INDIANA, Pa. – With playoff possibilities ahead, the IUP women's volleyball team hits the road this weekend for a pair of matches. The Crimson Hawks will play at Cal U Friday night at 6 p.m. and at Slippery Rock Saturday at 1 p.m. 

Winners of three straight and four of their last five, the Crimson Hawks enter the weekend just one game back of Cal U in the divisional standings for the fourth and final tournament spot from the PSAC West. IUP is 15-13 overall and 5-7 in divisional play. The Vulcans are coming off back-to-back wins and are 11-10 overall and 6-6 in the division. Slippery Rock is 5-21 and 1-11. 

This weekend is the start of the last four matches of the regular season. IUP will host Pitt-Johnstown next Tuesday and play at Clarion on Friday. 

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Last time out
>> The Crimson Hawks defeated Salem in three sets Tuesday night on the road. All 16 Hawks who played saw the scoring column. 
>> IUP had a big home weekend, ending the win streaks of both Mercyhurst and division-leading Edinboro at the KCAC. 
>> Nicole Peterson had 18 kills in the four-set win over Mercyhurst and totaled 29 for the weekend. Brooke Little had 22 combined kills in the two wins.

Notes
>> IUP has won three of its last four in the division to work its way into the PSAC tournament discussion. There are currently seven teams vying for four playoff spots as no team has clinched. Records of contending teams range from Edinboro's 10-2 divisional record to IUP and Pitt-Johnstown's 5-7 marks.
>> IUP's four remaining opponents have combined divisional records of 21-27, although the Hawks went 1-3 against those teams in their first meetings earlier this season.
>> The Hawks defeated Slippery Rock in three sets back on October 8 but fell to Cal U in four sets the following afternoon. 
>> IUP hopes to continue its recent success on offense, hitting over .220 three times in the last five outings. The Hawks' .189 hitting percentage is sixth in the PSAC.
>> Junior middle Caroline Walsh is IUP's most consistent offensive threat as her .317 hitting percentage tied or third in the conference. She's third on the team with 175 kills and fourth with 1.79 kills per set.
>> IUP's leading scorer Nicole Peterson has increased her production over the last few weeks, averaging 3.67 kills per set in her last five matches. Peterson had 18 kills against Mercyhurst, 16 against Seton Hill, and 11 with a .500 hitting percentage against Edinboro. 
>> Leah Henderson has been one of the hottest setters of late, averaging 10.6 assists per set over the last five matches. She tied a season-high with 49 assists in four sets against Seton Hill.