Trojans Travel North for Tough Task

Live Stats at WKU

TROY, Ala. – After dropping two Sun Belt matches on the road last weekend, the Troy University volleyball team will look to shake off the road woes as they leave town for two more Sun Belt matches this weekend.

The task will not be easy as Troy travels north to face the two toughest teams in the league in WKU and Middle Tennessee. The Trojans take on the Lady Toppers on Friday at 7:00 p.m. before facing the Blue Raiders on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. as well.

“We've got a big weekend ahead of us,” said head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick. “It's always fun to play these two teams because it's a good measuring stick to see how we've progressed throughout the season.”

“You always want to play the best and this is definitely a weekend for that.”

Check back with TroyTrojans.com throughout the weekend for results and recaps. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter @TroyAthletics or becomes a fan on Facebook.

TROY

Record: 12-6, 2-2
Last Time Out: L (0-3) at Arkansas State
Head Coach: Sonny Kirkpatrick (Sixth season)

The Trojans enter their second straight weekend on the road at .500 in the league. After opening up at home with wins over ULM and Louisiana, Troy fell at UALR and Arkansas State last weekend. The losses snapped a five-match winning streak.

The Trojans still boast one of the top defenses in the Sun Belt as they sit third in the conference with an opponent's attack percentage of .166. The Trojans also lead the league with 15.98 digs/set as a team.

Individually, Courtney Cohen paces the squad and the Sun Belt at 4.92 digs/set. She is on pace to post 542 digs this season which would break the school record of 488.

Offensively, the Trojans feature a balanced attack as four different players average over 2.00 kills/set. Natasha Kolunija (2.69) leads the way with Breanna Cullity (2.63), Kayla Pickart (2.56) and Devin Von Pingel (2.09) right behind her. Von Pingel leads the squad with a .352 attack percentage which also ranks third in the Sun Belt.

Alexandra Alexander sets up the Troy attack as she sits in second place in the Sun Belt at 10.02 assists/set.

WKU

Record: 17-2, 4-1
Last Time Out: L (1-3) vs. Middle Tennessee
Head Coach: Travis Hudson (17th season)
Series: WKU leads 13-0

The Lady Toppers enter the weekend ranked No.26 in this week's AVCA rankings. WKU is also coming off just its second loss of the season as they well to Middle Tennessee at home on Tuesday. The loss snapped a 14-match winning streak for the Toppers.

Jordyn Skinner leads WKU and the Sun Belt at 4.14 kills/set while Melanie Stutsman's 10.89 assists/set also pace the conference. The Lady Toppers hit .249 as a team, second to just Middle Tennessee in the Sun Belt.

Defensively, WKU leads the league with a .152 opponent's attack percentage. Ashley Potts paces the Lady Toppers with a 4.77 digs/set average.

The Trojans have never defeated the Lady Toppers in 13 tries. Troy is 0-6 all-time in Bowling Green.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Record: 6-9, 4-1
Last Time Out: W (3-1) at WKU
Head Coach: Matt Peck (Eighth season)
Series: Middle Tennessee leads 13-1

The defending Sun Belt champion Blue Raiders enter the weekend as winners of four straight, including a win over WKU on Tuesday. The Blue Raiders played a tough non-conference schedule with three matches against Top 25 teams and posted a 2-8 record because of it.

Ashley Adams' 3.68 kills/set average paces the Blue Raiders while Oyiblola Oladinni's .370 attack percentage ranks second in the Sun Belt. Middle Tennessee's .256 team attack percentage leads the league.

Defensively, Brynne Henderson leads the Blue Raiders with a 3.15 digs/set average.

Troy has lost 12 straight matches to Middle Tennessee and is 1-13 against the Blue Raiders all-time. The Trojans are 0-6 in Murfreesboro and last defeated Middle Tennessee in 1994.

Troy University Athletics

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