Vikings hope to shoot Eagles out of Big Sky

After last week’s long two-game road trip, the women’s volleyball team prepares for the Eastern Washington Eagles to glide into the Park Blocks tonight for a decisive matchup that is likely to determine how the Big Sky Conference standings look at the end of the season.

Tonight’s is the only game on the slate this week, and with the conference title hanging in the balance, it has all the pieces to be an exciting match between two of the best teams in conference this year. With over a week’s rest before their next games, you can expect the first-place Vikings and third-place Eagles to leave it all on the court.

“The first thing I said on Monday was I think it was dangerous to think that because we beat them up there [in Cheney, Wash.], that this was going to be an easier match,” head coach Michael Seemann said. “Let’s face it, we’re fighting for a conference championship and seeding in the tournament.”

The Vikings (16-7 overall, 10-2 in conference) have been firing on all cylinders offensively, and they have a chance to sweep the series with Eastern Washington (15-8 overall, 9-3 in conference) tonight. They have been getting outstanding play from every position and, last week, senior outside hitter Marija Vojnovic became the latest on the Viks’ squad to earn Big Sky Player of the Week honors.

With the Eagles and Vikings first and second in team blocking, respectively, the key matchups to watch for will be the play along the net on both sides. Look for junior middle Lana Zielke and senior middle Erica Jepsen, who are both playing outstanding volleyball, to get going early and try to apply pressure to Eastern’s defense.

“I think Eastern’s danger comes from their middles,” Seemann said. “When they’re in system and they’re doing that [hitting], they are difficult to defend.”

As always, you can expect senior setter Nique Fradella and junior outside hitter Whitney Phillips to contribute offensively and defensively as well.

With the last six match wins distributed evenly between the teams, 3-3, tonight can be either team’s game, and neither has a psychological advantage over the other. If the Vikings come away with a win, they will put themselves squarely in the driver’s seat for the conference title and the top seed in the postseason tournament.