CEDAR CITY, Utah -- Southern Utah women's volleyball welcomes Eastern Washington to the America First Event Center on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 pm MT as both teams look to get back in the win column. The Thunderbirds come into the match on an offensive hot streak and will look to build off their best hitting percentage in conference play from their last time out.

Speaking on her team's recent progress, Danielle Jensen said:

"We're seeing the team make some really positive strides, especially in our ability to compete in tight sets. Now it's about finding that consistency and finishing. We're excited for another opportunity this week to turn that progress into results against Eastern Washington and Idaho." 

The Thunderbirds

Southern Utah's offense has been at its season best during the last three matches, scoring at least 40 kills in each outing for the first time this season, including a season-second-best 57 kills against Montana State on Saturday. Against the Bobcats, the Thunderbirds attacked efficiently, hitting better than .240 in three of the four sets.  Thunderbirds hitters will be up for a challenge on Thursday as the Eagles have held opponents to a sub-.200 hitting percentage on the season and average 2.7 blocks per set as a team.

Audrey Atwood has been the spark for the Thunderbirds on offense lately with double-digit kills in two of her last three matches while averaging over 2.5 kills per set in conference play and hitting .295 across both matches played last week. Emilia Zug has also found her offensive groove with at least 11 kills in three consecutive performances. Freshman setter Talea Berry has become a consistent facilitator for Southern Utah's offense with 20+ assists in each of her last three outings.

Defensively, Southern Utah continues to make opponents fight for every point as the Thunderbirds now have 5+ blocks and 40+ digs in each of their last four outings. Across that same period of time Southern Utah has held opponents to a sub-.210 hitting percentage in three matches, with Montana State being the lone team to break that pattern. Southern Utah's defense will have a big opportunity to put its mark on this match as it faces an Eastern Washington offense that hasn't hit .200 or above in nearly a month since defeating Weber State on Sept. 24.

Natalie Moore has been Southern Utah's best defensive player at the net all season as the junior middle blocker leads the team with 49 total blocks and has multiple rejections in each of her last four matches played, including four total blocks against Montana State. Emilia Linden is also shining at the net on defense with multiple blocks in eight of her last nine outings. Defense on the back line is much more of a team affair for the Thunderbirds as six different players each average at least one dig per set, led by Zorana Stankovska's 2.15.
 

Looking at the Eagles

Eastern Washington started Big Sky play by winning two of its first three matches, but has since lost five in a row to now sit at 2-6 in conference matches and 8-12 overall. Though the Eagles come into Thursday's match hitting just .136 as a team in conference play, a formidable net front defense keeps them competitive in matches with double-digit blocks as a team in four of the team's last six performances.

Series History

The Thunderbirds have played the Eagles 18 times since 2011, with Eastern Washington holding a 10-8 series lead overall. The two squads last met in 2023 in Bakersfield, Calif. where Southern Utah clawed out a 3-2 win (25-19, 23-25, 25-17, 24-26, 15-7). Southern Utah is 5-4 all-time against Eastern Washington when playing in Cedar City.

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