MACOMB, Ill. - The Fighting Leatherneck volleyball team continues nonconference play this Friday and Saturday, September 4-5, as Western travels to Lawrence, Kansas, for the Kansas Invitational. Western will take on Kansas, Kansas City, and Duke over the two days of competition. WIU beings Friday morning with an 11:30 a.m. match against Kansas before closing out the day with a 5 p.m. match against Kansas City. Saturday features one match for the Purple and Gold, an 11 a.m. contest against Duke. Western's Friday morning match will be streamed online to a national audience at ESPN3 (WatchESPN app).

SERIES HISTORIES: When Western opens tournament play on Friday against Kansas, it will mark the sixth time the two teams have met. WIU leads the all-time series, 3-2, with the two teams last meeting in 1991 when the Leathernecks dropped a 3-1 decision. Western and Kansas City have met 40 times previously, with Western leading the series, 25-15. The two teams last met for a pair of matches in 2012, with the 'Roos taking 3-2 and 3-0 decisions over Western. Duke's contest will be the rubber match between the two schools, as the all-time series is tied at 1-1. The two teams met in 2013, a 3-0 victory by Duke, and in 1987, a 3-1 decision in favor of the Purple and Gold. 

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: Kansas enters the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record and is receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. Kansas features a high-powered offense, as four players average at least two kills per set, led by Kelsie Payne (4.10/set) and Tiana Dockery (3.10). Ainise Havili guides the offense with 11.3 assists per set while Cassie Wait's 48 digs on the season anchors the back line. Kansas City, picked to finish first in the WAC Preseason Poll, is off to a 2-1 start on the season. Sydney Crimmins leads the way offensively as she averages 3.73 kills per set. Nicole Wemhoff and Kaylyn Bradt share the setting duties, as they have recorded 53 and 55 assists, respectively, on the season. A strong defense is paced by Taryn Miller and her 53 digs on the year. Duke is also receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll, one spot behind Kansas, and holds a 2-1 record on the year. Alyse Whitaker is the Blue Devils' top target, as she has recorded 30 kills on the year. Maggie Deichmeister (56 assists) and Emma Paradiso (58 assists) lead the offense while Sasha Karelov handles the passing duties (40 digs).

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.

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.