Trojans to host Western Illinois in another crucial OVC series

Little Rock Volleyball opens up a two-game conference series Friday when Western Illinois comes to the Jack Stephens Center for a battle between teams ranked third and fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. Friday's game is scheduled for 6 pm and Saturday's matinee starts at 2 pm. Both games are available for live streaming on ESPN+.
 
Little Rock (14-11 overall, 9-3 OVC) holds a half-game edge over the visiting Leathernecks (14-8, 8-3), who come to town on the strength of a six-game win streak. The Trojans had a similar streak snapped Tuesday night at home in a five-game reverse sweep by Southeast Missouri. The two teams have met just twice prior to this weekend, with WIU sweeping a pair of games last season in Macomb, Illinois.
 
WIU's current win streak includes sweeps of Eastern Illinois, Southern Indiana and UT Martin, three teams among the bottom four of the league. During conference play, the Leathernecks rank second in hitting percentage (.235) but eighth in percentage allowed. They also rank third in kills, fourth in digs, and eighth in blocks. WIU is eighth in blocks allowed, ninth in digs allowed and dead last in kills given up.
 
In contrast, Little Rock ranks seventh in the OVC in hitting but leads the league in opponents hitting percentage (.162). The Trojans are first in digs, third in blocks, and ninth in kills. They rank fifth in kills allowed, sixth in blocks allowed and 11^th in digs against.
 
The regular season continues to come to its conclusion ad the Trojans hit the road next weekend to take on defending OVC champs Eastern Illinois on Nov. 8-9, then close out the regular season at home against Lindenwood on Nov. 19-20.