Western Hits the Road to Face Oral Roberts, Denver

Leathernecks face the Golden Eagles on Oct. 7 and the Pioneers on Oct. 9

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Western Illinois (4-16, 1-4)
at
Oral Roberts (8-9, 0-3)

at Oral Roberts
Friday, Oct. 7
7 p.m.
Tulsa, Okla. • Aerobics Center

Western Illinois (4-16, 1-4)
at
Denver (10-5, 2-1)

at Denver
Sunday, Oct. 9
2 p.m.
Denver, Colo. • Hamilton Gymnasium
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WIU 2016 STATS:
HERE

Oral Roberts: Stats | Website
Denver: Stats | Website

COVERAGE

LIVE STATS:
at ORU: HERE
at DEN: HERE

WATCH:
at ORU: ORU Sports Network
at DEN: P ioneer Vision ($)

SOCIAL MEDIA

TWITTER:
@WIUV olleyball
@WIUAthletics

FACEBOOK:
Western Illinois University V olleyball
Western Illinois Athletics

INSTAGRAM:
Western Illinois Athletics

PRESEASON INFORMATION

2016 Preseason Quick Facts (.PDF)
2016 Preseason Record Book (.PDF)
2016 Schedule Release
2 016 'Day in the Life'

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois volleyball team is preparing for a tough road test as they travel to Oral Roberts and Denver this weekend. The Leathernecks play the Golden Eagles in Tulsa, Okla. on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. On Sunday (Oct. 9), Western takes on the Pioneers, with first serve slated for 2 p.m.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION: Oral Roberts is 0-3 in league play and sits at 8-9 overall. The Golden Eagles have fallen to North Dakota State (3-1), South Dakota (3-0) and Omaha (3-2) so far in league play. The Leathernecks will face Laura Milos, who leads the nation in aces per set (0.93), attacks per set (14.41), kills per set (5.80) and points per set (6.91). Milos also sits atop The Summit League rankings in kills with 325, which is fifth in the nation, and her 52 service aces ranks second. Lucija Bojanjac ranks second in the league with 10.14 assists per set.

Denver is 2-1 in league play and has garnered a 10-5 record overall. The Pioneers have picked up wins over Omaha (3-1) and IUPUI (3-1), while falling to Fort Wayne 3-0. Denver has four players who have eclipsed over 100 kills this season. Ruth Okoye is hitting .373 with 120 kills on the year. Okoye also leads the league with 1.19 blocks per set.

SERIES HISTORY: Oral Roberts leads the all-time series 33-5 dating back to the 1996 season. Western is looking for its first victory over the Golden Eagles since 2007, when they won in five sets.

The Leathernecks are in search of their first victory over Denver in program history. The Pioneers hold a 6-0 all-time advantage.

SIMMONS TABBED DEFENSIVE POTW: On Oct. 3, senior Kaili Simmons was named The Summit League's Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career. In Western's four-set victory over Omaha on Sept. 27, Simmons compiled a career-high 37 digs, tying for the fourth-most in program history in digs in a single match. During Sunday's match against North Dakota State, she registered 32 digs, the second-highest in a match in her career. Over 11 sets through three matches, the libero garnered 82 digs, good for 7.45 digs per set.

DIGGIN' IT: As a team, the Leathernecks rank third in the nation and lead The Summit League with 1,289 digs. Simmons has accounted for 391 of those, followed by Shalyn Greenhaw with 204 and Claire Grove with 147. Simmons leads the nation in total digs and is 25th in digs per set with 5.08.

A LOOK AT THE LEATHERNECKS: Western currently sits eighth in The Summit League with a 1-4 league record (4-17 overall). Greenhaw leads the team and ranks second in the league with 236 kills (3.15/set). Abby Skryd has dished out 565 assists and 21 service aces. Lexi Kolschefski leads the team with 55 blocks.

UP AHEAD: Western returns home to host South Dakota State on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. inside Western Hall.
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Players Mentioned

#16 Lexi Kolschefski: M; 6' 3"; Sophomore; La Habra

#8 Kaili Simmons: L/DS; 5' 9"; Senior; El Dorado Springs / Missouri State-West Plains

#12 Shalyn Greenhaw: OH; 5' 11"; Junior; Muscatine / Illinois State

#24 Claire Grove: OH; 5' 11"; Freshman; Neuqua Valley

Players Mentioned

#16 Lexi Kolschefski
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; La Habra
: M

#8 Kaili Simmons
: 5' 9"; Senior; El Dorado Springs / Missouri State-West Plains
: L/DS

#12 Shalyn Greenhaw
: 5' 11"; Junior; Muscatine / Illinois State
: OH

#24 Claire Grove
: 5' 11"; Freshman; Neuqua Valley
: OH