Blazer Invitational
September 5, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. / 5:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (2-2; 0-0 Big South) vs. UAB (1-2; 0-0 American)
USC Upstate (2-2; 0-0 Big South) vs. North Alabama (2-2; 0-0 ASUN)
 
September 6, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
USC Upstate (2-2; 0-0 Big South) vs. Tennessee Tech (2-1; 0-0 OVC)
Bartow Arena | Birmingham, Ala.
 
TV: ESPN+ (UAB only) | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
How They Stack Up
vs. UAB
Records: USC Upstate (2-2; 0-0 Big South); UAB (1-2; 0-0 American)
Series: First Meeting
Last Five Meetings: First Meeting
 
vs. North Alabama
Records: USC Upstate (2-2; 0-0 Big South); North Alabama (2-2; 0-0 ASUN)
Series: First Meeting
Last Five Meetings: First Meeting
 
vs. Tennessee Tech
Records: USC Upstate (2-2; 0-0 Big South); Tennessee Tech (2-1; 0-0 OVC)
Series: USC Upstate leads 2-1
Last Five Meetings: Aug. 31, 2018 (TTU 3; UPST 0); Sep. 20, 2014 (UPST 3; TTU 1); Aug. 24, 2012 (UPST 3; TTU 0)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Coming off Big South Freshman of the Week honors, freshman outside hitter Summer Kohler fashioned a career-best performance in her first match following the accolade, throwing down a career-best 19 kills Wednesday versus Queens. Entering the weekend, she leads all league freshmen—ranking second among all league players to just her teammate, senior middle blocker Ady O'Grady—in kills (53), kills per set (3.53), points (59.0), and points per set (3.93).
 
UAB: A returning First Team All-American Conference player for the Blazers, junior right-side hitter Jorda Crooks leads her squad in kills and points entering the weekend. She began the season, accruing 25 of her 40 terminations this season against Jacksonville, posting her career-best total behind a .305 hitting efficiency.
 
North Alabama: One of two Lions with 40 or more kills on the year, junior outside hitter Kendall Barnes ranks second in kills and fourth in kills per set in the ASUN. The Ball State transfer begins the Blazer Invitational with 48 kills, an average of 3.43 per set, coming behind a .228 hitting percentage.
 
Tennessee Tech: Averaging greater than 4.0 kills per set, sophomore outside hitter Alayna Pierce enters the Blazer Invitational ranked third in the OVC in kills and kills per set. She's collected 45 total kills over 11 sets, posting a 4.09 kills per set tally, while also possessing a 4.68 points per set clip this season.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Upon wrapping their final "preseason" tournament of the current campaign, USC Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center Tuesday for a meeting with North Carolina Central. The Spartans and Eagles see a 6 p.m. ET first serve.
 
Connect with the Spartans 
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateVB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateVB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
 
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