MACOMB, Ill. – The Fighting Leatherneck volleyball team plays host to the 2016 Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 16-17). Western welcomes Drake, Weber State and Southeast Missouri State. The Leathernecks open play on Friday evening, facing Drake at 7 p.m. before rounding out competition on Saturday with matches against Southeast Missouri (11 a.m.) and Weber State (7 p.m.).
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SERIES HISTORIES: Drake leads the all-time series 21-17-1 over the Leathernecks. The two teams met twice last season, with the Bulldogs claiming the first meeting 3-0. Two weeks later, Western came back from a 2-0 deficit to take the 3-2 victory. The Redhawks have a 6-1 advantage over Western. Saturday marks the first meeting between the teams since August 28, 2010 where WIU dropped a 1-3 decision. Weber State and Western Illinois have not met since September 5, 1992. Before that, the two squads faced off on September 7, 1988. The Leathernecks dropped both matches 3-0.
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SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS: The Bulldogs enter the weekend 8-3 on the year. As a team, Drake averages 12.2 kills and 17.7 digs per set. Kyla Inderski leads the Bulldogs with 148 kills. Southeast Missouri is 1-10 overall, with their lone win coming over New Orleans in their season opener. Krissa Gearring will be the player to watch as she has compiled 192 kills. Weber State heads to Macomb undefeated with a 6-0 overall record. The Wildcats have only dropped three sets during that span. WSU is lead offensively by Amanda Varley with 79 kills and defensively by Jesse Hover who has 102 digs.
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LEATHERNECK LEADERS: Junior transfer
Shalyn Greenhaw ranks fourth in The Summit League with a team-leading 129 kills (3.15 per set). Senior
Kaili Simmons is third in the league with 173 digs. Her 4.22 digs per set places her fourth in the league standings.
Abby Skryd has compiled 251 assists on the year.
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LAST TIME OUT: Western is fresh off a 3-1 victory over Chicago State Tuesday evening (Sept. 13). After taking the first set 25-21, the Leathernecks dropped set two 25-14 before bouncing back and taking sets three and four 25-15 and 25-17, respectively. Greenhaw grabbed a career-high 19 kills and hit .232. Dechant followed with 12 kills, also a career high. Skryd dished out a season-high 45 assists, while Simmons led the team with 22 digs.
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UP AHEAD: The Hampton Inn Invitational will be the last tournament of the 2016 season for the Leathernecks. WIU is in the midst of a seven-match home stand. On Tuesday (Sept. 20) Western hosts Saint Louis inside Western Hall before opening up Summit League play on Friday (Sept. 23) against South Dakota.
