Kingsville - After four straight matches on the road, the Kingsville volleyball team returns home for a pair of home matchups with tough in-conference foes this weekend.

TAMUK's two opponents, UT Tyler and Dallas Baptist, have three combined conference losses entering the weekend, and both are currently ranked in the top six of the LSC standings. No.9 West Texas A&M, who is undefeated in conference play, accounts for two of UTT and DBU's three losses.

The Javelinas will be looking to right the ship after their four-match road trip began with three straight losses. The team fell to Lubbock Christian and Angleo State in seven combined sets two weeks ago, before taking Oklahoma Christian to five sets and ending the trip on a high note with a sweep of Cameron.

Despite those losses, a number of Javelinas are playing incredible volleyball, lead by senior middle blocker Ayanna Jackson, who has followed up her All-American junior year with a stellar start to her final year in a Javelina uniform. Jackson ranks seventh in the country - and leads the Lone Star Conference - in hitting percentage with an outstanding .425. Her 1.14 blocks per set are the second most in the conference.

Behind Jackson, sophomore MB Natalee Rush ranks among the best in the conference in just the same categories, with a .308 average hitting percentage (15th) and .91 blocks/s (9th). In the back row, sophomore libero Isabel Rodriguez has climbed into the 11th spot in the LSC in digs per set with a 3.88 average. Offensively, even though the team rotates setters in a 6-2, junior setter Elisa Carli still averages the 15th most assists (5.25/s) and the 11th most service aces (.35/s) in the conference.

The weekend will start Friday night at 6pm, when TAMUK faces off with a familiar foe, UT Tyler. The two teams have already clashed in Kingsville this season, though it came as part of the 'LSC Volleyball Challenge' and did not count toward either team's conference record. The Javelinas won in four hard-fought sets.

In the eight matches since conference play has begun, UTT has become a wrecking ball - its only loss coming at the hands of conference-leading West Texas. In those eight matches, they lead the LSC in assists/s (15.07), opponent kills/s (10.97), and kills/s (15.69). They also rank second in opponent assists/s (10.38), points/s (18.93), and service aces/s (1.83)

Individually, Junior Kota Hartman has elevated herself as one of the best outside hitters in the conference, averaging the fifth-most kills in the LSC with 3.68/s. On the other side of the ball, fellow junior, defensive specialist Emma Vasquez's .46 service aces per set are the most in the conference, she also ranks in the top 40 in digs/s.

Saturday's match will start at 2 p.m. and will again feature one of the conference's highest-ranked teams. DBU spent time in the top 25 of the American Volleyball Coaches Association's D2 poll before dropping out this week following a three-set loss to West Texas A&M.

Like TAMUK's Friday foe, the Patriots have stepped up since the beginning of conference play. In those eight matches, they lead the conference in fewest opponent assists/s (10.29), fewest opponent digs/s (11.96), and most service aces/s (1.96). They also rank second in the LSC in fewest opponent kills/s (11.54), and hitting percentage (.311).

On a veteran-laden squad, fifth-year Delaney Fuller, an Angelo St. transfer, averages the eighth-most kills/s (4.44) in the nation - she also ranks ninth in the LSC in service aces/s (.37). Fellow fifth-year, DS Daylee Doggett averages 4.65 digs/s, the fourth most in the conference, while senior Aryn Walton has proved herself one of the best setters in the Lone Star, averaging the fifth-most assists/s (10.35), and the fourth-most service aces (.41) in the conference. Senior MB Shaylee Shore's 121 kills on the season have come on .391 hitting percentage, the second best mark in the LSC

Both of the weekend's matches will be streamed live on FloSports.