CONFERENCE PLAY COMMENCES
All 14 American Athletic Conference teams will be in action to begin league play on Wednesday. Memphis will travel to SMU at 2 p.m. ET to begin competition, while UAB at Rice will bookend the day at 7 p.m. ET. Other matches include Florida Atlantic at North Texas, Wichita State at East Carolina, Tulane at South Florida, Tula at Temple, and UTSA at Charlotte, all taking place at 6 p.m. ET.
CASSADAY ATOP NATIONAL LEADER BOARD
Tulsa’s graduate outside hitter Kayley Cassaday has helped lead the Golden Hurricane to a 7-4 start to the season. Cassaday has earned back-to-back American Offensive Player of the Week awards and currently leads the nation in kills per set (5.70) and attacks per set (15.58) and is second in points per set (6.00). If the season ended today, Cassaday would have the third most kills per set in a season in conference history.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Three American teams enter conference play undefeated at home. (RV) SMU holds a 4-0 record, while Charlotte and Tulsa both sit at 3-0. The Mustangs will host Memphis to open conference play, while Charlotte will host UTSA on Wednesday. Tulsa will have two chances to extend their home winning streak, taking on (RV) Rice on Saturday (4 p.m. ET) and Sunday (2 p.m. ET) on ESPN+.
NEW MEMBERS PLAY FIRST CONFERENCE MATCHES
UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice and UTSA will all play their inaugural American Athletic Conference matches this weekend. Three of the teams are guaranteed to earn their first conference win on Wednesday as Florida Atlantic takes on North Texas (6 p.m. ET), UTSA travels to Charlotte (6 p.m. ET) and Rice hosts UAB (7 p.m. ET). All matches are available to watch on ESPN+.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, September 20
Memphis at RV SMU* (ESPN+)_________________ 2 p.m.
Florida Atlantic at North Texas* (ESPN+)______ 6 p.m.
Wichita State at East Carolina* (ESPN+)______ 6 p.m.
Tulane at South Florida* (ESPN+)____________ 6 p.m.
Tulsa at Temple* (ESPN+)___________________ 6 p.m.
UTSA at Charlotte* (ESPN+)__________________ 6 p.m.
UAB at RV Rice* (ESPN+)______________________ 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 23
North Texas at Tulane* (ESPN+)______________ 1 p.m.
South Florida at Memphis* (ESPN+)___________ 2 p.m.
East Carolina at UAB* (ESPN+)_______________ 3 p.m.
RV Rice at Tulsa* (ESPN+)____________________ 4 p.m.
Temple at Florida Atlantic*__________________ 6 p.m.
RV SMU at UTSA* (ESPN+)_____________________ 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Wichita State* (ESPN+)__________ 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 24
East Carolina at UAB* (ESPN+)_______________ 1 p.m.
Temple at Florida Atlantic*__________________ 1 p.m.
RV Rice at Tulsa* (ESPN+)____________________ 2 p.m.
South Florida at Memphis* (ESPN+)___________ 2 p.m.
North Texas at Tulane* (ESPN+)______________ 3 p.m.
RV SMU at UTSA* (ESPN+)____________________ 3 p.m.
* denotes American Athletic Conference game
All times ET and subject to change
