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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team returns home for a pair of conference matchups this weekend.
 
The Colonels take on SIU Edwardsville on Friday at 6 p.m. before taking on Eastern Illinois on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
FREE candy will be handed out at Friday's contest while supplies last. Saturday is our annual Dig Pink Game and it will be a pink out.
 
Live statistics will be provided for the match. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
 
-Eastern comes into the week at 7-15 (2-6 OVC), after falling on the road to UT Martin and Southeast Missouri.    
-Freshman Abby Noll again was named OVC Newcomer of the Week for the third time this year and for the second time in as many weeks. Noll brings her team-best 276 kills (3.83 kills per set) into this weekend. Her 3.83 kills per set ranks third in the OVC, 68th in the country and eighth in the country out of all freshmen.
-Dena Tekavec brings her team-high 316 digs (4.27 digs per set) into the weekend. Her 4.27 digs per set ranks sixth in the OVC.
-Senior Kaylin Johnson comes into the weekend second on the team in kills with 151. Johnson has a team-best 68 blocks (0.93 per set) on the season. Her 0.93 blocks per set ranks ninth in the conference.   
-Eastern ranks first in the conference in digs per set. The Colonels' 16.57 digs per set ranks 33rd in the NCAA.
-EKU ranks fifth in the conference in opponent hitting percentage.  
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
 
SIU EDWARDSVILLE
-The Cougars come into the weekend at 10-10 (5-3 OVC) and winners of five of their last six, after splitting a pair of contests against Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech.
-SIUE leads the all-time series between the two teams, 8-6.  
-SIU Edwardsville is led offensively by Rachel McDonald, who has a team-best 208 kills on the season.  
-Mallory Nicholson brings her team-best 396 assists (5.01 assists per set) into the contest. The Cougars have three girls with 140 assists or more.  
-Jordyn Kelin anchors the back line for the Cougars with a team-best 346 digs on the year. Kelin's 4.38 digs per set ranks fifth in the conference.
 
EASTERN ILLINOIS
-The Panthers come into the weekend at 2-18 (1-7) after splitting a pair of contests last weekend against Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State
-EIU leads the all-time series between the two teams, 24-20. 
-Eastern Illinois is led offensively by Maggie Runge with her team-high 165 kills on the season. Runge is hitting .319 on the year.
-Bailey Chandler brings her team-best 619 assists (8.36 assists per set) into the weekend. Her 8.36 assists per set ranks seventh in the conference.   
-Madison Cunningham leads the back line for the Panthers posting a team-high 295 digs on the year. Her 3.93 digs per set ranks ninth in the OVC.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
-EKU hits the road for a trip to Nashville next weekend when the Colonels take on Belmont on Friday and Tennessee State on Saturday. First serve against Belmont is scheduled for 7 p.m.