All OVC playoff volleyball teams above .500

Eastern+redshirt+sophomore+Kylie+Michael+attempts+a+kill+against+Tennessee+Tech+in+Lantz+Arena+on+Oct.+18.+Michael+had+a+career-high+13+kills+and+18+points+in+the+match%2C+which+the+Panthers+won+3-2.+

Adam Tumino | The Daily Eastern News

Eastern redshirt sophomore Kylie Michael attempts a kill against Tennessee Tech in Lantz Arena on Oct. 18. Michael had a career-high 13 kills and 18 points in the match, which the Panthers won 3-2.

Adam Tumino, Volleyball Reporter

As it currently stands, every OVC postseason spot is inhabited by a team with a record at or above .500.

If this holds up, it would be the first time since 2007 that a sub-.500 team failed to make the OVC Tournament, although in 2007 there were only six spots as opposed to the eight there are now.

The top spot in the highly-competitive conference has been held by Morehead State (17-6, 8-2), who has won three matches in a row to solidify its position.

Jacksonville State and Southeast Missouri are tied with the Eagles with 8-2 conference records.

Morehead State and Jacksonville State have reached their positions through outstanding offensive play and rank in either first or second place in the conference in hitting percentage, assists and kills.

Southeast Missouri has succeeded this season based on defensive play, leading the OVC in opponent hitting percentage (.149) and blocks per set (2.35) while ranking second in digs per set (16.57).

The Redhawks are the hottest team in the OVC, having won their last four matches.

Murray State dropped out of a four-way tie atop the conference after splitting its weekend matches, losing to Jacksonville State and beating Tennessee Tech. The Racers sit at 7-3 in the conference and are in sole possession of fourth place.

A pair of 6-4 teams, Southern Illinois Edwardsville and Tennessee Tech, find themselves in fifth and sixth place. Both teams lost their matches on Oct. 26. Tennessee Tech played Murray State, and would have leapfrogged the Racers in the standings with a win.

Sitting at 5-5 are Tennessee-Martin and Austin Peay, rounding out the OVC playoff picture.

Tennessee-Martin won both of its matches to climb to .500. Austin Peay lost to Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State.

Although they still hold a playoff spot, Austin Peay finds itself in a much different position than the last several seasons.

The Governors lost just four OVC matches total over the last two seasons combined. Their 17 total losses are six more than they had during that span.

Just outside the playoff field is 3-7 Eastern Kentucky, who despite its position had senior libero Dena Tekavec named OVC Defensive Player of the Week and OVC Newcomer of the Week.

The coldest team in the conference in 10th-place Tennessee State, which has lost seven matches in a row to fall to 2-8 in conference play.

Eastern and Belmont both sit a 1-9 in OVC play, remaining in the last two spots where they have been for much of the season.

Eastern’s only conference win came more recently on Oct. 18 against Tennessee Tech. Belmont’s only conference win came against Eastern back on Oct. 5.

The Panthers will try to climb out of the bottom-two spots when they play Austin Peay and Murray State. Eastern lost to both of these teams at home during the first weekend of conference play.

Morehead State has a good chance to bolster their position when it plays Tennessee State and Belmont. However, both matches will be on the road for the Eagles, where they are 2-4 on the year.

Jacksonville State will play Southeast Missouri on Saturday in a matchup that will likely shift the balance of power in the conference.

 

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