Nov. 5, 2008

By: Bryce Weymouth, Sports Information Assistant

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Redhawks will look to extend their current four-game winning streak this weekend as they host first place Tennessee Tech Friday at 7:00 p.m. and ninth place Jacksonville State Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

Fans who bring three canned food items will receive free admission to Friday night's match against Tennessee Tech as a part of the OVC's canned food drive "The 12 Days of Giving".

Saturday's match will be the final home game for Aubrey Dondlinger, Alyssa Aston and Kim Unnerstall as they will take part in Senior Day.

The Redhawks (11-11, 9-5 OVC) are currently in fourth place in the OVC and are coming off a 2-0 week in which they defeated Murray State and Eastern Illinois.

Claire Keaton leads the Redhawks offense, which ranks fifth in the OVC in hitting percentage at .202 and sixth in the OVC in kills with 12.44 per game. Keaton ranks seventh in the OVC in both kills and points per game, with 3.26 and 3.64 respectively. Karleigh DeLong is second on the team in both kills and points with 2.75 kills per set and with 3.32 points per game. Sarah Barth leads the team and ranks second in the OVC with 9.36 assists per game. Barth received OVC honors this past week as she was named Co-OVC Setter of the Week. Sophomore Kelly Benacka ranks fourth in the OVC in service aces. Dondlinger is second on the team in total kills with 171 and third in total digs with 159.

Defensively the Redhawks rank second in the OVC in opponents hitting percentage at .202, fourth in the conference with 17.19 digs per set and fourth in blocks per set with 1.60. Emily Hughes leads the Redhawks and ranks sixth in the OVC with 0.73 blocks per game. Molly Davis leads the team and ranks fifth in the OVC with 4.49 digs per game.

Scouting the Golden Eagles

The Golden Eagles (15-9, 12-2 OVC) currently sit alone in first place in the OVC and are currently riding a seven-game winning streak, with their latest victories coming this past weekend as they defeated Morehead State, 3-0 and Eastern Kentucky, 3-2. The Golden Eagles defeated the Redhawks in their first match-up of the season in straight sets 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-12). Hughes, Unnerstall and Dondlinger led the Redhawks that day with four kills a piece, while Davis led the Redhawks with 11 digs for the match.

The Golden Eagles are currently in third in the OVC in kills per game as a team with 13.30, due largely in part to First-Team Preseason all OVC player Leah Meffert. Meffert was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Week this past week and ranks tenth in kills in the conference with 3.13 kills per set. Kappy Lang leads the team and is first in the OVC with 10.68 assists per game. Lang is tied with Benakca for fourth in the OVC in service aces.

The Golden Eagles are holding opponents to a .202 hitting percentage, which ties them with the Redhawks for second in the OVC. As a team the Golden Eagles are second in the OVC in blocks with 1.77 blocks per game. Caitlin Bullock leads the Golden Eagles with 0.77 blocks per game.

Katie Kenline, Second-Team Preseason all OVC player, leads the OVC with 5.16 digs per game.

The Redhawks have lost two-straight matches to the Golden Eagles, but continue to lead the all-time series with a 31-9 record.

Scouting the Gamecocks

The Gamecocks (7-18, 3-11 OVC) are coming off a weekend in which they defeated Eastern Kentucky, 3-2 and lost to Morehead State, 3-0. In the first match-up of the year the Redhawks defeated the Gamecocks in straight sets, 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-15). Unnerstall led the Redhawks with seven kills and a match-high .545 attack percentage. Barth led all players with 29 assists, while Davis and Keaton led all players with 14 digs a piece.

The Gamecocks are led offensively by Brittney Whitten and Caitlin Vorbeck, who rank first and third in the OVC with 3.81 and 3.63 kills per game respectively. Whiten was named as a Second-team Preseason all OVC player. Brooke Schumacher ranks sixth in the OVC with 7.81 assists per game.

Defensively the Gamecocks are led by Lauren Harkins. Harkins ranks fourth in the OVC with 4.65 digs per game. Katy Krajnak and Kara Slater led the Gamecocks with 0.48 blocks per game.

The Redhawks have won three straight matches and lead the all-time series 8-7 with the Gamecocks.