SOUTHERN UTAH MATCH NOTES

CHENEY, Wash. – After nearly a week break from competition, the Eastern Washington University volleyball team is returning to Reese Court for a pair of matches this week. The Eagles host Southern Utah on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6:05 p.m. before taking on Northern Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2:05 p.m.
 
Following Saturday's match, there will be a post-match autograph session with all the players available for any fans.
 
HOW TO WATCH: Both matches will be streamed for free on WatchBigSky.com and on Pluto TV channel 534. Additionally, live stats are available at EWUStats.com and live, in-game updates, and video highlights can be found by following @EWUVB on Twitter.
 
All regular season home matches at Reese Court are complimentary to students and the general public.
 
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: Eastern Washington is sitting at 2-16 overall and 0-6 in Big Sky Conference play, most recently falling to Idaho at home, 3-1, on Oct. 8 and Northern Colorado, 3-0, on the road on Oct. 11.
 
Sophomore Ashlyn Blotzer currently leads the Eagles in several statistical categories, including kills per set (1.91), hitting percentage (.196), blocks per set (.71) and total service aces (18).
 
Puaoolelagi Sao and Catelyn Linke have split libero duties this season, with Sao averaging 4.06 digs per set with 264 total and Linke garnering 3.68 per set with 114 total.
 
Ana Paula Zandona handles most of the setting duties for Eastern Washington, dishing out an average of 7.19 assists per set to go with 15 total service aces on the year.
 
The freshmen duo of Nicoletta Capizzi and Ka'ehukaiiha'amaina'e Keala average 1.86 and 1.84 kills per set, respectively, while helping out defensively as well with .55 and .46 blocks per set.
 
As a team, the Eagles are hitting .118 with 10.4 kills, 9.5 assists, 1.3 aces, 14.8 digs and 1.5 blocks per set.
 
A LOOK AT THE THUNDERBIRDS: Southern Utah is second in the Big Sky with an overall record of 11-7 and a mark of 4-2 in conference play. The Thunderbirds are on a two-match win streak, topping both Montana and Montana State, 3-1, at home last week. The Eagles and the Thunderbirds have one non-conference opponent in common in Cal Baptist. Eastern Washington beat the Lancers 3-2 in the opening weekend of the season while SUU lost in straight-sets in mid-September.
 
Southern Utah ranks in the top-100 nationally in aces per set (1.65) and total aces (112) which is second in the Big Sky. Corrin Peterson is also second in the conference with a team-high .42 aces per set with 22 on the year. She's also third in the conference with 10.13 assists per set.
 
Offensively, the Thunderbirds are second in the conference with 12.51 kills per set and 11.71 assists per set. Katie Montgomery leads the attack with a .327 hitting percentage while Shannon Webb leads the way with 3.81 kills per set.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Thursday evening marks the 11^th all-time meeting between the two squads. Eastern has lost the last two matchups, but have taken six out of the 10 meetings.
 
At Reese Court, the teams have each won two matches with Eastern claiming the last meeting on Oct. 8, 2016, in straight sets. Four of the 10 matchups have been decided in four sets, with Eastern going 3-1.
 
Last year, the Eagles fell to Southern Utah on the road in three sets (22-25, 19-25, 22-25) on Nov. 15. Eastern hit .119 with 29 kills and only 17 errors on 101 tries.
 
A LOOK AT THE LUMBERJACKS: Northern Arizona, the preseason favorites and defending Big Sky Champions, are 10-8 so far this season with an even 3-3 mark in conference play. Four of their six conference matches have gone to five sets, with the Lumberjacks going 1-3 in those contests with a win over Montana and losses to Portland State, Montana State and Sacramento State.
 
NAU ranks in the top-100 in Division I in aces per set (1.54), blocks per set (2.28), digs per set (16.17), hitting percentage (.29), opponent hitting percentage (.182), total assists (826), total digs (1,164), total aces (111), total attacks (2,517) and total blocks (164).
 
Abby Akin is 28^th in the nation with 1.32 blocks per set, 14^th in total blocks with 91 and 18^th in hitting percentage, swinging .420. Jasmine West is 70^th nationally with 4.55 digs per set.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Eastern Washington leads the all-time series with Northern Arizona, 37-29. EWU beat the Lumberjacks in 2016 and 2017, but were swept last year on the final match of the season at home.
 
Looking to snap the one-match skid to NAU, the Eagles are 18-12 all-time against the Lumberjacks in Cheney. Twenty-two of the matchups have gone to five sets, with Eastern holding a slight 12-10 advantage. The Eagles are 15-9 against the Lumberjacks in three-set matches and 10-10 in four sets.
 
UP NEXT: The Eagles will split time on the road and at home next week. First, Eastern Washington travels to Pocatello, Idaho, for a matchup at Idaho State on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. Pacific time. On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Eagles welcome Weber State to town for 2:05 p.m. matchup at Reese Court.