The Stetson volleyball team will open the 2012 volleyball season this weekend at the ISTAP Invitational, hosted by Alabama State in Montgomery, Ala.

The Hatters (9-18 in 2011), will play the first match of the tournament at 10 a.m. Friday morning against Jacksonville State (11-20), then return to the court at 4 p.m. for a match against South Dakota (14-18).  On Saturday, Stetson will face tournament host Alabama State (15-22) at 2 p.m., and conclude the tournament with a 6 p.m. match against Tennessee State (18-11).  All times are listed as eastern time.

Please note that the tournament schedule includes six matches a day spaced apart by only two-hour intervals, so it is possible for some matches to be delayed.

Following This Weekend's Action

Live stats for all tournament games will be available here.

Live video for Saturday's Stetson vs. Alabama State match will be available here.

Fans can also get in-game twitter updates of Stetson volleyball matches all season long by following @StetsonVB from your twitter account.  Postgame recaps and statistics will be available on the Stetson Athletics website at GoHatters.com.

Stetson vs. the Opponents All-Time

Record vs. Jacksonville State: 7-4 (last meeting 2002)
Record vs. South Dakota: 0-0 (first meeting)
Record vs. Alabama State: 1-0 (last meeting 1994 no contest/forfeit)
Record vs. Tennessee State: 0-0 (first meeting)

First of Four

Stetson will participate in four tournaments this season.  After this weekend's ISTAP Invitational, the Hatters will host the Stetson Clarion Classic Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at the Edmunds Center.  Stetson will also play at the Norfolk State Spartan Classic Sept. 7-8, and at the Charleston Southern Invitational  Sept. 14-15.

Stay Away Isaac

Stetson is hoping mother nature is a bit more cooperative than she was last year at this time, when Hurricane Irene forced the cancellation of the Hatters' season-opening tournament at William & Mary.

Returning to the Court

Both Samantha Freeman and Morgan Pautsch redshirted the 2011 season due to injury, and both will be looking to return to the court this weekend.  Freeman, a fifth-year senior, earned her Bachelor's degree in May and is now pursuing her MBA.  Pautsch, meanwhile, is in her second year academically and is majoring in Business.

Quest for 1000 Digs

Senior libero Monique Russell enters her senior season just 61 digs shy of 1000 in her career.  She is looking to become the 10th player in school history to reach that milestone.  Russell has also played in 82 consecutive matches and 222 consecutive sets dating back to her freshman year.

Quest for 2000 Assists

Senior setter Kelli Carneal enters her senior season just 311 assists shy of 2000 in her career, a milestone only six other Hatters have achieved in their career.

Kill Leader

Junior Kaley Melville has led the Hatters in kills in each of her first two seasons.  As a sophomore, Melville averaged 3.04 kills per set, the highest per set total by a Hatter since Rebecca Orzechowicz in 2007.