MACOMB, Ill. - The Fighting Leatherneck volleyball concludes the season this weekend with a pair of road matches. Western Illinois will first head to Omaha this Friday, November 14, to take on the Mavs. Following the match, the Leathernecks head north to face South Dakota State on Saturday, November 15. First serve for both matches is set for 7 p.m. (CT).
LAST TIME OUT: The Western Illinois volleyball team was back in action Tuesday night (Nov. 11), taking on league-leading IUPUI. The Jaguars got the best of the Leathernecks, taking a 3-0 match. The Jaguars quickly built a 2-0 lead in the match thanks to a 25-10 victory in the first set, and a 25-15 set two victory. The Leathernecks mixed up their offense in the second set, as sophomore Elyse Keating made her Leatherneck debut. Keating found Samantha Fournier on the right side for a kill to make the score 7-4 in favor of IUPUI early in the second. The assist marks the first in Keating's career, after transferring into the program following her freshman year. Western fought to the very end, closing the set on a 6-2 run, but fell short to the host Jaguars. Western Illinois would keep things close in the final set, but fell by a 25-19 final.
A LOOK AT OMAHA: Omaha currently sits in seventh place in the league standings with a record of 10-18 (5-10). The Mavs are led by a strong blocking defense, as they have outblocked their opponents by a 252-176.5 margin this season. Individually, Omaha claims four of the top-10 spots within The Summit League's individual blocking rankings. Omaha is coached by Rose Shires, who is in her 25th season at the helm of the volleyball program.
SERIES HISTORY: The Leathernecks lead the all-time series between the two programs, 3-2. On Sept. 28 the two teams met in Macomb, with the Mavs taking a 3-1 decision.
A LOOK AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE: The Jackrabbits currently sit at the bottom of The Summit Leageu standings, with a 6-25 (0-14) record this season. Alanna Pengilly anchors the SDSU back line as her 449 digs and 4.16 digs per set both rank fifth in the league. Phil McDaniel is currently in his fourth season as the head coach of South Dakota State.
SERIES HISTORY: SDSU leads the all-time series 12-5 but the Leathernecks are looking to take the season series after securing a 3-0 victory back on Oct. 12. Ann Miller's 23 kills helped lead the Leathernecks to victory over the Jackrabbits.
