RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team will play its first home matches of the season as part of the Geri Polvino Invitational (GPI) on Friday and Saturday at the Rick Erdmann Olympic Sports Training Center (OSTC) on the EKU campus.
 
The event begins Friday at 10 a.m. with Radford facing Youngstown State.  The Colonels will face old rival Morehead State at 1 p.m.  Youngstown State and Morehead State will play at 4 p.m.  The day concludes with EKU against Radford at 7 p.m.  The first of two matches on Saturday will feature Morehead State and Radford at 11 a.m.  EKU closes out the GPI against Youngstown State at 1:30 p.m.
 
The Colonels' three matches will air live on ESPN+.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU opened its 2024 season by winning one of three matches at the Boston College Invitational.  The Colonels shutout Iona and nearly pushed BC to a decisive fifth set before falling 3-1 to the Eagles.
 
-  Josie Schmitendorf was chosen as the Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.  In three matches over the weekend, she averaged 4.20 digs per set.
 
-  Carson Ledford was chosen to the Boston College Invitational All-Tournament Team.  She averaged 1.9 kills and 1.10 blocks per set while hitting .410 – finishing with just three errors in 39 attacks.
 
-  As a team, EKU is fourth in the ASUN with 2.30 blocks per set.
 
-  Sarah Mitchell is fourth in the conference with 4.35 points per set, seventh with 3.60 kills per set and ninth in aces with 0.50 per set.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
-  Morehead State stands at 0-3, with two of its losses coming to No. 9 Kentucky and a Western Kentucky team receiving votes in the top-25.  Irene Wogenstahl, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker, leads the team in points (2.73 per set) and blocks (0.82 per set), and is second in kills (2.18 per set) and attack percentage (.217).  
 
-  Radford is off to a 1-2 start to the season, with a victory over Rider and losses to Temple and Fairleigh Dickinson.  Sydney Munkkowsky, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter/opposite, leads the squad in points (4.82 per set) and kills (4.45 per set) and is second with a .356 attack percentage. 
 
-  Youngstown State is also 1-2 with its win coming against Long Island in five sets.  Abbie Householder, a 6-foot outside hitter, leads the team in kills (3.0 per set) and points (3.31 per set).
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  Morehead State holds a 66-51 advantage in the series with the Colonels.  The two teams haven't met since 2020. 
 
-  The series with Radford is tied 3-3.  The most recent meeting was in Richmond on August 26, 2022.  The Colonels won that match 3-0. 
 
-  EKU is 10-1 all-time against Youngstown State.  The Penguins picked up their first win in the series in the most recent meeting, on Sept. 9, 2016 in Akron, Ohio.