RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team returns home this weekend to host matches against Belmont University on Friday at 6 p.m. and Tennessee State University on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
EKU Sports Marketing will be giving away EKU Volleyball popsockets on Friday and Saturday will be Senior Day.
 

HERE'S THE SKINNY:
 
-Eastern (9-15, 7-3 OVC) won two matches on the road last weekend, beating UT Martin in four and sweeping Southeast Missouri.
 
-The Colonels are holding opponents to a mere .166 hitting percentage in conference action, the second lowest in the OVC.
 
-Junior libero Chloe Rojas was named the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week this week after a stellar weekend showing. The St. Charles, Illinois native piled up 47 digs over seven sets (6.71 digs-per-set) and matcher her career-high digs (30) at UT Martin.
 
-Cassie Knutson received a nod from VolleyMob after her weekend that featured 5.71 assists-per-set to go with 3.14 kills-per-set and 2.43 digs-per-set. She recorded her second triple-double of the season with 16 kills, 25 assists and 10 digs versus UT Martin while hitting a .344 clip.  
 
-Celina Sanks leads the Colonels in kills (279) and is second in blocks with 34.
 
-EKU returns all letterwinners from last season.
 
-Drost and Rachel Woody were both named All-OVC Preseason Selections going into the season.
 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
 
BELMONT
-The Bruins (11-11, 6-4 OVC) are on a two-match skid after falling at Austin Peay and at Murray State last weekend.
 
-Arianna Person leads the offensive effort for Belmont with 299 kills (3.65 per set).
 
-Ella Ivancich and Alexa Nichols pace the Bruins defensively with 259 digs and 66 blocks, respectively.
 
-BU is hitting just .177 on the season and holding opponents to .175.
 
-Eastern dropped a match to Belmont earlier in the season on its home court in five sets.
 
 
TENNESSEE STATE
-The Tigers (6-17, 2-8 OVC) have lost seven of their last eight matches.
 
-Rachel Henderson paces TSU on both sides of play with 237 kills and 71 blocks on the season.
 
-Tennessee State is hitting just below the .160 mark on the season.
 
-The Colonels took down the Tigers on their home court earlier in the season in four sets.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
-Eastern Kentucky hits the road for three of its last four matches of the season at Jacksonville State, Tennessee Tech and Morehead State.