HARROGATE, Tenn. – Junior libero Erica Whiteaker looks to break the program's single-season record for digs this weekend when Lincoln Memorial (11-11, 6-8 SAC) hits the road for South Atlantic Conference matches against Catawba (3-15, 1-13 SAC) and Lenoir-Rhyne (9-9, 5-7 SAC). 
 
The Basics
 
Friday, October 27 at Catawba – 7pm
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Saturday, October 28 at Lenoir-Rhyne – 2pm
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Quick Hits
 
- The Lady Railsplitters saw their three-game SAC winning streak come to an end on Tuesday in a five-set loss to Carson-Newman. An accumulation of mistakes ultimately cost Lincoln Memorial, who amassed 31 attack errors, eight service errors, seven reception errors and six ball-handling errors. The loss was LMU's first against Carson-Newman since 2015.
 
- Freshman right side Alicia Kessler had a monster game in the loss to Carson-Newman, recording a career-high 21 kills on a .295 attack percentage. Kessler combined for 15 kills through the first two sets alone to finish with double-digit kills for the fifth time this season.
 
- Whiteaker racked up 25 digs on Tuesday night to push her SAC-leading total to 566. The Kingston Springs, Tenn. native needs just 21 more scoops to surpass Casey Mense for the single-season program record. Whiteaker ranks fifth in the nation in total digs and third in digs per set.
 
- The Lady Railsplitters are ranked second in the conference and 24th in the nation in blocks per set with 2.28. Opponents are also hitting just .149 against Lincoln Memorial due in large part to the effort of that block and the individual brilliance of Whiteaker. Tone Gill and Danielle Ged lead LMU with 85 and 83 blocks, respectively.
 
- Lincoln Memorial is currently in sixth place in the highly competitive South Atlantic Conference at 6-8. Carson-Newman is immediately in front of the Lady Railsplitters in fifth place at 7-7, while Lenoir-Rhyne is a game behind in seventh place at 5-7.
 
- The Lady Railsplitters are 2-7 on the road this season compared to a 7-4 mark within the friendly confines of Mary Mars Gymnasium. LMU is averaging a full kill less per set on the road with 11.34 and hit just .133 compared to a .216 mark at home.
 
Know the Opponents
 
- Catawba suffered its 13th consecutive loss on Tuesday with a 3-0 setback against Lenoir-Rhyne. During their 13-game losing streak, which dates back to September 16, the Indians have dropped eight straight-set decisions.
 
- In Tuesday's loss to Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba hit a dreadful .080 with an average of seven attack errors per set. Micah Ensor led the team with eight kills but also committed six errors. She was the only Indian with more than six kills.
 
- Catawba ranks last in the conference in kills per set, hitting percentage, assists per set and blocks. The Indians are also allowing opponents to hit .190, which is the second-highest opponent attack percentage in the SAC.
 
- Macy Eidenberger and Allie Grubb lead the Catawba attack with 1.94 kills per set, while Kimberly Hurtado is putting down 1.92 kills per set. Jade Brooks is contributing 1.86 kills per set. Rachel Stanford is leading the way with 6.14 assists per frame, while Allison Benton has produced 5.38 digs per set.
 
- Catawba is an incredibly young team as four of its top five players in terms of total kills are underclassmen.
 
- Two of the Indians' three wins this season have come at home. However, Catawba has lost eight consecutive home matches after opening the season with wins over Montevallo and Chowan.
 
- Lenoir-Rhyne has had an up-and-down season. The Bears opened the year by winning seven of its first nine matches before enduring a six-game losing streak. L-R has righted the ship a bit by winning two of the last three, including Tuesday's triumph over Catawba.
 
- The Bears have been inconsistent on the offensive end, averaging 11.73 kills per set on a .171 attack percentage in SAC play. However, Lenoir-Rhyne leads the SAC and ranks fifth nationally in blocks per set with 2.66. Due to that, the Bears are allowing opponents to hit just .164 this season.
 
- Senior outside hitter Brooke Redmond is one of the most productive players in the conference, averaging 3.05 kills per set on a .198 attack percentage to go along with 3.29 digs per frame. She is backed by freshman Taylor Prall's 2.85 kills per set on a .217 attack percentage.
 
- Sophomore middle Jaclyn Denny paces the Bears with a SAC-leading 1.18 blocks per set. She is also contributing 1.29 kills per set on a team-best .268 attack percentage.
 
- The setting position has been a revolving door for the Bears, who have had three players record at least 150 assists. Sophomore Anna Smith leads the team with 224 assists and 5.33 per set. Jessica Funk has added 158 with 5.27 per set.
 
- Lenoir-Rhyne is 4-3 in Hickory this season compared to 3-5 on the road.
 
Head-to-Head
 
- The Lady Railsplitters beat Catawba in four sets in the first meeting between the two teams this season on September 22 at Mary Mars Gym. That win pushed Lincoln Memorial to 15-12 in the all-time series, including an 11-2 mark in the last 13 matchups.
 
- Kiera Holland powered that win over Catawba with 13 kills, 13 digs and seven block assists, while Rylee Storms had 11 kills and five blocks. Grubb led the Catawba attack with a match-high 14 kills, while no other Indian had more than six kills.
 
- Lenoir-Rhyne improved to 14-12 all-time against Lincoln Memorial with a 3-1 win at Mary Mars Gym on September 23. The loss dropped the Lady Railsplitters to 2-8 in the last 10 meetings against the Bears. Lincoln Memorial is 4-8 all-time against L-R in Hickory.
 
- In the first meeting of the season, Lenoir-Rhyne racked up 60 kills and hit .267 to pull out a 23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-18 victory. Four players had double-digit kills for the Bears, led by 14 from Redmond. Holland led the LMU attack with 17 kills.