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