JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven Blazers officially begin the American Southwest Conference season schedule when the Green and Gold travels to Marshall, Texas on Friday for its match against East Texas Baptist University. The match is set for a 6 p.m. start in Ornelas Gym.

Following Belhaven's match with East Texas Baptist, the Blazers will make the short drive down Interstate 20 from Marshall to take on LeTourneau University in Longview. The match is set for a 2 p.m. start in Solheim Arena on Saturday.

The Blazers are 6-3 on the season and are coming off a 2-2 weekend in the co-hosted Belhaven-Millsaps Invitational. East Texas Baptist is 7-2 on the year, but will play Colorado College on Thursday before facing Belhaven on Friday. LeTourneau is 2-8 on the season, after falling to Texas-Tyler in its ASC opener on Wednesday.

Belhaven is under third year head coach Justin Dee and is 27-44 overall during his tenure in Jackson. Dee, who is 146-126 in his collegiate-coaching career, is just four wins away from reaching 150 in his ninth season overall.

The Blazers have a history with each of the two schools over recent years, with a combined 11 meetings since 2000. However, the Blazers lost to both teams on neutral floors in their last meetings in 2013.

This will be the first time that Belhaven has played either team at their home sites with all but one meeting against each coming at neutral sites and the other in Rugg Arena.

This weekend's matches will be the first two of 15 games against opponents from the state of Texas. Belhaven is 24-31 overall against teams from Texas in program history.

Senior outside hitter Chae Levy reached a milestone in last Saturday's night's match at Millsaps College. With her final kill in the match, Levy collected her 300th kill as a Blazers. Levy has 76 kills through nine matches this season, leading the way for the Blazers. The Waveland, Mississippi native is well on pace to break her previous season best of 143 kills from last season. 

As a freshman, Levy had 23 kills and she followed it up with 58 as a sophomore, bringing her total to 224 kills through the first three seasons. Levy is hitting at a .215 clip in 2015 and the Bay High School product had 50 kills over the Belhaven-Millsaps Invitational. She has also been a part of 19 blocks this season.

Sophomore Kelly Aholt has taken the setting role for the Blazers and made it her own this season. After splitting time with senior Aly Plyer last year, Aholt has handled the majority of the setting duties through nine games. Against Dillard this past weekend, Aholt had her career high in sets with 39. She also had 37 against Millsaps in the final match of the weekend, bringing her total to 239 assists for the season. 

Freshman Lauren Whiting has made a big impact through her first nine games as a Blazer. The Southaven, Mississippi native and Northpoint Christian School product has compiled 68 kills, averaging 2.19 kills per set this season at a .163 attacking percentage clip.

Senior Cassidy Fitzpatrick set a career high for digs in a match this past weekend, as the libero recorded 24 digs at Millsaps. Her previous high was 21 set earlier this season. Fitzpatrick has 139 digs this season. Last year, she finished with 184 on the season. Fitzpatrick also matched her career high for service aces in a game, recording six against Philander Smith on Saturday.

Jackie Gunderson has played all over for Belhaven this season. On the back line, Gunderson is second on the team with 109 digs. Gunderson also has 30 kills on the year and has assisted on two blocks.

Following the weekend, the Blazers will return to Rugg Arena for a single match against rival Millsaps College. The match is set for a 7 p.m. start on Tuesday, Sept. 22.