The Eastern volleyball team will play an OVC co-leader for the second-straight match when they face Morehead State (15-6, 6-2) Friday at 5 p.m.

The Panthers played Jacksonville State (12-8, 6-2) on Oct. 19, losing to the Gamecocks in straight sets.

After playing Morehead State, Eastern will travel to Richmond, Kentucky to take on Eastern Kentucky Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Morehead game will test the Panthers’ ability to defend multiple scoring threats, specifically a pair of junior outside hitters: Olivia Lohmeier and Lauren Rokey.

Lohmeier has been second in the OVC in kills per set (4.82) and points per set (5.27) for most of the season, trailing only Murray State’s Rachel Giustino in both categories.

Rokey is averaging 3.06 kills per set, the ninth most in the OVC. Morehead State and Austin Peay are the only teams in the conference with two players in the top 10 in kills per set.

Eastern head coach Julie Allen said that the Panthers will have an approach against Lohmeier and the Eagles similar to the one they had against Giustino and the Racers, a match in which they held Giustino to 13 kills, which was her second-lowest on the season at the time.

“We have some information that shows that (Lohmeier) gets more of the sets in certain rotations, so why don’t we key in on that and frustrate her a little bit,” Allen said.

Setting up Lohmeier and Rokey has been freshman Bridget Bessler, who is second in the OVC with 10.97 assists per set. She is one of only three players in the conference averaging more than 10 assists per set.

When dealing with Morehead State’s attack, Allen said that Eastern will try to “get them out of their comfort zone.” The Eagles have certainly been comfortable in Morehead, going 10-1 on their home court.

Eastern Kentucky has been a statistical outlier this season, ranking in the top half of the OVC in every category but hitting percentage, assists and service aces, ranking 11th, ninth and seventh respectively.

The Colonels lead the OVC in digs per set, averaging 16.57. They also have relatively high kill numbers due in part to the play of Abby Noll.

Noll, a freshman, is third in the conference averaging 3.83 kills and 4.11 points per set. She has been named OVC Newcomer of the Week for three of the eight weeks this season.

However, only two other Eastern Kentucky players are averaging over two kills per set.

Eastern hosted both Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky at Lantz Arena last season and beat each of them in straight sets.

Adam Tumino can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].