Conference play continuing for OVC volleyball teams

Eastern+outside+hitter+Kylie+Michael+connects+on+a+kill+attempt+in+a+match+against+Southern+Illinois-Edwardsville+on+Oct.+5+in+Lantz+Arena.+Michael+had+7+kills+in+the+match%2C+which+Eastern+lost+3-1.+

Adam Tumino | The Daily Eastern News

Eastern outside hitter Kylie Michael connects on a kill attempt in a match against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Oct. 5 in Lantz Arena. Michael had 7 kills in the match, which Eastern lost 3-1.

Adam Tumino, Sports Editor

The volleyball teams of the OVC are getting deeper into conference play. 

Most of the conference now has five matches under their belts, with a few teams having played four matches in OVC play.

Only two teams in the conference have yet to lose, and they are Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech. 

Both teams have dropped just 3 sets in their four conference matches. 

They also both rank right in the middle of the conference in kills per set, with  Austin Peay ranking fifth and Tennessee Tech ranking sixth. 

Tennessee-Martin also has four wins in conference play, and sits in third place at 4-1. 

The Skyhawks do not jump off the page statistically, but they have been able to win four matches in a row after dropping their conference opener to Belmont. 

The only other team in the OVC with a record over .500 is 3-2 Southeast Missouri. 

The Redhawks opened conference play 1-2 before winning two 3-0 matches against Belmont to climb above .500.

Southeast Missouri’s hitting percentage of .210 ranks second in the OVC. 

Murray State and Morehead State are both 2-2 this season. They got there when Morehead State beat Murray State twice over the weekend. 

Morehead State is near the middle of the conference in most statistical categories. 

Murray State, however, is leading the conference by a wide margin with 14.63 kills per set. In fact, the Racers rank third in the nation in this category. 

Belmont sits at 2-3 in conference play after dropping three matches in a row. 

The Bruins have the lowest hitting percentage in the conference so far this season and rank ninth in kills per set. 

Tennessee State and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville are both 1-4 to start conference season. 

Tennessee State ranks second in the conference in kills per set, but has seen this number decrease in conference play. 

SIUE recently picked up its first conference win, but still ranks last in the OVC in kills and assists.

Eastern is 0-5 in conference play this season. The Panthers rank eighth in both hitting percentage and kills while leading the conference in service aces per set. 

 

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