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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team opens up conference play this weekend when Tennessee State and Belmont come to McBrayer Arena.
 
The Colonels will take on Tennessee State on Friday at 6 p.m. Followed by Belmont University at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Saturday's contest against Belmont will be employee appreciation day.
 
Live statistics will be provided for all matches.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
 
-Eastern comes into the weekend at 5-9, after falling in all three contests this past weekend.  
-Freshman Abby Noll continues her stellar freshman campaign with her team-best 152 kills, (3.53 kills per set) and 148 digs on the year. Her 3.53 kills per set rank fourth in the OVC  
-Dena Tekavec brings her team-high 183 digs on the year into the weekend. Her 4.16 digs per set ranks fifth in the conference.
-Raegan Alexander made her first two starts of the year and did not disappoint. The freshman posted 65 assists in the two matches, including a career-high 35 against Duquesne.
-Eastern ranks second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage at .159.
-The Colonels rank 18th in the country in digs per set.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
 
TENNESSEE STATE
-The Tigers comes into the weekend at 7-6 and winners of four of their last five.  
-Eastern leads the all-time series between the two teams, 52-13.  
-TSU is led by Julia Pierson who has a team-best 118 kills (2.68 per set) on the year.  
-Sophomore Gina Rivera Ortiz leads the way defensively for the Tigers with 234 digs on the year. Her 5.32 digs per set ranks first in the conference.   
-Tennessee State ranks first in the conference in opponent hitting percentage.    
 
BELMONT
-The Bruins have lost 11 straight matches are 1-14 on the season.
-Belmont leads the all-time series between the two teams, 11-10.  
-Halee Van Poppel leads the way for the Bruins with 170 kills and 115 digs. She averages 3.21 kills and 2.17 digs per set.
-Akia Warrior brings her team-best 351 assists into the weekend. Her 7.02 assists per set ranks ninth in the conference.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
-EKU hits the road for a pair of contests next week. They take on Jacksonville State at 7 p.m. on Thursday before taking on Tennessee Tech at 8 p.m. on Friday.