PENSACOLA, Fla. - Now up to No. 15 in the nation thanks to its 3-0 week, UWF (12-4, 6-0 GSC) plays its last two matchups of a five-game conference homestand this weekend, as it faces off against Alabama Huntsville (9-4, 5-1 GSC) tonight at 6 p.m. in a battle for first place in the Gulf South before battling Montevallo (6-10, 4-2 GSC) on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
 
The UAH matchup marks the Argos' second annual Silent Set Night, a tradition started last season by program record-setting setter and current assistant coach Taylor Vaneekeren. Affected by hearing impairment herself, she was inspired to start the event in October as part of National Protect Your Hearing Month after learning of a similar tradition begun by Penn State volleyball. In honor of the one in eight Americans who experience hearing loss and the digit combination in Vaneekeren's jersey number of 17, the team encourages fans to join them as they silently cheer until UWF scores its eighth point of the first set. 
 
Saturday is the last day of Homecoming Week, and in advance of the Argonauts' homecoming football game against Shorter at 4 p.m., fans can present their pre-purchased football tickets at the door to the Field House to receive free admission to the Montevallo game. 
 
The Argos enter the week having moved into sole possession of No. 1 in the GSC standings thanks to its unblemished conference record. The Chargers enter UWF Field House in second place with a lone conference setback at Lee and can lay claim to the top spot with a win over UWF. Meanwhile, the Falcons sit at fourth place after going 3-1 since a September 21 loss to UAH. The teams sandwich Mississippi College in the standings, the lone GSC team to take the Argos to five sets so far this season. The two Alabama teams come to Pensacola ready for another upset, as they knocked Valdosta State out of the top spot by handing the Blazers their first two GSC losses of 2023. West Florida took advantage by improving its winning streak to nine games to move up to No. 1.   
 
UWF is tested and ready for the challenge, as it boasts a pair of conference weekly award winners in two redshirt juniors from Spanish Fort, Alabama. Avery Rodgers, the conference leader in hitting percentage and the reigning GSC Player of the Week, has 183 kills on a .357 clip to her name, including 45 kills on .482 with just five errors last week. She reached the .385 mark in all three Week 5 matches, and registered 3.75 kills per set, as she sits at fourth in the conference with that mark. 
 
Redshirt junior libero Meg Brackhan won GSC Defensive Player of the Week with 53 digs, 4.42 per set, adding 18 assists and two aces while leading a defense that held its three opponents to a .145 offensive output. Her 255 scoops are good for third-best in the conference. The Argos also have the third-leading hitter in the league in junior middle Jenna Zydlo, who has 123 kills on a .347 percentage. 
 
Alabama Huntsville is coached by Jon Moseley, in his fourth season in charge of the Chargers. They have the leading setter in the GSC in Savannah Rutledge, who has 477 assists and 9.54 per frame, as well as the leading blocker in Mary Grace Bundrant, who owns 58 total and 1.23 per frame. The Argonauts have a 30-6 all-time record against UAH. Its last loss in the series was in 2018 in Huntsville. It is the only time the Chargers have come out on top in the last 30 meetings between the sides after they won five of the first six.
 
Montevallo is led by first-year head coach Haven O'Quinn. The Falcons possess the conference's leading libero in senior Casey Hendrixson, who has scooped 223 attacks for an average of 4.55 per set. After dropping four of the first six games in the series, UWF has won the last 25 dating back to 2005, the second full season of Melissa Wolter's tenure after the 2004 season was cut short due to Hurricane Ivan. 
 
For more information, please visit GoArgos.com or follow the program at @UWFVolleyball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.