MACOMB, Ill. - After two solid weeks of preseason practice, the Western Illinois volleyball team will finally play its first matches of the 2010 season this weekend when the Fighting Leathernecks travel to Peoria, Ill. to play in the Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational, hosted by Bradley.
Western starts the four-team tournament Friday (Aug. 27) with a 7 p.m. match against the host Braves. The Leathernecks resume play with a 9:30 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 28) matchup against Southeast Missouri State before ending their tournament stay with a 4:30 p.m. match against South Carolina-Upstate.
Ninth-year head coach Kym McKay knows her squad is anxious to matchup against a different opponent for the first time since a late spring tournament at Quincy University.
"It is exciting to finally play," McKay said. "We are ready to put everything together and evaluate our hard work. A lot of sweat has been put into this preseason and we are eager to see it all come together. We have been highly competitive amongst ourselves and it will be nice to direct it toward an opposing school."
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Looking at the Leathernecks
With six juniors and five starters returning from last season, Western Illinois brings an experienced and talented squad into the 2010 season.
Leading the Leatherneck attack will be senior setter Ellen Miller, who is one year removed from recording the fourth-highest single season assist total in program history (1,134). In her first season as setter, the Chicago, Ill. native also led Western in digs (377) and recorded double-doubles (assists-digs) in 21-of-31 matches, including a streak of 11 consecutive double-doubles to end the season.
Junior middle hitter Cait Egan looks to build off an impressive 2009 season that saw her lead the Leathernecks in both kills (351) and blocks (67). Miller's main target last season, Egan recorded the ninth-highest single-season kills total in program history. Also joining in the Leathernecks attack this season will be sophomore Kate Hosteng and juniors Allison Gilbert, Krissy Bergquist, Megan Toczek and Brooke Stittleburg.
"I am looking forward to seeing the returners transfer the growth that they have shown in practice over to a match," McKay said. "The captains have done a wonderful job of establishing expectations and standards for the team. We have great focus this year and everybody is ready to tackle the challenges that competition brings."
Scouting the Braves
Western Illinois will be apart of history Friday night as the Leathernecks will be first opponent inside Bradley's new athletic event facility, Bradley University Arena. Western's tournament opener against Bradley marks the eight meeting during McKay's tenure as head coach. Bradley returns four starters and five of their top six attackers from last year's squad that dropped a 3-2 decision to the Leathernecks on Sept. 15 in Peoria. Joining 2009 top attackers Megan Schmidt (201 kills) and Annie Cave (200 kills) will be Jennifer Sykes, a sophomore transfer and a junior college All-American setter from Parkland College.
"As a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, Bradley has a physical style of play," McKay said. "They have a handful of returning attackers who take strong and powerful swings. (Head Coach) Sean Burdette has merged a solid group of returners with a very good recruiting class and I anticipate they will be a solid team in the first weekend of play. The first match of the year is always interesting as there are many variables that can go into it."
Scouting the Redhawks
Southeast Missouri State got off to one of the best starts in program history in 2009, but the Redhawks were plagued by injuries and struggled to make the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. The Redhawks return senior middle blocker Emily Hughes (3.01 kps, 0.69 bps) and senior outside hitter Claire Keaton (1.55 kps, 2.71 dps) and welcome seven newcomers. Saturday's match will be the seventh meeting between the two schools, with SEMO holding a 5-1 series advantage. In the last meeting, the Redhawks rallied from a 2-0 deficit to knock off the Leathernecks, 3-2, in the 2008 Saluki Invitational.
"SEMO's hitters are smart and will pressure opposing defenses," McKay said. "We will need to be agile and athletic on defense. With SEMO having seven new players, they may have to mix up their lineups more to see what works. We will need to focus on making adjustments quickly if we are up against various lineups."
Scouting the Spartans
Saturday's tournament finale will mark the first time Western Illinois has ever faced Atlantic Sun Conference member USC-Upstate. The Spartans are coached by Aviston, Ill. native Jennifer Calloway, who is in her 15th season at the helm of the Spartans program. USC-Upstate, who moved up to Division I in 2007, missed postseason action last season but saw setter Emily Sanders and outside hitter Mindy Quimby earn A-Sun All-Freshman Team honors. Juniors Morgan Thomas and Kelsey Queen combined for 4.49 kills per set last season and return to lead the Spartan offensive attack.
"The transition up to Division I comes with a lot of obstacles to overcome and USC-Upstate has a lot of solid pieces of the puzzle," McKay said. "I expect them to be competitive this weekend and stronger than they were last year."
