LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks played host to Fort Wayne and IUPUI last weekend in Macomb. On Friday (Nov. 1) Western defeated Fort Wayne in a thrilling five-set match for the first win over the Mastodons in three seasons. Mallory Gibson recorded 18 kills in the match with a career-best .361 hitting percentage. Heather Smith posted a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs, while Sarah Fetter assisted on 45 kills for Western. Fetter also posted a team-best 18 digs in the victory. On Sunday (Nov. 3) the Leathernecks took on the Jaguars inside Western Hall. IUPUI came away with the five-set victory to improve their conference record to 9-2. Gibson impressed once again for the Leathernecks, posting a career-best 20 kills. Jordan Jackson notched a career-high 11 kills at a .476 clip. Freshmen Melanie Miller (8) and Nicole Oestrike (5) each recorded season-highs in kills for Western. Defensively Western recorded a season-high 91 digs, led by Molly Murphy who recorded 25. The Leathernecks also recorded 15 team blocks, which is also a season-high. Miller led the way with a season-high seven blocks.
SCOUTING THE BISON: NDSU is 4-19 overall this season and 4-6 in league play. The Bison have won three of their last five matches including wins over Denver and Fort Wayne who both are currently third and fourth in the league standings, respectively. Jenni Fassbender leads the Bison in kills this season with 260. Monica Claxton has recorded 717 assists. Emily Milligan has notched 236 digs to lead NDSU. The head coach of the Bison is Kari Thompson who is in her third year at the helm.
SERIES HISTORY: NDSU leads the overall series, 10-4. Earlier this season the Leathernecks swept the Bison in Macomb.
SCOUTING THE JACKRABBITS: South Dakota State is 3-20 this season and 1-9 in The Summit League. The Jackrabbits' top attacker is Wagner Larson, who has emassed 205 kills this season. Lexi Fowler has recorded 596 assists for SDSU. Lizzier Palmer (270) and Kacey Herrmann (248) lead the Jacks in digs this season. The head coach of SDSU is Phil McDaniel, who is in his third year at the helm.
SERIES HISTORY: SDSU leads the overall series, 11-4. Earlier this season the Leathernecks swept the Jackrabbits in Macomb.
IN THE SUMMIT LEAGUE (Last Updated 11/7): Samantha Fournier ranks fourth in the league in kills/set (3.75) and sixth in kills (281). Ann Miller ranks fifth in the league in kills (302). Molly Murphy leads the conference in service aces/set with a 0.43 average, while Kaitlynn Novak ranks fourth with a 0.36 average. Sarah Fetter ranks fourth in the conference in both assists (940) and assists/set (10.00).
IN THE NATION (Last Updated 11/7): Molly Murphy ranks 20th nationally in service aces/set with a 0.43 average. Kaitlynn Novak is 66th nationally in service aces/set with a 0.36 average. Samantha Fournier ranks 64th nationally in kills/set with a 3.75 average. Fournier ranks 79th in points per set with a 4.17 average.
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 leads the league in service aces per set with a 0.46 average. 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 becomes the first Leatherneck volleyball player to receive the honor since Patty Melinauskas in Oct. 2006.
CAREER LIST: Setter Sarah Fetter now has 3,057 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.
THE SCHEDULE: Western's 2013 schedule features four more matches in the regular season including this weekend. Two of those matches will be at home while two will be on the road. All four matches will be against conference members as the Purple & Gold look to return to the conference tournament for the first time since 2007.
THE COACHING STAFF: Head coach April Hall enters her second season at Western and has hired a pair of new coaches. Laura DeBruler, who concluded her collegiate volleyball career at Illinois in 2010 is the Leathernecks' full-time assistant, while Bridget Murphy, who completed a decorated career at Western Illinois as a defensive specialist last fall is the team's graduate assistant.
