With its post season chances on the line, Marshall University’s volleyball team (15-12, 6-8) faces Western Kentucky University (26-3, 13-1) Thursday in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Marshall head coach Mitch Jacobs said Thursday’s game will likely determine if his team, which has lost four straight games, receives a spot in the Conference USA Volleyball Championships, which begins Nov. 20.

“It’s late in the season, and we’ve been struggling a little bit,” Jacobs said. “Obviously, we just kind of got to clear our minds and play some volleyball. Certainly, this team knows that they’d be the first Marshall team since we’ve been here to qualify for a post season conference tournament.”

Jacobs said the Herd will have to play a near perfect game to beat the Hilltoppers, which sits at first place in the conference.

Marshall lost to Western Kentucky 3-1 Sept. 23 in its home opener.

“If there’s any reason the ‘volleyball gods’ would want to shine on us, and we play our finest night, then we hold all the tie-breakers and qualify for the tournament,” Jacobs said.

Marshall freshmen Lauren Mattmuller said if the team plays hard and with heart, she thinks the Herd can give the HIlltoppers a tough game.

“It’s a really big game,” Mattmuller said. “They’re going to be hard competition. Our game against Rice was tough, especially since we know we didn’t go out there and perform the way we wanted to. But it’ll definitely put some motivation in us. We’re working on rotations in practice and working with playing with heart.”

Thursday’s game begins 7 p.m. at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Imani Spradley can be contacted at [email protected].