TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Volleyball will put its hot start to the test this weekend when the Sycamores head to Tennessee for the Rocky Top Invitational.
 
ISU (2-1) will face North Florida (0-3) on Friday followed by Winthrop (0-4) and the host Lady Vols (3-0) on Sunday.
 
But don't let the records fool you. North Florida challenged 21^st-ranked Colorado last weekend and Winthrop faced a challenging schedule. Then there's also the traditional SEC power.
 
But the oddest record of them all might be Indiana State's all-time record against the field: 0-0-1. And no, this isn't soccer. The only time the Sycamores have faced any of the three teams came in 1977 when ISU tied Tennessee, 1-1, in a tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio.
 
QUICK HITS
• Indiana State returns to action this week at the Rocky Top Invitational in Knoxville, Tennessee.
• The Sycamores have an 0-0-1 all-time record against teams competing in the Rocky Top Invitational having only once played Tennessee, a 1-1 tie in 1977.
• Entering the Rocky Top Invitational, ISU's Lindsay Allman is the only head coach not in her inaugural season. All three other teams are led by first-year head coaches.
• The 2018 campaign marks the second season for the Sycamores under the direction of Lindsay Allman.
• With the 3-1 win over Liberty last weekend, Indiana State won its season opener for the second straight year.
• Setter Makayla Knoblauch was named the MVC's Freshman of the Week following the first weekend of play.
• Damadj Johnson and Jade York were each named to the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational's All-Tournament Team in the first weekend of play.
 
FRESH FACES
When Indiana State travels to the Rocky Top Invitational this weekend, Lindsay Allman will be the most tenured head coach in the field. All three other teams - North Florida, Tennessee and Winthrop - all have head coaches in their first year at their respective institutions.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
North Florida: The Ospreys stumbled in the Rumble in the Rockies in Laramie, Wyoming, going 0-3 to mark an inauspicious start for head coach Kristen Wright. It is notable, however, that UNF battled No. 15 Colorado closely, falling 25-23, 25-17 and 25-18.
 
Winthrop: The Eagles also struggled in the opening weekend, going 0-3 in the Georgia Tech Tournament in Atlanta. Winthrop dropped a pair of 3-2 losses over the weekend - to Abilene Christian and Idaho State - as victory just escaped their grasps.
 
Tennessee: The Lady Vols jumped out to a hot start (3-0) as they hosted the Tennessee Classic. The most notable win came in the opening match with a 3-1 victory over No. 22 Michigan State before sweeping Belmont and Chattanooga.
 
D-FENSE
Damadj "D" Johnson is a tall task to face at the net. She may only stand at 6-0 but is seemingly a brick wall. D only needs one more block assist to mark 200 in her career and is on the brink of entering ISU's top 10 charts in career blocking in multiple categories (see game notes).
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Volleyball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.