MATCH TWENTY-SEVEN
VOLLEYBALL: WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS vs. NORTH DAKOTA STATE BISON
Nov. 10, 2017 • 5 p.m. CT  • WESTERN HALL
MATCH TWENTY-EIGHT
VOLLEYBALL: WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS vs. DENVER PIONEERS
Nov. 12, 2017 • 1 p.m. CT  • WESTERN HALL
LIVE STATS:Â HERE
2017 QUICK FACTS
2017 RECORD BOOK
MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois volleyball welcomes North Dakota State and Denver for the last two home matches of the season, Nov. 10 and 12. The Nov. 12 match against Denver will be Senior Day for the Leathernecks and three players (Emilee Dechant, Lexi Kolschefski and Shalyn Greenhaw) will be honored before the match.
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A LOOK AT YOUR LEATHERNECKS:
Western comes into the weekend having won consecutive matches against South Dakota State, 3-1, and Fort Wayne, 3-1. The back-to-back league wins marked the first time the program has accomplished the feat since 2013. Greenhaw recorded a double-double in both matches to help lead the Purple and Gold past the Jackrabbits and Mastodons.
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PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Mackenzie Steckler earned her first-career honor for her performance against South Dakota State (Nov. 4). The middle hitter recorded 10 kills on 13 total attacks for a spectacular hitting percentage of .692. She also notched two service aces in the four-set match and defensively, recorded five total blocks.
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SENIOR DAY:
Dechant, Kolschefski and Greenhaw will all be honored before the Nov. 12 match. Dechant has played two seasons, recording 181 kills, 100 total blocks and 42 digs as a Leatherneck. Greenhaw has recorded 446 kills, 464 digs and 78 total blocks in two seasons at Western. Kolschefski has seen action in 144 sets over three seasons and has 208 kills and 104 total blocks.
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ROAD TO DENVER:
The Leathernecks are in the hunt to qualify for The Summit League Championships that will be hosted by Denver. With the win over Fort Wayne, if Western beats Denver, Western would clinch the sixth seed. If WIU beats NDSU but falls to Denver and Fort Wayne beats South Dakota State, the Mastodons and Leathernecks would move to tiebreaker rules regarding set winning percentage in league matches. If Western Illinois wins out, the Leathernecks would automatically qualify.
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SCOUTING THE BISON:
North Dakota State comes into the match boasting a 16-8 overall record and 7-5 in the league. Mikaela Purnell leads the Summit League with 501 digs and 5.89 digs per set. Erika Gelzinyte leads the Bison with 254 kills, 2.99 per set, while Bella Lien is first in the league averaging 1.01 blocks per set. The last time the Leathernecks competed against the Bison, on Oct. 15, NDSU won 3-0.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS:
The Pioneers come into Western Hall in second place in the Summit League. They post a 19-5 (10-2) record and have won seven in a row. Outside hitter Becca Latham has been the most efficient hitter in the league, while hitting at a .369 clip. Piyusha Boteju leads the team in assists 458. The Pioneers and Leathernecks last played on Oct. 13, a match in which Denver won 3-0.
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LOOKING AHEAD:
The Leathernecks make a push to qualify for The Summit League Championships Nov.17-19 in Denver, Colo.
