MACOMB, Ill. - Finished with the home portion of the 2011 schedule, the Western Illinois volleyball team steps out of conference play Tuesday night (Nov. 1) to play at Chicago State.

Western (11-15) concluded its home slate over the weekend with five-set losses to South Dakota and UMKC. The Fighting Leathernecks look to sweep their season series with the Cougars (1-24) for the seventh consecutive time.

THE MATCHUP
Who: Western Illinois at Chicago State
When: Tuesday, Nov. 1 • 7 p.m. CT
Location: Chicago, Ill. • Dickens Center
Series History: WIU leads 31-4
Last Meeting: Sept. 13, 2011 (@WIU 3, CSU 0)

SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE

Chicago State (1-24) is a member of the Great West Conference and lost to Youngstown State in four sets at home Saturday night. The Cougars are under the guidance of second-year head coach Bob Eskew, who spent 22 seasons as head volleyball coach at Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights, Ill. They are led by senior Mazvita Maziveyi (2.15 kills per set), senior Alexandra Mason (2.02 kps and 58 total blocks), and sophomore Mysta Townsell (4.21 digs per set).

SERIES HISTORY

Tuesday's matchup will mark the 36th meeting between the two schools in a series that began in 1978. Western leads the all-time series between the two programs 31-4. The Leathernecks and Cougars played each other twice a year from 1994 to 2008 and Western Illinois has won 13 straight in the series. Western collected a 3-2 road win the last time the programs met in Chicago on Nov. 1, 2010. Krissy Bergquist (15 kills), Brooke Stittleburg (15 kills), Cait Egan (14 kills) and Alyssa Holum (career-high 42 assists) led the Leathernecks in that matchup.

The two squads met earlier this season in Macomb for Western's home opener on Sept. 13. In that matchup, Western had three players record double-digit kills and hit .304 as a squad in a sweep. Cait Egan put down 15 kills on 31 attempts while freshmen Ann Miller (13 kills and 18 digs) and Samantha Fournier (13 kills and three block assists) played strong in their home debuts.

EGAN PASSES ELLEFRITZ

Senior Cait Egan put down 20 kills over the weekend and achieved yet another career milestone. Egan, one of nine Leathernecks in the 1,000 Kills Club, owns 1,046 career kills and moved past Western Illinois Hall of Famer Diane Ellefritz (1987-91) into eighth place on the program's all-time list.

Egan also collected five blocks over the weekend and owns 344 career total blocks, which ranks fourth best in program history. She currently sits seventh in The Summit League with a .256 attack percentage.

BRIDGET MURPHY MOVES UP IN RECORD BOOK

Junior Bridget Murphy compiled 67 digs over the weekend and eclipsed the 1,200 career dig mark in the process. Murphy had 34 digs against South Dakota Friday and then 33 more versus UMKC Saturday. She also passed Michele Aulig (1985-89) and Sue Rossman (1985-89) to move into fifth place all-time in program history with 1,208 career digs. 

Murphy owns four 30-plus dig performances this season and currently ranks first in The Summit League with 6.04 digs per set. Murphy sits fourth in the national rankings and is helping the Western Illinois defense rank fourth in the nation with 18.80 digs per set. 

The only other Fighting Leatherneck to average over 6.00 digs per set in a single-season is Jennifer Alexander in 2004. Murphy has earned two tournament MVP honors and the Summit League's Defensive Player of the Week (Aug. 29) so far this season.

MOLLY MURPHY BAFFLES WITH SERVE

Freshman Molly Murphy collected five service aces over the weekend to raise her conference-leading total to 40 aces. She had four aces against South Dakota, including three during a 7-0 run in the fourth set. Against UMKC, Murphy compiled 15 digs for her tenth double-digit effort of the season.

Murphy ranks first in The Summit League and 42nd in the nation with 0.41 aces per set. She is second on the squad with 3.26 digs per set during conference play.

FETTER SHINES AT SETTER

Sophomore Sarah Fetter collected her seventh double-double of the season against South Dakota with 38 assists and 18 digs. The last Leatherneck double-double was two weeks ago when Ann Miller picked one up at South Dakota State (Oct. 14). 

Fetter also collected four more blocks over the weekend and has 11 total blocks over the last 20 sets after compiling 13 through the first 68 sets played this season. Fetter ranks seventh in The Summit League with 9.57 assists per set.

SMITH SETS CAREER HIGH

Sophomore Heather Smith came off the bench against South Dakota to set career highs with 10 kills, 43 attempts and three blocks. Over the last four matches, Smith is averaging 2.07 kills per set after averaging less than one kill per set over the first 22 contests of the season.

HOSTENG STEPS IT UP IN CONFERENCE PLAY

Junior Katie Hosteng led the Leatherneck offense with 12 kills against South Dakota. It was Hosteng's sixth double-digit kill performance of conference play as she leads the squad with 2.74 kills per set in Summit League action.

STITTLEBURG BACK IN DOUBLE-DOUBLE FORM

Senior Brooke Stittleburg recorded 16 kills and a season-high 23 digs against UMKC. It is her first double-double of the 2011 campaign after a team-high seven last season.