Road Preview: EC Volleyball at Spalding

EUREKA – The Eureka volleyball team is starting the second half of the spring 2021 season on the road at Spalding on Tuesday.

It's the Red Devils' longest road trip of the year and their first since last Tuesday. First serve is at 5 p.m. CT.

Setting the Scene

The Red Devils enter this one with an 0-7 record, still searching for their first win. They're coming off a highly competitive 20-25, 20-25, 27-25 sweep by No. 18 nationally-ranked Westminster at the Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center on Saturday. Despite being unable to push the Blue Jays to four sets, EC kept it competitive the whole way through and even reached set point first in the third set.

Eureka hit a season-best .102 and recorded a season-high seven total blocks. The team is averaging 7.14 kills per set, 1.32 service aces per set and .82 blocks per set. The maroon and gold are second in the league in digs per set at 18.59.

Spalding is currently 3-4 on the season, with wins over Eureka, Iowa Wesleyan and Blackburn and losses against Greenville, Westminster, Webster and Fontbonne. The Golden Eagles are right behind EC in digs per set with 18.14 and rank fifth in kills per set (9.89), hitting percentage (.125) and assists per set (8.71). They're also just a little ahead of EC in blocks per set with 1.04.

Stat Leaders

Junior outside hitter Emma Harris is currently leading the Red Devils in kills per set with 2.26 over 19 sets. Junior middle hitter Corinne DeBoard is right behind her with 2.05. Freshman setter Faith Catour has distributed 133 assists (6.05 per set), and freshman Regan Reed leads the team in digs per set at 3.91. Sophomore libero Jordyn Fox and DeBoard are averaging 3.36 and 3.23 digs per set, respectively. Fox also has a team-eight aces, while freshman middle blocker Katelin Peters has a team-high 10 blocks.

For Spalding, Maggie Purichia leads the team with 2.75 kills per set and has racked up the second-most total kills on the season in the SLIAC with 77. Hannah Holland and Cassie Jones each average two kills per set. Purichia is also leading the team in hitting percentage at .200. Jones, Theresa Kwarciani and Mya Summers are at .150 or higher.

In the back row, Sarah Richards and Gabby Ellis are averaging 4.04 and 3.43 digs per set. Richards has the most total digs in the SLIAC with 113 and Ellis is fourth at 96. Summers is second in the league in total assists with 8.12.

History/Trends

Spalding holds a 20-3 advantage over Eureka in the all-time series. Eureka swept the Golden Eagles in 2018, but fell in three twice in 2019. On Feb. 12, Eureka took Spalding to four sets but couldn't force a fifth.

Coming Up

After Tuesday night's road match, the Red Devils will head home to prepare for a home a match against Greenville on Friday at 6 p.m.