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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. –  Henderson State begins its 2023 home slate of matches with the Bettye Wallace Invitational on Sept. 7-9. This year's tournament features seven teams: HSU, Keiser, Lane College, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Southwest Baptist, Western New Mexico and West Alabama.
 
HSU will play four matches over three days, starting Thursday, Sept. 7, when the Reddies take on West Alabama at 2:30 p.m., followed by Southwest Baptist at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Henderson faces Western New Mexico at 6:30 p.m. and then concludes the tournament on Saturday at 3 p.m. against Lane College.

Tournament passes can be purchased at the doors on the day of the matches. Single-day passes are $10 and all-tournament passes are $20. All Students, faculty and staff with a valid Henderson State ID will get in for free.
 
REDDIES REPORT
Henderson State enters its home season opener off the back of the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational, where the team went 2-2 with wins over Huston-Tillotson and Southwest (N.M.). HSU came close to completing a comeback victory over UT Permian Basin after trailing 2-1. The Reddies battled back several times in the final set, defending off three UTPB match points, but the Flacons would get the deciding kills.  

HSU had two standout performers across the invitational as Violeta Mendoza Quintana and Christiane Uzoh earned spots on the All-Tournament team. Mendoza Quintana paced the attack over the four matches with 38 kills on 103 attacks (.262 attack percentage) and had 44 digs, while Uzoh recorded 29 kills and 11.0 total blocks. In addition, Larkin Luke had a strong opening weekend with 13.0 total blocks and 20 kills.
 
HSU's first match of the tournament against West Alabama is the first time the two sides have met in ten years, with the last being in 2013, when the Tigers bested the Reddies 3-0. The series leans toward the red-and-gray, as Henderson is ahead in the all-time matchup 9-8.

Henderson's next match is against another familiar foe in Southwest Baptist. HSU and SBU have faced each other ten times, and the Reddies lead the series with sevens wins and three defeats. The last matchup came in 2018, with the contest being played in the Duke Wells Center during the Reddie-Tiger Invitational. That afternoon, HSU defeated the Bearcats in straight sets.
 
On the second day of matches, the Reddies meet Western New Mexico on the court for just the second time. The last time the two sides faced each other was a 3-0 Mustangs win in 1999. The final day will see HSU take on Lane College for the second time in two seasons and fourth overall. The Reddies have never lost or given up a set to the Dragons, with a record of 3-0.  
 
SCOUTING WEST ALABAMA
The West Alabama Tigers enter the Bettye Wallace Invitational with a record of 1-4 after defeating Oakwood 3-0 in the midweek. UWA also recently participated in the Midwestern State Invitation, where they faced (RV) Central Oklahoma, Midwestern State, Western Colorado and Eastern New Mexico. The Tigers are led by setter Berfin Mertcan and libero Quiara Dunson. 

SCOUTING SOUTHWEST BAPTIST
The Bearcats returned from the MSSU Tournament with three wins and one defeat. Among those victories, Southwest Baptist defeated GAC opponents Southern Arkansas 3-1 and Northwestern Oklahoma State 3-0. Most recently, the Bearcats fell to Baker University in five sets in a non-conference match.
 
Southwest Baptist is led by Ella Rademaker, Bailey Lasater and Paityn Kramer. Rademarker leads the Bearcats with 61 kills, while Lasater and Kramer have 83 assists and 70 digs, respectively. In addition, Lasater had 35 assists and 20 digs in the win over SAU.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN NEW MEXICO
Western New Mexico is seeking its first one of the season after finishing the Stanislaus State Tournament 0-4. During their time in the Golden State, the Mustangs faced Fresno Pacific, Stanislaus State, Chico State and the Academy of the Art. WNMU is led by Jazmyne Walker, who ranks 18^th in the Lone Star Conference in kills, averaging 2.54 per set and 33 total kills.  
 
SCOUTING LANE COLLEGE
The Dragons are looking to get back on track after starting the year with two straight wins, having lost their last four matches. Lane's two victories were against Winston-Salem State (3-1) and Kentucky State (3-0). Leading the attack for the Dragons is sophomore outside hitter Kyra Gaston, who has 50 kills and a .289 attack percentage. Gaston is one of six returners from last year's team that finished 26-15.