INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University volleyball team (20-3, 7-2 MEC) will play three home matches this week. They start the week off with Concord (3-19, 0-9 MEC) on Tuesday night, followed by Fairmont State (22-2, 8-1 MEC) on Friday night, and end it with Frostburg State (15-10, 3-6 MEC) on Saturday afternoon. The Concord and Fairmont games are scheduled for 7 p.m. while the Frostburg match is set for an 11 a.m. start.

THE BUZZ AT STATE

The Yellow Jackets currently sit in second place in the Mountain East Conference South Division standings. WVSU was undefeated in league play until suffering defeats to West Liberty and Wheeling in five and four sets, respectively, last week. Charleston leaped State in the South Division standings by defeating both the Cardinals and the Hilltoppers in four sets last week.

The Yellow Jackets boast the second-highest hitting percentage (.256), kills per set average (13.62), and assists per set average (12.43) in the MEC. Additionally, WVSU holds opponents to a league-low .100 hitting percentage, 9.41 kills per set, 0.99 service aces per set, and 12.23 digs per set. 

Junior middle hitter Diamond'Nique Young ranks in the top 10 in the conference in multiple statistical categories including hitting percentage (1st), kills (6th), blocks (8th), and points (7th). Her .410 hitting percentage is 11th-best in all of NCAA Division II. Meanwhile, junior setter Kiersten Eggleton is ranked fourth in the nation in triple-doubles with three on the season.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN LIONS

Concord has yet to win a match against a MEC opponent this season and are in last place in the South Division. Teams average a .246 hitting percentage against CU and 2.46 service aces per set which are both the worst marks in the league. The Mountain Lions also average less assists (8.78 per set) and kills (9.74 per set) than any other team in the conference.

Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Steele is undoubtedly their best player with a team-high 303.5 points including 256 kills, 31 service aces, and 26 total blocks. Freshman setter Kenzee Chaffin lobs the ball up to her often with 583 assists to her name so far.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS

Fairmont is one of the better teams in the MEC this year and ranked second in the North Division. The Falcons only loss in league play going into the week was against Wheeling on Sept. 20th. FSU averages the third-most kills per set (13.23) and second-most blocks per set (2.55) in the conference. 
  
Fairmont's Emma Ludwig and Amelia Moore both have over 90 total blocks on the year. Libero Bryce Knapp has 397 digs to lead her team. Four different players have surpassed or are nearing 200 points on the squad. Right-side hitter Nyla Birch is one of the Falcons' most versatile players with 214 kills and 70 total blocks before the start of the week.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS

Frostburg is in second-to-last place in the North Division with a 3-6 record in league play. The Bobcats' wins came against Alderson Broaddus, Concord, and West Virginia Wesleyan. None of those teams have won more than two games against in-conference competition.

Outside hitter Beverly Braun leads the MEC in kills with 345 on the season. Her season total in kills is made more impressive by the fact that her team has struggled of late. She has two setters to feed her the ball in Hayley Delor and Edwyna Lainez with 545 and 217 assists, respectively.