Matador volleyball heads to Eastern Arizona

(12) Arizona Western at Eastern Arizona

Time: 7 p.m. today, Thatcher

Last game: Matadors beat Mt. San Jacinto 25-10, 25-10; Gila Monsters lost to Central Arizona 25-18, 25-22, 25-23

Records: AWC (12-3 overall, 5-1 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference); Eastern Arizona: (10-9 overall, 6-3 ACCAC)

Players to watch: Paula Rosa has been one of the leaders for the Matadors' attack this season. In their last match, Rosa led the way with a team-high 10 kills. ... The Gila Monsters return last season's ACCAC Player of the Year, opposite hitter Tupu Satele.

The lowdown: In the first meeting against the Gila Monsters this season, the Matadors went to Thatcher and came out with a 20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21 victory, which must have been nice payback from the 2011 Region I Finals in which Eastern Arizona swept Arizona Western. ... It has been awhile since the Matadors have taken the court — their last match coming on Sept. 22 in the San Diego Community College Volleyball Classic. It will be the first conference match for the Matadors in 19 days. ... In the Division I standings, Arizona Western is in second place with a 5-1 record while Eastern Arizona is in third at 6-3. ... Eastern Arizona's six-year streak of winning at least 20 matches could be in danger with 10 regular season matches left to go.

— Jesse Severson