JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A stretch of four straight road matches for the Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team will begin Friday against North Florida in Jacksonville.
 
Friday's match will begin at 7 p.m. ET.  The Colonels will stay in Jacksonville for a match against Jacksonville University on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.  Both contests will air live on ESPN+.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU improved to 12-6 on the season after a pair of sweeps at home against Queens and West Georgia last weekend.  The Colonels are tied for fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 4-2 league mark.
 
-  Since the start of the 2023 season, the Colonels are a combined 54-25.
 
-  Outside hitter Addison Burke was chosen as the ASUN Freshman of the Week on Monday.  Burke averaged 3.83 kills, 1.67 digs and 1.00 aces per set.
 
-  Over the past four matches, Carson Ledford is hitting .400 and averaging 1.08 blocks per set.  During that span, she has recorded 21 kills and made only three errors in 45 attempts.
 
-  EKU leads the ASUN Conference in assists (13.01/set), kills (13.66/set) and opponent hitting percentage (.198).  As a team, the Colonels are second in the league in hitting percentage (.260).
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
-  North Florida is 8-11 on the season and 2-4 in ASUN matches.  The Ospreys snapped a 4-match losing streak with a 3-0 win at Austin Peay on Saturday.  UNF is tied for eighth with two other teams in the conference standings.  
 
-  Kendall Newbold leads the team with 2.49 kills per set.  Yarimar Francis Garay averages 1.06 blocks per set. 
 
-  Jacksonville has won seven straight matches and stands at 15-3 on the season.  The Dolphins are first in the ASUN with a 6-0 league mark.  JU beat Lipscomb 3-1 on the road in its last match.
 
-  Four players average 2.36 kills per set or more for Jacksonville, led by Rebekah Williams with 2.74 per set.  She also has a team-high 30 aces.  Alija Heins leads the team with 1.05 blocks per set.  The Dolphins lead the ASUN in hitting percentage (.266) and aces (2.05/set). 
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  North Florida has a 4-2 edge in the series.  The Colonels beat the Ospreys, 3-2, in Richmond last season. 
 
-  EKU is 7-1 all-time against Jacksonville.  The Colonels won both meetings last season, beating the Dolphins 3-0 in Richmond during the regular season and 3-1 in Fort Myers during the ASUN Tournament.