COLUMBIA, Ky. – For the third time this season, the Blue Raider volleyball team is set to spend a weekend in Tennessee for two Mid-South Conference matches against Bethel (Tenn.) and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.).
Lindsey Wilson is 4-0 this year playing in The Volunteer State and is looking to restore its winning ways after falling to Oakland City (Ind.) in five on Tuesday.
Ana Clara Beltran Sacca is averaging a team-high 1.17 blocks per set over the Blue Raiders' last three matches. The freshman is also hitting 0.267 with 19 kills during that span. Sacca continues to pace the conference in blocks per set this season (1.05) and ranks second for total blocks with 83.
Sofija Pjevic's 53 blocks is fourth-most in the league. At Oakland City earlier this week, Pjevic finished with 10 blocks and seven kills while hitting 0.333. She also added four digs.
Bethel – 6-7, 1-2 MSC – suffered its first home loss of the year on Thursday evening to Campbellsville (Ky.). The Wildcats also lost a three-match winning streak, during which they outhit their opponents 0.200 to 0.074.
Freshman outside hitter Katie Pennington leads Bethel on offense with 158 kills and seven aces. Against Williams Baptist (Ark.) on September 30, she posted a plus-0.300 attack percentage and tallied 14 kills, 17 digs, and two service aces. Then, in Thursday night's conference match with Campbellsville, she turned in 13 kills and nine digs, hitting 0.238.
Freed-Hardeman – 11-8, 0-2 MSC – hosts Campbellsville on Friday night before welcoming Lindsey Wilson on Saturday. The Lions have lost four straight, including a five-set decision at Cumberland (Tenn.) on September 23.
Avery Young and Hope Breen are up to 165 and 151 kills, respectively, and Becca Heineman and Alyssa Austin contribute 4.65 and 4.52 assists per set, in that order. As a team, Freed-Hardeman's 187 service aces are tied for second-most in the conference with Lindsey Wilson. The Lions do, however, lead on average – 2.63 aces per set.
The Blue Raiders are a combined 34-7 all-time – 11-2 on the road – versus Bethel and Freed-Hardeman.
Live coverage of this weekend's action will be provided by both hosts.
Friday's slate begins with junior varsity at 4 p.m. CT, followed by varsity at 6 p.m. CT. Then, on Saturday, the doubleheader opens at noon CT.
