Live Broadcasts:  EKU vs. New Mexico State  |  EKU vs. Western Illinois  |  EKU vs. Western Carolina

Live Stats (All Matches)

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky will play its first home matches of the season this weekend as part of the 4-team Colonel Challenge at McBrayer Arena.
 
All three EKU matches will air live on ESPN+.
 
The Colonel Challenge begins Friday at 10 a.m. when Western Illinois faces Western Carolina.  EKU's first home match of the season follows at 12 p.m. against New Mexico State.
 
Friday's 4-match extravaganza continues at 4 p.m. when Western Carolina plays New Mexico State.  The day concludes with Eastern Kentucky playing Western Illinois at 6 p.m.
 
On Saturday, Western Illinois and New Mexico State face off at 11 a.m.  The event concludes with Western Carolina and the Colonels playing each other at 1 p.m.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  New Mexico State and Eastern Kentucky have played each other three times, with the Aggies winning all three.  The last meeting was in 2018. 
 
-  EKU holds a 3-1 advantage against Western Illinois.  The two teams last met in 2014. 
 
-  Despite their relative proximity, Western Carolina and the Colonels have only met three times with EKU holding the 2-1 edge.  The most recent meeting came in 2014 as well. 
 
THE COLONELS
-  Eastern Kentucky (1-5) dropped all three matches at last weekend's Loyola Tournament, including a 3-2 setback in the finale against Southern Illinois Edwardsville.
 
-  Molly Michalak leads the team with 69 kills and an average of 2.76 per set.  She has also contributed 44 digs (2.04/set), the second most on the team.
 
-  The duo of Mikayla Logan and Hannah Keating are tied for the team lead with 13 blocks each.
 
-  Sydney Schoen has a team-high 96 digs (3.84 per set).
 
-  Freshman Anna Purichia was chosen to the Loyola Tournament All-Tournament Team.  In three matches she totaled 26 kills.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  New Mexico State is 3-3 this season.  The Aggies have wins over UC San Diego, Marist and Northwestern.  Shaney Lipscomb leads the team with 2.65 kills per set.  
 
-  Western Illinois is 0-6 in 2021.  The Leathernecks lost three times at the IUPUI Invitational last weekend, including twice by a 3-2 score.  Aubrey Putman and Kennedy Davis lead the team with 46 kills each.  
 
-  Western Carolina (2-3) picked up its first two wins of the season this past weekend at the Grand Canyon Invite, beating Rider 3-2 and Villanova 3-0.  Merry Gebel leads the Catamounts with 3.00 kills per set.


EKU has instituted a clear bag policy for all home events.