RICHMOND, Ky. – After a pair of Atlantic Sun Conference road matches over the weekend, the Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team will be back at home on Tuesday to host in-state rival Bellarmine at the Rick Erdmann Olympic Sports Training Center.
 
The match will begin at 6 p.m., and air live on ESPN+.
 
The first 15 students in attendance will receive a FREE 24-ounce Owala.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU (17-8, 8-4 ASUN) split a pair of matches this past weekend, beating Austin Peay before falling to Lipscomb.  The Colonels have won seven of their last eight matches and have secured a spot in the ASUN Conference Tournament.
 
-  With 18 kills against Austin Peay (Nov. 1), Sarah Mitchell moved into EKU's top-10 career kills list.  Mitchell is now ninth with 1,353 career kills.  Lesley Aldridge (2001-04) is eighth with 1,391.
 
-  Sophomore setter Emilee Hill finished with her fifth triple-double of the season at Austin Peay.  She had 31 assists, 17 digs and 11 kills in addition to five aces and three blocks.  Hill leads the ASUN in triple-doubles.
 
-  Three Colonels rank among the top-10 in the ASUN in digs.  Josie Schmitendorf (4.72/set) is third, Mitchell (3.29/set) is ninth and Hill (3.23/set) is 10th.
 
-  Carson Ledford leads the ASUN with a .363 attack percentage.  Paige Wagers is first with 1.21 blocks per set.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
-  Bellarmine stands at 6-16 overall and 3-9 against ASUN teams this season.  The Knights have lost five straight, including a 3-2 decision at Austin Peay on Saturday.  
 
-  Sophomore outside hitter Natalie Bland leads Bellarmine, and is fourth in the ASUN, with an average of 3.82 kills per set. 
 
-  The Knights use one setter.  Kylie Vanhoy averages 9.12 assists, 1.20 kills and 0.26 aces per set.  The junior is fifth in the conference in assists.
 
-  Jayda Harris, a 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker, averages a team-high 0.59 blocks per set.  Mara Perry leads the team with 3.62 digs per set.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  EKU holds a 10-3 advantage in the all-time series against Bellarmine.  The Colonels have won three straight in the series by 3-0 scores. 
 
-  In the first meeting between these two teams this season, on Oct. 9 in Louisville, EKU allowed just 14 points in the first set and 12 in the second set.  AG Vandagriff had a team-best 10 kills and a .500 attack percentage for the Colonels.  The Knights were led by Bland with 10 kills.