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Setting the Scene
- SWOSU Volleyball (9-13, 5-2 GAC) faces its toughest conference stretch of the season this weekend, taking on the top-two teams in conference on back-to-back days in Arkansas
- Friday night, the Dawgs will be in Russellville, Arkansas to take on the No. 16 team in the nation, an undefeated Arkansas Tech squad
- Saturday afternoon, SWOSU travels to Searcy, Arkansas to play Harding whose only conference loss so far this season has come from Arkansas Tech
-After their 3-0 sweeping of Southwestern Christian on Tuesday in non-conference action, the Bulldogs have won three-straight coming into the weekend and five out of their last six

The Opponents
#16 Arkansas Tech (22-0, 7-0 GAC)
- ATU just set the Great American Conference record for most consecutive wins with 22 after beating a pair of non-conference foes on Tuesday
- They have only dropped six sets all season and gone five sets only once which came against No. 15 Central Missouri
- The Golden Suns lead the GAC in hitting percentage at .298 while also holding conference opponents to a league-low .085 hitting percentage on defense

Harding (17-3, 6-1 GAC)
- Has a notable win over No. 23 Washburn, but was also swept in straight sets by No. 15 Central Missouri
- The Bisons have lost three games all season, but are coming off of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Arkansas-Fort Smith during their midweek contest
- Zoe Hardin has been a force at the net for HU with a league-leading 90.0 blocks (70 assisted, 20 solo) in 69 sets (1.30/set)

Checking The Standings 
(School.. overall record, conference record)
#16 Arkansas Tech.. 22-0, 7-0
Harding.. 17-3, 6-1
Oklahoma Baptist.. 11-9, 6-1
Northwestern.. 15-5, 5-1
SWOSU.. 9-13, 5-2 
Southern Nazarene.. 9-9, 4-2
Ouachita.. 10-8, 3-4
Henderson State.. 10-10, 3-4
Arkansas-Monticello.. 7-12, 1-6
Southeastern.. 5-16, 1-6
Southern Arkansas.. 6-15, 0-7
East Central.. 4-16, 0-7

SWOSU Notes
- The Bulldogs had success against ATU and HU last season, going 3-0 against the pair which included a 3-1 victory over the Golden Suns at the GAC Postseason Tournament
- SWOSU has now won four-consecutive GAC matches dating back to September 26 and sits fifth in the league standings
- This weekend's road trip will be the last time this season SWOSU plays multiple games in a row away from Weatherford until the regular season ends, with six home games and two road games left on the schedule
- Tuesday's 3-0 sweep over SCU was the Dawgs third 3-0 victory of the season and second-straight after also downing Arkansas-Monticello 3-0 over the weekend
- DeLayni Fine led SWOSU in scoring against the Eagles, with 13 kills and only three errors (.303)
- Kodee Avery posted a team-best three blocks, while also collecting 33 assists
- Fine (2.67/set) and Danusia Sipa Borgeaud (2.42/set) are heading the Bulldog attack, both averaging greater than two kills per set on the year  

Looking Ahead
- A four-game homestand brings SWOSU back to Weatherford, with a non-conference game against USAO on Oct. 16 and three GAC matches the next week and a half after
- Up next: USAO (Oct. 16, 7 pm), Ouachita (Oct. 20, 6 pm), Henderson State (Oct. 21, 1 pm), Southeastern (Oct. 26, 7 pm)