The Ashland University volleyball team will play its final two home conference matches of the season this weekend when Wayne State and Grand Valley State pay visits to Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles (13-9, 6-5 GLIAC) have won 23 straight home matches, the sixth-longest streak in the country.
Ashland will look to continue that mark this weekend with a pair of quality teams coming in. The Warriors (13-9, 8-3 GLIAC) and Eagles will match up at 7 p.m. Friday (Oct. 27) on Senior Night while the Lakers (12-10, 7-4 GLIAC) come for match on Saturday (Oct. 28) at 2 p.m. for Parents Day.
On their road trip to GVSU and WSU earlier this season, the Eagles dropped both matches. While AU is 9-0 on its home floor this season, it is 4-9 away from Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles are coming off a pair of home wins, including a thrilling comeback, five-set triumph over then-No. 17 Ferris State last Friday (Oct. 20). AU followed that up with a sweep of Northwood the following day.
It put the Eagles into a tie for third place with Tiffin in the GLIAC South. The top three teams in each division, plus two wild cards, will qualify for the GLIAC Tournament.
After this weekend's matches, the Eagles will have just three remaining against GLIAC competition and just one more home match in the regular season – a nonconference affair against Findlay.
Sophomore outside hitter Shelby Woycik is coming off her second GLIAC South Player of the Week award of the season after averaging four kills and 3.75 digs per set while hitting .265 in the two matches. Woycik had 19 kills and a career-high 20 digs in the win over Ferris State. This season, she leads the GLIAC in kills (302) and kills per set (3.77). She is also second on the team with 217 digs.
The Eagles have also gotten tremendous production from junior middle Reanne Neal, who has totaled 46 kills (.275), 31 blocks, 27 digs and 12 aces in five matches over the last two weeks. She ranks second in the GLIAC in aces per set (0.40) and third blocks per set (1.16).
After this weekend, the Eagles will hit the road for a pair of matches at Purdue Northwest and Davenport.
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