LAST TIME OUT: Western traveled to Fargo, N.D. and Brookings, S.D. last weekend to battle North Dakota State and South Dakota State. On Friday (Nov. 8) the Bison came away with a 3-0 sweep over Western. Mallory Gibson led the Leathernecks with 14 kills in the match, while Sarah Fetter notched 28 assists. Molly Murphy led Western with three service aces and 12 digs. On Saturday (Nov. 9) the Leathernecks fell in five sets to SDSU. Ann Miller (16), Heather Smith (13), Jordan Jackson (12) and Gibson (10) all recorded double-digit kills in the match for Western. Fetter assisted on 48 more kills, while Murphy notched 27 digs. Melanie Miller led Western with four total blocks in the match, while also recording eight kills. The Leathernecks finished the season series with splits against both NDSU and SDSU.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS: Denver enters Friday's match with a 14-11 overall mark and 8-4 record in conference play. Four separate Pioneers have recorded over 200 kills this season, led by Colleen King who has notched 269. Tori Moons and Bailey Karst have assisted on 441 and 407 kills, respectively. Kate Acker has a team-best 347 digs to lead Denver. The head coach of the Pioneers is Jesse Mahoney who is in his second season at the helm.

SERIES HISTORY: The Pioneers lead the overall series 1-0. The only meeting between the two teams came earlier this season (Oct. 20) with Denver coming out on top, 3-0.

SCOUTING THE COYOTES: USD enters the weekend with a league leading 18-10 overall mark and 9-3 record in The Summit League. Kendall Kritenbrink is second in the league with 469 kills, which is one off the league lead, and second in kills/set (4.60). Tori Kroll is second in the league in assists with 1,081. Four separate Coyotes have 200 or more digs, led by Audrey Reeg who has 294. The head coach of USD is Matt Houk who is in his sixth season. 

SERIES HISTORY: The Coyotes lead the overall series, 4-1. The last meeting came on October 18, 2013 with USD coming away with a 3-0 sweep.

SENIOR WEEKEND: Leatherneck seniors Sarah Fetter and Heather Smith will be honored before Sunday's match against USD. Both Fetter and Smith have excelled during their time in Purple & Gold. Smith has appeared in 98 matches in her four years. The LaSalle, Ill. native has 498 kills, 707 assists, 41 service aces and 374 career digs. Fetter has appeared in 81 matches in her three years. The Moline, Ill. native has 210 kills, 747 digs and 3,133 assists in her career. Fetter ranks third all-time in assists at Western. 

WHAT'S AT STAKE: The Leathernecks can clinch a spot in The Summit League Tournament with one victory, or a single loss by South Dakota State. Western has not appeared in The Summit League Tournament since 2007. 

IN THE SUMMIT LEAGUE (Last Updated 11/14): Molly Murphy leads the league in service aces/set with a 0.45 average. Murphy is also fourth in the league with 3.74 digs/set. Ann Miller ranks fifth in the league in kills with 325, while Samantha Fournier is fourth in league play with a 3.75 kills/set average. Sarah Fetter is fourth in assists with 1,016 and fifth in assists/set with a 9.96 average. 

IN THE NATION (Last Updated 11/14): Molly Murphy is 14th nationally in service aces/set with a 0.45 average. Kaitlynn Novak ranks 67th nationally in service aces/set with a 0.36 average. Samantha Fournier is 65th in kills/set with a 3.75 average. As a team the Leathernecks are 75th in service aces/set with 1.38.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Molly Murphy was named The Summit League's 'Defensive Player of the Week' on Oct. 14 for her performances the weekend prior. The junior recorded 43 total digs in the matches against SDSU and NDSU, including 17 digs in the opening set against SDSU. The honor is the first for Murphy, who ranks third in the league in digs/set with a 3.87 average. The Chicago native also led the league in service aces per set with a 0.46 average after that weekend. Samantha Fournier was named The Summit League's 'Offensive Player of the Week' following her performance in Western's win over Omaha on Sept. 28. The junior notched 15 kills (5.0/set) in the match with a career-high .650 hitting percentage. She also posted a career-high four service aces for the Leathernecks. The Coal City, Ill. native became the first Leatherneck volleyball player to receive the honor since Patty Melinauskas in Oct. 2006.

CAREER LIST: Setter Sarah Fetter now has 3,131 career assists at Western, which ranks third in program history. 

CAREER-BESTS: Mallory Gibson posted a new career-high on August 30th versus Bradley when she stuffed 10 total blocks. Gibson posted a career-best 20 kills on Nov. 3 against IUPUI. During the Leathernecks' September 5th match at Northern Illinois, Bailey Kaloupek bettered her career-high in digs with 29. Sarah Fetter recorded a career-best 65 assists in September 14's loss to Drake, while Ann Miller also bettered her career-high in kills that game, finishing with 27. Fetter also recorded a new career high versus Oakland when she notched 23 digs. Samantha Fournier recorded a career-high .650 hitting percentage at Omaha and a career-best four service aces. Jordan Jackson recorded a career-high 11 kills against IUPUI on Nov. 3 with a career-best .476 hitting percentage. 

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Jordan Jackson was named Papa John's Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Nov. 4 for her performance the weekend prior on the court. The sophomore recorded a career-best 11 kills and career-high .476 hitting percentage against IUPUI on Sunday. The Annawan, Ill. native owns a 3.968 GPA majoring in Pre-Nursing. Molly Murphy was named Papa John's Scholar-Athlete of the Week on October 14. The junior notched 43 total digs in the Leathernecks back-to-back wins over SDSU and NDSU. She was also named The Summit League's 'Defensive Player of the Week' following the weekend. Murphy owns a 3.135 GPA and is majoring in RPTA. Ann Miller was named Papa John's Scholar-Athlete of the Week on September 3rd of this year marking the second time in her career she has received the honor. In the classroom, Miller is a two-time Summit League Fall Academic All-League Distinguished Scholar. The Bettendorf, Iowa native owns a 3.909 GPA and is majoring in Supply Chain Management.