RICHMOND, Ky. - Coach Lori Duncan and her Eastern Kentucky University volleyball squad will return to the friendly confines of Paul S. McBrayer Arena to play host to Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech this weekend. EKU will entertain MTSU on Friday in a 7:00 PM match. Saturday is a great day to see Colonel athletics in action. Prior to the 7:00 PM football kickoff with Tennessee State, the Colonel volleyball team will be back in action to take on visiting Tennessee Tech. That match is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM.

The Colonels are currently 1-14 overall and 1-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference, with their lone win of the season coming nearly two weeks ago at Tennessee State.

Eastern will enter the weekend having dropped six consecutive games and 15 consecutive matches. Most recently, the Colonels were handed straight-set losses by Southeast Missouri last Friday, 7-15,8-15,1-15; Eastern Illinois last Saturday, 0-15,1-15,13-15; and Morehead State on Tuesday, 7-15,7-15, 10-15.

"This weekend was the first time all season that I didn't think we took a step forward," said Duncan. "I don't think it's the end of the season, I think we can recover.

"Last night at Morehead was a step in the right direction. We've talked all weekend about coming out assertive and aggressive and putting points on the board early. We put a good five points up against Morehead early in the first two games, but then we laid back and let them build their momentum."

Through 15 games, the young Colonels are gaining valuable playing experience. Sophomore outside hitter Courtney Bowen, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, leads the team in kills (161), hitting percentage (.187) and digs (125). Bowen is ninth in the OVC in kills. Freshman setter Sharon Moreno, also a product of Pittsburgh, PA, leads the Colonels in assists (303). Moreno is third in kills (53) and digs (81) and fourth in total blocks (15). She is also ninth in the OVC in assists per game (6.31). Sophomore outside hitter Mary Lee Keranko, from Washington, PA, leads the Colonels in total attempts (456). Keranko is second on the team in kills (125), assists (70) and digs (107).

Two freshmen lead the way for Duncan from the middle hitter's position. Katie Lyon, a native of Kirkwood, MO, leads the team in block assists (23) and total blocks (26). Lyon is also second on the team in hitting percentage (.162) Courtney Huyser, from Batavia, IL, leads the squad in block solos (9). She is second on the team with 24 total blocks and third in hitting percentage (.146).

CM./cm