Weekly Match Notes (.pdf)

MACOMB - Western Illinois, off to one of the best starts in school history, looks to snap a long losing streak against an in-state rival Wednesday night when the Fighting Leathernecks take on Illinois State at Redbird Arena. Western has dropped 16 straight matchups against the Redbirds and trails 23-2 in the all-time series, which dates back to 1976.

Western Illinois (6-2) won its second tournament title of the 2011 season this past weekend as the Fighting Leathernecks went 3-0 at Indiana State's Drury Inn/ASICS Challenge. Western has not started a season 6-2 overall since the 1990 campaign under legendary coach and Western Illinois Athletics Hall of Famer Juli Kartel.

THE MATCHUP
Who: Western Illinois at Illinois State
When: Wednesday, Sept. 7 • 7 p.m. CST
Location: Normal, Ill. • Redbird Arena
Series History: ISU leads the series 23-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 3, 2005 (@ISU 3, WIU 1)
Radio: HERE
Live Stats: HERE
Twitter: HERE

SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE

Illinois State is off to a 5-2 start under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Melissa Myers. The Redbirds, picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley this season, went undefeated at Tennessee Martin's Skyhawk Invitational over the weekend. They are led by sophomore outside hitter Shannon McGlaughlin (4.00 kills per set), senior setter Kristin Stauter (9.93 assists per set), freshman middle hitter Emily Schneider (1.30 blocks per set) and junior libero Jenny Menendez (4.07 digs per set). Wednesday night's contest is being tabbed as "Country Night" as fans dress up for a night of country music and volleyball.

MCKAY REACHES WINS MILESTONE

Head coach Kym McKay, the longest tenured head coach in program history, needed just one win at the Drury Inn/ASICS Challenge to reach the 100-win plateau. She finished with three victories and joins Western Illinois legend Juli Kartel (111) as the only coaches in program history to collect 100 career wins. The Fighting Leathernecks' 3-0 win over Savannah State also allowed 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. 

EGAN CLOSES IN ON MILESTONE

Senior middle hitter Cait Egan had a team-high 28 kills over the weekend at the Drury Inn/ASICS Challenge, including two double-digit efforts against SIUE (10 kills) and Indiana State (12 kills). She now owns 859 career kills and needs 23 more kills to crack the program's top ten. With 141 more kills, Egan will become the ninth player in school history to amass 1,000 career kills. Egan also collected one solo block against SIUE and is in a tie with Laura Olsen (1998-92) for fifth all-time in program history with 69 solo blocks.

THREE LEATHERNECKS NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT

Junior Bridget Murphy, senior Megan Toczek and junior Katie Hosteng were all named to the all-tournament squad at the Drury Inn/ASICS Challenge. Murphy was named the tournament MVP after compiling 42 digs (6.00 digs per set) over the weekend, including 24 digs against SIUE. She was also named the MVP of the SIUE Invitational in late August. Toczek put down 26 kills on 65 attempts (.262 attack percentage), led the squad in kills twice and collected five total blocks. Hosteng played in two matches and had 18 kills on only 37 attempts for a stellar .432 attack percentage. In the sweep over Indiana State, Hosteng put down 10 kills on 20 attempts and committed just one error.

MILLER IMPRESSES EARLY

Freshman outside hitter Ann Miller, from Davenport, Iowa, has started seven matches and been a major contributor. She has been in double-digit digs in every match and her 92 digs (3.41 per set) ranks second behind junior Bridget Murphy for the team lead. Miller has also collected a team-high three double-doubles and is third on the squad with 68 kills (2.52 kills per set). Elsewhere, she has six service aces, eight total blocks and her 78.5 total points is third on the squad.

FETTER SHINES AT SETTER

Sophomore setter Sarah Fetter, a transfer from Illinois State, has racked up big numbers in her first season as a Leatherneck. The 5-foot-9 physical blocking setter has averaged 9.74 assists per set and owns seven consecutive 30-plus assist performances. At the Drury Inn/ASICS Challenge over the weekend, Fetter had six kills on 16 attempts and three total blocks. She recorded her first double-double (45 assists and 14 digs) in the come-back win over Kent State (Aug. 27).

FRESHMAN CLASS ALREADY CONTRIBUTING

Defensive specialist Molly Murphy leads the squad with 13 service aces and averaged 2.50 digs per set at the Drury Inn/ASICS Challenge. Meanwhile right side Samantha Fournier has provided a spark off the bench with 45 kills and nine total blocks. Fournier had 10 kills on 18 attempts and 13 digs against Savannah State to collect her first collegiate double-double. Middle hitter Mallory Gibson had five solo blocks, three block assists and six kills on 16 attempts in her debut against Savannah State.