Weekly Match Notes (.pdf)

MACOMB - Western Illinois looks to win its second tournament championship in as many weeks when the Fighting Leathernecks travel to Terre Haute, Ind. for the Drury Inn/ASICS Challenge hosted by Indiana State. Western will play three matches over two days starting with a 9 a.m. matchup with SIU-Edwardsville on Saturday (Sept. 3).

Western Illinois, who also takes on Indiana State and Savannah State this weekend, most recently dropped a 3-1 decision at Illinois-Chicago (UIC) Tuesday night. The Fighting Leathernecks (3-2) convincingly won the first set but struggled offensively for the remainder of the match.

THE MATCHUPS
Who: Western Illinois vs. SIU-Edwardsville
When: Saturday, Sept. 3 • 9 a.m. CST
Location: Terre Haute, Ind. • ISU Arena
Series History: WIU leads 3-2
Last Meeting: Aug. 26, 2011 (at SIUE 3, WIU 2)
Live Stats: HERE
Twitter: HERE

Who: Western Illinois at Indiana State
When: Saturday, Sept. 3 • 6 p.m. CST
Location: Terre Haute, Ind. • ISU Arena
Series History: WIU leads 13-11
Last Meeting: Aug. 30, 2008 (ISU 3, WIU 2 at Morehead State Tournament)
Live Stats: HERE
Twitter: HERE

Who: Western Illinois vs. Savannah State
When: Sunday, Sept. 4 • 10 a.m. CST
Location: Terre Haute, Ind. • ISU Arena
Series History: First meeting
Live Stats: HERE
Twitter: HERE

SCOUTING THE FIELD
SIU-Edwardsville is 2-3 overall under the guidance of first-year head coach Leah Johnson. The Cougars, picked to finish last in the OVC this season, are led by freshman outside hitter Emma Anderson (2.78 kills per set), junior setter Sammi Minton (10.71 assists per set) and freshman libero Chelsea Colclasure (4.38 digs per set). Earlier this season at the SIUE Invitational, the Cougars fought back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Leathernecks in five sets.

Indiana State was picked to finish ninth in the Missouri Valley preseason poll and went 3-1 at its season-opening Quality Inn/ASICS Classic last weekend. Fourth-year head coach Traci Dahl returns junior outside hitter Morgan Dall (4.29 kills per set), senior middle hitter Stacy Qualizza (2.57 kills per set) and senior setter Shelbi Fouty (9.57 assists per set) from last year's squad that went 11-20 overall.

Savannah State, who went 5-23 last season, is 0-2 under the guidance of first-year head coach Schannon Gamble. Sophomore outside hitter Nabori Perez (1.33 kills per set), junior setter Ashlee Butler (3.00 assists per set) and junior libero Kaneisha Hamilton (3.50 digs per set) lead the Lady Tigers.

EGAN CLOSES IN ON MILESTONE
Senior middle hitter Cait Egan collected her second straight double-digit kills performance (11 kills) Tuesday night at Illinois-Chicago. She now owns 831 career kills and needs 51 more kills to crack the program's top ten. With 169 more kills, Egan will become the ninth player in school history to amass 1,000 career kills.

MCKAY NEARS 100 WINS
Head coach Kym McKay, the longest tenured head coach in program history, needs just one more win to reach the 100-win plateau. She will join Western Illinois legend Juli Kartel (111) as the only coaches in program history to collect 100 career wins. The Fighting Leathernecks need just three more victories this season for McKay to capture her 200th career victory according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). She tallied 98 victories at Joliet Junior College from 1999-2002 prior to her start in Macomb. 

MURPHY COLLECTS THE HONORS
Junior libero Bridget Murphy was seemingly everywhere on the court at the SIUE Invitational and picked up multiple honors for her stellar play. First she was named the MVP of the SIUE Invitational as voted on by the coaches. The New Lenox, Ill. native then was honored as The Summit League's Defensive Player of the Week, which is the first such honor for Western Illinois since 2009.

Murphy has compiled 108 digs for a 5.40 digs per set average so far this season and set a career-high with 34 digs in the come-back win over Kent State (Aug. 27). She owns 778 career digs and is on pace to become the 11th player in program history to collect 1,000 career digs.

MILLER IMPRESSES EARLY
Freshman outside hitter Ann Miller, from Davenport, Iowa, has started the first five contests and has been a major contributor. She has been in double-digit digs in every match and her 69 digs (3.45 per set) ranks second behind junior Bridget Murphy for the team lead. Miller has also collected three double-doubles and is second on the squad with 50 kills (2.50 kills per set). Elsewhere, she has five service aces, seven total blocks and her 58.5 total points is second on the squad.

FETTER SHINES AT SETTER
Sophomore setter Sarah Fetter, a transfer from Illinois State, has racked up big numbers over her first five matches as a Leatherneck. The 5-foot-9 physical blocking setter has averaged 9.70 assists per set and owns five consecutive 30-plus assist performances. She also recorded her first double-double (45 assists and 14 digs) in the come-back win over Kent State (Aug. 27).

FRESHMAN CLASS ALREADY CONTRIBUTING
Freshman outside hitter Ann Miller is not the only freshman who is contributing so far this season. Defensive specialist Molly Murphy has started four matches and leads the squad with nine service aces. Meanwhile right side Samantha Fournier has provided a spark off the bench with 35 kills and nine total blocks.