NASHVILLE — The Tennessee State volleyball team begins a five-game homestand this weekend hosting Morehead State on Friday at 6 p.m. and Sturday at 2 p.m.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
>> Tennessee State is looking to bounce back after losses at Tennessee Tech last weekend. The Tigers dropped both matches in four sets after claiming a win over Southern Missouri the previous weekend.
>> The Tigers are second in the OVC in kills per set (13.29) and are led by senior Aniya Williams with 168 kills. Classmate Aria Holmes is second in kills with 126 and junior Aleksandra Rojecka (122) in third.
>> Senior Gina Rivera-Ortiz is second all-time in TSU history with 1,632 digs. She currently sits 59 digs away from Catherine Armwood '06, who amassed 1,691 digs during her historic career with the Tigers. Rivera-Ortiz has already picked up a pair of OVC Setter of the Week awards and the match up against Morehead State's Allison Whitten could determine who the best setter in the league is.
>> Junior Sofia Garcia-Guerrios is fourth in the OVC in assists with 489 (9.40 per set). Garcia-Guerrios sits 45 assists ahead of MSU's Bridget Bessler heading into this weekend's battle.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
>> Morehead State is riding a three-game winning streak into this weekends meeting with the Tigers. MSU swept Murray State last weekend before taking a four-set win over Tennessee Tech on Wednesday evening.
>> Bridget Bessler was named this week's Ohio Valley Conference Setter of the Week, her second honor this season. Bessler averaged 11.6 assists against the Racers and secured her a double-double in last Friday's contest.
>> Olivia Lohmier leads the Eagles in Kills with 263 and services aces with 13. Lohmier, a two-time OVC offensive Player of the Week, set a season-best with 39 kills in a non-conference match against Cleveland State on Sept. 3. Her best OVC outing was vs. Austin Peay with 25 kills on 76 attacks.
>> Allison Whitten is the player to watch on the defensive end for the Eagles. Heading into the week, Whitten is third on the OVC with 304 digs and fourth in digs per set (4.98)
UP NEXT
Tennessee State concludes its five-game homestand with three games next week at Kean Hall. A local visit from Belmont is slated for Tuesday at 6 p.m., followed by Austin Peay over the weekend.
