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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team hits the road to Nashville for a pair of crucial Ohio Valley Conference contests.
 
The Colonels take on Belmont University on Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern follows that up with a contest against Tennessee State on Saturday. First serve is scheduled at 6 p.m.
 
Live statistics will be provided for the match. Friday's match against Belmont will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
 
-Eastern comes into the week at 8-16 (3-7 OVC), after splitting a pair of contests against SIU Edwardsville and Eastern Illinois over the weekend.
-Freshman Abby Noll leads the way offensively for the Colonels with a team-best 294 kills and 245 digs. Her 3.77 kills per set ranks third in the OVC.   
-Dena Tekavec brings her team-high 362 digs (4.53 digs per set) into the weekend. Her 4.53 digs per set ranks fifth in the OVC. Tekavec was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week and OVC Newcomer of the Week after her performance last week.
-Senior Rachel Woody leads the team with 535 assists on the year. Her 8.23 assists per set ranks eighth in the conference.
-Eastern ranks first in the conference in digs per set. The Colonels' 17.08 digs per set ranks 27th in the NCAA.
-EKU ranks fourth in the conference in opponent hitting percentage.  
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
 
BELMONT
-The Bruins come into the weekend at 2-23 (1-9) on the season after falling twice to UT Martin and Southeast Missouri.
-Eastern swept Belmont the first time the two teams met in Richmond.
-Halee Van Poppel leads the way for the Bruins with her team-bests 268 kills and 203 digs. Van Poppel is averaging 3.12 kills per set.   
-Akia Warrior brings her team-best 469 assists into the weekend. Warrior is averaging 6.09 assists per set on the year.
 
TENNESSEE STATE
-The Tigers come into the weekend at 9-14 (2-8) on the season after falling to Southeast Missouri and UT Martin.
-TSU defeated Eastern, 3-1, in Richmond earlier this year. 
-Julia Pierson paces the offense for Tennessee State with a team-best 208 kills. She is averaging 2.77 kills per set on the year.
-Gina Rivera-Ortiz leads the back line for the Tigers with 403 digs on the year. Her 4.86 digs per set ranks second in the OVC.   
-Teuila Lolotai brings her team-best 291 assists into the weekend. She averages 4.04 digs per set on the year.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
-EKU returns home for two contests next weekend, when the Colonels take on first place Jacksonville State on Friday before taking on Tennessee Tech on Senior Day on Saturday. First serve against JSU is scheduled for 6 p.m.