Volleyball looks to extend three-match winning streak

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MOREHEAD, Ky. - Following a season-high three-match winning streak, the Morehead State volleyball team (9-15, 6-4) is now two matches over .500 in Ohio Valley Conference play for the first time this season. They are tied for fourth place in the OVC standings and look to improve on that as they travel to Belmont and Tennessee State this weekend. 

"We're improving, we're making some good strides, I think there are some things offensively that are beginning to click for us. Defensively, I think we still have some things to improve on," said head coach Jaime Gordon. "We'll definitely get tested this weekend. I think it will be a good measuring stick of the improvement that we've made."

A week after defeating two teams that sit below them in the OVC standings at Wetherby Gym, the Eagles now travel to play two teams that rank towards the top of the league. The Bruins are tied for second in the OVC at 8-2, while the Tigers are tied with Morehead State at 6-4.

"It's all about how you do on the road. You have to protect your home court, but you have to be able to pick some matches off on the road," said Gordon. "We were able to get one out of two on our last road trip. We'd like to get both this weekend, but it's not going to be easy. Belmont is playing well, and Tennessee State is one of the hotter teams in the conference right now. We definitely have our work cut out for us."

Morehead State opened OVC play against these same two teams at home in late September. Both matches went five sets, as the Eagles downed the Tigers before falling to the Bruins. 

"I think we're a different team. I think we're more mature. We've got three freshmen who are playing a great deal, so they've gained a lot more experience," said Gordon.

Over the course of the three-match winning streak, a balanced attack has really stood out. In the win over Tennessee Tech, four players finished with ten or more kills.

"That's a staple of what we've done my entire time here," said Gordon. "We've had some great players, but we've really tried to stay away from relying on any one or two players. Success is bred from a balanced attack because matchups change and the way that you're attacking your opponent changes, but also players get hot and cold. If you're going to ride one horse and they have a bad game, you're going to struggle. The way that we've been able to rely on different people at different times has been key for us."

The Eagles square off against Belmont on Friday at 7 p.m. ET and then face Tennessee State at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Live stats for both matches will be available on MSUEagles.com and the Belmont match will air live on the OVC Digital Network.