Jacksonville, Florida-A tumultuous, up and down season for the defending SIAC Men's Volleyball Champion, Edward Waters Tigers gets set to attempt a repeat at the 2024 Cricket SIAC Men's Volleyball Championship. The single elimination tournament begins on Thursday, April 18-Friday, April 19th at the Adams-Jenkins Community Sports & Music Complex on the EWU Campus.

The Tigers will enter the tournament as the #2 seed after a 12-15 overall regular season record and 8-2 against SIAC competition. Fort Valley State clinched the 2024 regular season title with an unblemished 10-0 season and will be the #1 seed in the event. Both Edward Waters and Fort Valley State by virtue of their regular season finishes will receive a first round bye in the tournament. #4 seed Kentucky State will open the tournament with a first round matchup on Thursday against #5 seed Benedict, while #3 Central State will draw #6 seed Morehouse. The Kentucky State/Benedict winner will battle Fort Valley State later on Thursday in one semifinal, while the Central State/Morehouse winner will face Edward Waters in the other semi on Thursday night at 6:30pm. 

This year's SIAC Men's Volleyball Championship will have added significance as for the first time since the sport was added by the conference in 2021 that the tournament winner will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Volleyball National Tournament.

As for the host school, the Purple & Orange lead the conference in total kills (983), kills per set (10.57), assists (934), and assists. per set (10.04). The Tigers are also second in hitting percentage (.188), second in points per set (12.97), and third in digs per set (8.70). 

Junior outside hitter Tavion Ford leads the SIAC in total kills (334) and kills per set (3.75), while sophomore outside hitter and team co-captain Richard Hendricks is fourth in total kills (213) and kills per set (2.77). Defending SIAC Setter of the Year and team co-captain Kenyon Haynes looks to be a shoo-in to repeat last year's feat as he leads the conference in total assists (815) and assists per set (8.76). Defensively, junior middle blocker Dillon Taylor is sixth in the league in blocks (58) and blocks per set, while fellow middle blocker in sophomore Jackson Mandell is seventh in blocks (46) and blocks per set (0.61).

Every game of the 2024 Cricket SIAC Men's Volleyball Championship will be live streamed on the Edward Waters Athletics YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@EWUTigersAthletics/streams) and also live stats will be provided on the EWU Athtletics website (http://ewutigerpride.com/sidearmstats/mvball/summary).

Follow the Tigers
For complete coverage of Edward Waters University Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @EWU_Athletics (Twitter), /EWUTigers (Facebook) and @EWU_Athletics (Instagram) or visit the official home of Edward Waters Athletics at EWUTigerPride.com