Blue Raiders Prepared for Weekend Play

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee will look to extend its win streak over the weekend as it plays host to Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State.

The Blue Raiders are 17-1 on the season and 4-0 in conference play. The team is receiving national recognition and is currently 26th in the CSTV/AVCA Top-25 Poll.

Sophomore Leslie Clark is first in the nation in assists as she averages 14.31 assists per game with 773 total assists.

"We can't take anyone for granted. We have to approach every match as though it is for the conference championship which it kind of is. We would really like to be the number one seed going into the conference tournament," head coach Matt Peck said.

UALR is leading the West Division of the conference with a 4-1 league record and a 12-5 overall record. The Trojans are on a three-game win streak after beating the three Louisiana schools 3-0 last weekend.

"Little Rock is playing better. They are a tall team; the one senior is a 6-5 middle and right side player. She is a big block and has been there all four years I have been here," Peck said. "They are a very experienced team as far as they have a lot of international players who have played at a very high level. I think that will be a very good match on Friday."

Arkansas State will play Western Kentucky before facing the Blue Raiders but enters weekend play with a 6-11 overall record and a 2-3 Sun Belt conference record. The Indians rounded out last weekend 2-1 with wins over Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe.

"Arkansas State has had a lot of injuries and has a lot of young player that I think the coach did not think would be playing," Peck said "They have had some issues but they are a well coached team. They are a very athletic team with a lot of new players."

Web streaming of Friday's match with the Trojans will be available on www.goblueraiders.com. Sunday's match will be broadcast on www.goblueraiders.com. Friday's match with UALR will begin at 7 p.m. in Alumni Memorial Gym. On Sunday the Blue Raiders will face Arkansas State at 1 p.m. Admission to all home volleyball matches is free.

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