MACOMB, Ill. - The Fighting Leatherneck volleyball team opens its final week of competition before Summit League play begins with a Tuesday (September 15) night matchup at Drake. Tuesday's contest between the Leathernecks (1-9) and Bulldogs (7-5) will be the second time the two teams have faced each other this season. First serve inside Knapp Fieldhouse is set for 6 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT: Western Illinois picked up its first victory of the year this past Saturday (Sept. 13), as the Leathernecks collected a 3-1 decision over Jackson State to conclude play at the Evansville Invitational. Senior Jordan Jackson had a day to remember against the Tigers, as her 18 kills marked a career high while her two aces and seven blocks were both season highs. Jackson and Kaili Simmons were both named to the All-Tournament Team for their contributions to the weekend.

SERIES HISTORIES: Tuesday's contest will mark the 39th meeting between the two programs, with Drake holding a 21-16-1 lead. This is the second time the two teams have played this year, as Western Illinois welcomed Drake to Macomb to open the season at the Leatherneck Invitational. In the second match of the season for WIU, Drake was able to collect a 3-0 victory over the Leathernecks. 

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: Drake enters Tuesday's contest with a 7-5 record following a 1-2 weekend at the Omaha Invitational. The Bulldogs dropped a pair of 3-0 decisions to UCF and North Dakota, while securing a 3-2 victory over Omaha in a match in which Drake fought back from an 0-2 deficit. Kakena Schoene and Kayla Inderski lead the attack with 152 and 134 kills, respectively. Chandelle Davidson and Rebecca Brown handle the setting duties while Michelle Tomi (157 digs) anchors the back line. The Bulldogs are led by third-year head coach Darrin McBroom.

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 followed that performance with her second-career 'All-Tournament' from the Evansville Tournament. For the Weekend, Simmons tallied  43 digs, including 18 in Western's victory over Jackson State. Freshman Sierra Bauder claimed her first collegiate accolade at the Kansas Invitational 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. Jordan Jackson collected 'All-Tournament' honors from the Evansville Tournament as she helped guide Western to its first victory of 2015. In the win over Jackson State, Jackson tallied a career high 18 kills and season highs in aces (2) and blocks (7). Jackson ended the weekend with 34 kills over three matches.

LEATHERNECK NEWCOMERS: The 2015 roster will feature 14 new faces compared to a season ago. 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.