Trojans Continue Home Stretch

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TROY, Ala. – After starting the season 6-0 at home, the Troy volleyball team has lost two straight at Sartain Hall and will look to rebound this weekend when they host Middle Tennessee and WKU.

The Trojans, who are in the midst of five straight at home to close the regular season, started that stretch with a loss on Tuesday night to in-state rival South Alabama. The Trojans dropped the first two sets of that match, and despite fighting back to win the third, couldn't complete the comeback and fell, 3-1.

The Trojans start their weekend by hosting Middle Tennessee on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and finish with WKU on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Check back with TroyTrojans.com for results and stats. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter @TroyAthletics or on Facebook.

TROY

2011 Record: 15-11, 5-7 SBC
Last Time Out: L (1-3) vs. South Alabama

The Trojans enter the contest having lost three of their last four, including two matches at home, their only two home losses of the season. Despite the loss to South Alabama on Tuesday, the Trojans still made a little bit of history as Brittany McClelland became Troy's career leader in block assists.

McClelland helps lead a Trojan defense that holds opponents to a .171 attack percentage, the third best mark in the Sun Belt. Another big part of that defense is Courtney Cohen who leads the league with a 4.68 digs/set average.

In fact, Cohen is on the verge of history herself as she has posted 454 digs thus far this season and is approaching the school record of 488. Right now, Cohen is on pace to record 524 digs by the end of the regular season.

Offensively, the Trojans have played their last three matches without one of their top hitters in Natasha Kolunija who averages a team best 2.83 kills/set. Devin Von Pingel leads the Trojans with a .318 attack percentage.

Alexandra Alexander sets up the Troy attack and averages 9.67 assists/set.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE

2011 Record: 16-9, 12-1 SBC
Last Time Out: W (3-0) vs. Denver
Series: Middle Tennessee leads 14-1

The Blue Raiders enter Friday's match riding a school record 14-match winning streak. Middle Tennessee last lost on September 23 when they dropped their Sun Belt opener to Arkansas State. The Blue Raiders have since won 12 Sun Belt matches to go along with wins over Marquette and Georgia Tech.

Middle Tennessee leads the conference with a .276 team attack percentage, led by Ashley Adams who averages 4.02 kills/set and is one of just two players in the conference over the 4.00 mark. Oyinlola Oladinni boasts a team-best .387 attack percentage.

Defensively, the Blue Raiders hold opponents to a .181 attack percentage and average 2.40 blocks/set, the second highest mark in the Sun Belt.

The two sides have already met once this season with the Blue Raiders coming out on top in Murfreesboro.

WKU

2011 Record: 25-3, 12-1 SBC
Last Time Out: W (3-0) vs. North Texas
Series: WKU leads 14-0

The Lady Toppers enter the weekend as winners of four straight overall and eight straight in Sun Belt matches. WKU's only three losses of the season have come to Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and Cincinnati.

WKU holds opponents to a .140 attack percentage, the nest mark in the Sun Belt. Ashley Potts leads WKU and is second to just Cohen in the league with a 4.49 digs/set average.

Offensively, Melanie Stutsman averages a league best 10.99 assists/set wile Jordyn Skinner's 3.82 kills/set average is tops on the team.

The Lady Toppers are scheduled to play at South Alabama on Friday before making the trip to Troy. The two teams met earlier this year with WKU taking the contest in Bowling Green.

Troy University Athletics

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