The Eastern Washington University volleyball team is back on the road this week, facing Idaho State (Oct. 21) and Weber State (Oct. 23) to conclude the first half of Big Sky Conference play.
 
The Eagles face the Bengals at 6 p.m. Pacific time in Pocatello, Idaho, before traveling to first-place Weber State to play the Wildcats at 1 p.m. PT in Ogden, Utah. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: Eastern Washington is seventh in the conference standings with a 7-9 overall record and a 3-5 mark in Big Sky Conference play. The Eagles are coming off a five-set win at Idaho, the program's first win in Moscow since 2016, on Oct. 14, but then fell in three sets to Northern Colorado on Oct. 16.
 
The Eagles are led by Ashlyn Blotzer who is fourth in the conference in hitting percentage with a .320 clip, averaging 2.05 per set. Maya McClellan leads the team in kills per set with 2.49, and Sage Brustad also averages over two kills per set with 2.32.
 
With three double-doubles in conference play, Lindsey Russell leads the team with 6.58 assists per set. Makenna Collins in the team-leader in digs per set with 2.83 and ranks eighth in the Big Sky with .35 aces per set.
 
As a team, the Eagles are third in the conference with 1.65 service aces per set. They have had over 10 aces in five matches this season, including 15 in the win over Idaho. Eastern Washington hits at a .191 clip and averages 11.92 kills per set. They also add 10.55 assists, 1.56 blocks and 13.76 digs per set.
 
All three of Eastern's conference wins have come in five sets, and the Eagles are 3-0 in conference play when matches go the distance and 4-1 overall.
 
A LOOK AT THE BENGALS: Idaho State is 6-14 overall and 2-6 in Big Sky play. The Bengals will be hungry for a win when the Eagles come to town, as they have lost five-straight three-set matches and have played five of their last six matches on the road. Most recently, the Bengals fell at Northern Arizona and at Southern Utah.
 
This is the only time Eastern Washington and Idaho State will clash this season, and the Bengals are right below EWU in the conference standings.
 
ISU hits at a .161 clip, but holds its opponents to just .193. Asiah Sopoaga is sixth in the conference with 3.71 digs per set.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Thursday night will be the first time the Bengals and the Eagles have faced off since Oct. 24, 2019 when EWU won 3-0 in Pocatello. The win snapped a nine-match losing streak to the Bengals that dated back to 2013 and was the first road win in Pocatello since 2011.
 
Eastern leads the all-time series, 41-37, but are 17-21 on the road.
 
A LOOK AT THE WILDCATS: Weber State is 13-5 overall with an unblemished 8-0 record in Big Sky play. It has won eight-straight matches, and haven't lost since Sept. 17. All but three of WSU's conference matches have been won in three sets, and the Wildcats have won five-straight three set matches. Most recently, they topped both Southern Utah and Northern Arizona on the road.
 
The defending Big Sky Champions lead the conference in service aces per set (2.13), are second in digs (15.93), and hitting percentage (.222) and are third in assists per set (11.75). They hold their opponents to just a .186 clip.
 
Sam Schiess leads the conference in hitting percentage (.338) while Rylin Adams leads the way with 3.84 kills per set. Dani Nay is the conference leader in aces per set (.70) and Adams adds .39 to rank sixth. Ashlyn Power averages the third-most assists per set in the league with 9.10.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Eastern Washington will look to snap a seven-match losing streak to the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon. Last year, the two squads faced off three times. Twice to open the season in Ogden, Utah, on Jan. 22 and 23. EWU lost both matches by a score of 3-1. The third time was at the Big Sky Conference Tournament where Eastern Washington lost 3-0 to the eventual tournament champions.
 
The last win against Weber State come on Oct. 27, 2016 in a five-set decision. The last win in Ogden came on Oct. 24, 2015 in three sets. Eastern Washington won five-straight from Nov. 23, 2013 to Oct. 27, 2016 before the current seven-match skid. The Eagles lead the all-time series 43-37 and are 13-23 on the road.
 
UP NEXT: Eastern Washington is back at Reese Court next week, hosting Northern Arizona (Oct. 28) and Southern Utah (Oct. 30). The match against the Lumberjacks is set for 6 p.m. Pacific time and the Eagles will host the Thunderbirds at noon.
 
Eastern Washington is looking to avenge a three-set loss to Northern Arizona back on Sept. 25 and earn the series sweep over the Thunderbirds since beating them 3-2 on Sept. 23 in Cedar City.