MATCH TWENTY
VOLLEYBALL: WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS at DENVER PIONEERS
Oct. 13, 2017 • 8 p.m. CT  • Denver, Colo.Â
LIVE STATS:Â HERE
2017 QUICK FACTS
2017 RECORD BOOK
MATCH TWENTY-ONE
VOLLEYBALL: WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS at NORTH DAKOTA STATE BISON
Oct. 15, 2017 • 1 p.m. CT  • Fargo, N.D.
LIVE STATS:Â
HERE
MACOMB, Ill. - The Leatherneck volleyball (6-13, 1-4) team heads west for its longest road trip of the season over the weekend (Oct. 13 & 15) to continue Summit League play against Denver (12-5, 3-2) and North Dakota State (15-5, 3-2). According to Google Maps, the Leathernecks will be traveling 2,434 miles in a three-day span to compete in both matches. First serve against the Pioneers is set for 8 p.m. CT on Oct. 13, while 1 p.m. CT is the time slated for the Oct. 15 matchup against the Bison.
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A LOOK AT THE LEATHERNECKS:
Western is coming off a weekend in which it went 1-1 in the Summit League with a win over South Dakota State at home and loss to Fort Wayne on the road. Against the Jackrabbits, the Leathernecks won their third five-set match of the season, with the other wins coming against Manhattan and Charleston Southern University.
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In the match against South Dakota, Mackenzie Steckler recorded a game-high 20 kills and hit at a .382 clip. Claire Grove led the team with 20 digs in the match, while Jaime Johnson recorded more sets (46) than the entire South Dakota State team combined. Offensively, Johnson leads the way with 644 assists for the season, while Steckler leads the Leathernecks with 181 kills.
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On the defensive side of the net, Grove, who has logged 313 digs, and Steckler, who has recorded 76 total blocks, lead the Leathernecks. Steckler also leads the team in solo blocks with 14. Emilee Dechant is a also a defensive force for the Purple and Gold with 58 block assists and eight solo blocks.
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AMONG THE TOP:
The Leathernecks continue to be a presence in the many 'Top 5' categories in The Summit League. Steckler is second in the conference in hitting percentage with an impressive .341 hitting percentage and also boasts a fourth-place showing in blocks per set at 1.01. Grove is also fourth in the conference in two categories, with 314 total digs and an average of 4.41 digs per set. Johnson rounds out the 'Top 5' in assists per set at 8.59.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS:
Denver comes into the match tied for third in the conference with a 3-2 conference record. The Pioneers dropped their most recent match against Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Okla. Denver is led defensive anchor Emma Willis, who is first in the conference in blocks per set with 1.17. Offensively, Denver boasts Becca Latham, who has recorded 182 kills thus far this season. At the helm of the program is Tom Hogan, who is in his second season.
SCOUTING THE BISON:
Tied with Denver in the standings, the Bison come into the match against the Leathernecks with a 3-2 record, good for third place in the Summit League. Defensive specialist Mikaela Purnell leads the Summit League in digs (342) and digs per set (5.61), and outside hitter Erika Gelzinyte leads the team in kills with 52. Interim Head Coach Jennifer Lopez, who was an assistant for North Dakota State since 2015, was named Interim Head Coach for the 2017 season.
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SERIES HISTORY:
The Leathernecks are looking to pick up their first win against Denver, as the Pioneers hold an 8-0 advantage over Western. North Dakota State leads the all time series against the Leathernecks 17-4, with the last Western victory coming in 2012. The last time the teams competed was on Oct. 28, 2016, when North Dakota State won 3-0.
