MACOMB, Ill. - The Fighting Leatherneck volleyball team continues its 11-match road swing this Friday and Saturday, September 11-12, as the Leathernecks head to Evansville, Indiana for the Evansville Tournament. The Purple Aces of Evansville will act as the tournament hosts, while Northern Kentucky and Jackson State will help make up the tournament field. The Purple and Gold open play on Friday with a 4 p.m. match against Northern Kentucky before closing out play on Saturday with matches against Evansville (10 a.m.) and Jackson State (3:30 p.m.)

SERIES HISTORIES: This weekend's tournament will mark the first-ever meetings between the Leathernecks and Jackson State and Northern Kentucky. Western Illinois and Evansville have met nine times previously, with the Purple Aces holding a 5-4 advantage. The Leathernecks opened the series with a run of four straight victories back in the mid-80s. Evansville has responded by claiming the last five meetings, but the two programs have only met once since 2003, a 3-1 victory for Evansville in 2010.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: Northern Kentucky, out of the Horizon League, enters the weekend with a 2-5 record. The Norse are paced offensively by outside Haley Libs, who has tallied 79 kills this year. Taylor Snyder handles the setting duties, as her 246 assists is a team-best. Mel Stewart is the defensive anchor, tallying 97 digs in 2015. Liz Hart is in her sixth season at the helm of the Norse program. Evansville holds a 3-5 record on the year and is led by third-year head coach Manolo Concepcion. Genesis Miranda serves as the top target on the Purple Aces attack with 153 kills to lead all players in the tournament field. Lorena Marquez's 254 assists also tops the tournament field. Kim Deprez's solidifies the back line with 162 digs. Jackson State enters the weekend 0-8 and in search of their first victory in 2015. Talja Thomas (55 kills), Jenna Siddiqui (180 assists), and Tyler Moorer (76 digs) lead the Lady Tigers behind 14th-year head coach Rose Washington.

ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Junior Kaili Simmons made the most of her Western Illinois debut at the 2015 Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational. The transfer from Missouri State-West Plains was named to the All-Tournament Team following a weekend in which she led the team in digs (42) and aces (5). The captain was 1-of-10 Leathernecks to make their Purple and Gold debut in the opening weekend. Freshman Sierra Bauder claimed her first collegiate accolade at the Kansas Inviational as she was named to the All-Tournament Team. On the Weekend, Bauder collected 11 kills and eight blocks, with two of the opponents receiving votes in the latest polls.

LEATHERNECK NEWCOMERS: The 2015 roster will feature 14 new faces compared to a season ago. Richardson and her staff hit the recruiting trail the moment they arrived on campus and brought in a freshman signing class of eight members. Shaela Gray (Fontana, Calif.), Shiah Sander (Plymouth, Minn.), Abby Skryd (Naperville, Ill.), Kate Hickey (DeKalb, Ill.), Melanie Patenaude (Aurora, Colo.), Morgyn Bullock (Elkhart, Iowa), Lexi Kolschefski (La Habra, Calif.), and Sierra Bauder (Phoenix, Ariz.) all join the Leathernecks after standout prep careers and will look to make an immediate impact on the 2015 roster. Richardson also brought in a pair of sophomore transfers in Danni Bristow (Saskatoon, Saskatchwan) and Emilee Dechant (Hutchinson, Kan.) who join the Purple and Gold family after spending their freshman campaign at Louisiana Tech. Juniors Kaili Simmons (El Dorado Springs, Mo.), Reilly Dunne (Bartonville, Ill.), Katie Soddy (Milton, Wis.), and Krishna Merriman (Neosho, Mo.) add depth and experience to the 2015 squad.

LEATHERNECK RETURNERS: Outside hitter Peyton Crosser (Ottumwa, Iowa) and middle blocker Jordan Jackson (Annawan, Ill.) return to lead the Leathernecks in their senior seasons. Crosser was an offensive weapon a season ago, as she finished second on the team with 271 kills as a junior. Crosser was a defensive force in the middle, as her 87 total blocks ranked second on the team, while her 18 solo blocks were tied for the team lead.