Leathernecks Play Host To Buffalo Wild Wings Invite

Drake, Valparaiso and McNeese To Play Western Sept. 15-16.

MATCH TWELVE
VOLLEYBALL: VALPARAISO CRUSADERS AT WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS
Sept. 15, 2017 • 12 pm (CT) • Macomb, Ill. • Western Hall

LIVE STATS: HERE

MATCH THIRTEEN
VOLLEYBALL: DRAKE BULLDOGS AT WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS
Sept. 15, 2017 • 7 pm (CT) • Macomb, Ill. • Western Hall

LIVE STATS: HERE

MATCH FOURTEEN
VOLLEYBALL: MCNEESE COWGIRLS AT WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS
Sept. 16, 2017 • 9am (CT) • Macomb, Ill. • Western Hall

LIVE STATS: HERE

MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois Volleyball team will be playing host to its second and final tournament of the year, The Buffalo Wing Wings Invitational. Valparaiso, Drake and McNeese join the Leathernecks in Western Hall for the 2017 edition of the tournament. Four matches will be played on Sept. 14 starting with McNeese vs. Drake at 9 a.m., Valparaiso at Western Illinois at noon, Valparaiso vs. McNeese at 4 p.m. and Drake at Western Illinois at 7 p.m. McNeese and Western Illinois conclude the tournament at 9 a.m. on Sept. 15.

A LOOK AT YOUR LEATHERNECKS:
Western comes into the tournament 5-6 after a runner-up finish capped off by a 2-1 outing the Eastern Illinois Panther Invitational that include wins over Alabama A&M and Eastern Illinois. The Leathernecks fell in their midweek matchup to Saint Louis, 3-1, but look to rebound against Valparaiso on Friday.

Western has been able to start strong in matches this year, as the Leathernecks have won 7-of-11 first sets. The Purple and Gold average 2.1 blocks per set, as opposing teams average 1.8. Additionally, WIU has recorded fewer errors than its opposition, a 209-235 advantage for the Leathernecks. Jaime Johnson leads the team in assists with 388, Claire Grove has logged a team leading 190 digs and Emma Norris' 125 kills is a team best.

AMONG THE TOP:
The Leathernecks continue to have players among the top of the conference, led by Grove's Summit League best 190 digs. She is also third in digs per set with 4.42. Norris and Shalyn Greenhaw are third and fourth in the league with 125 and 119 kills. Mackenzie Steckler is fourth in The Summit League in hitting percentage, logging a .314 clip thus far through the season. Johnson rounds out the top five with 9.02 assists per set.

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS:
The Crusaders come into the Buffalo Wild Wings Invitational with a 5-5 record and are on a three match win streak with victories over Binghamton, Cornell and Eastern Illinois at the Cornell Invitational. Katherine Carlson has 100 kills, while Sydney Bronner averages 1.24 blocks per set. Valparaiso leads the all-time series 29-9 with the Crusaders winning the last meeting 3-0 in Oct. 2016.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:
Drake owns an 8-3 record this season. The Bulldogs just completed the Drake Invitational, a tournament in which they beat Omaha (3-2), Montana (3-1) and Southeast Missouri State (3-0) with their only loss coming to San Jose State, 3-2. Kyla Inderski leads the Bulldogs with 121 kills (3.03 kills per set) and Courtney Morehead has logged a team leading 133 digs (4.29 per set). Drake leads the all-time series 21-18-1, with the last meeting coming in 2016, resulting in a 3-2 Western win.

SCOUTING THE COWGIRLS:
Coming into the tournament, the McNeese Cowgirls possess a 7-4 record and have a five match win streak, including a sweep in the Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup with wins over Mississippi State, Houston and Stetson. Adison Giambrone leads the Cowgirls with 202 assists and Shanna Spree leads the team with 15 service aces and 93 kills. The Leathernecks and Cowgirls have only met twice, most recently in 2002. The series is tied at one win each.

LOOKING AHEAD:
The Buffalo Wind Wings Invite wraps up the vast majority of the non-league slate for the Leathernecks, with the lone non-league match remaining against IUPUI on Oct. 1. Western opens up its Summit League schedule in Vermillion, S.D. on Sept. 22 against South Dakota, followed by a road trip to Oral Roberts.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Shalyn Greenhaw: OH; 5' 11"; Senior; Muscatine

#8 Claire Grove: DS/LIB; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Neuqua Valley

#15 Mackenzie Steckler: MH/OH; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman; St. Dominic

#24 Emma Norris: OH; 5' 9"; Freshman; Iowa City West

#5 Jaime Johnson: S; 5' 8"; Junior; Centennial

Players Mentioned

#12 Shalyn Greenhaw
: 5' 11"; Senior; Muscatine
: OH

#8 Claire Grove
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Neuqua Valley
: DS/LIB

#15 Mackenzie Steckler
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman; St. Dominic
: MH/OH

#24 Emma Norris
: 5' 9"; Freshman; Iowa City West
: OH

#5 Jaime Johnson
: 5' 8"; Junior; Centennial
: S