Volleyball Opens League Play At South Dakota

First Serve is set for 7 p.m. in Vermilion, S.D.

MATCH FIFTEEN
Volleyball: WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS at SOUTH DAKOTA COYOTES
September 22, 2017 • 7 pm central • Vermillion, S.D. • Sanford Coyote Sports Center

LIVE STATS: HERE
2017 QUICK FACTS
2017 RECORD BOOK

MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois Volleyball team will begin its Summit League play on Sept. 22 in Vermillion, S.D. at 7 p.m. This will mark the third consecutive year that the Leathernecks will open league play with the Coyotes. The Leathernecks won in 2015, but dropped the 2016 match and look to bounce back this season.

A LOOK AT YOUR LEATHERNECKS:
Western comes into Summit League play on a four game skid, but look to use momentum gained against McNeese to propel it to victory in Vermillion. The match against McNeese featured a set where Western was down 18-9 and the Leathernecks came back to fall 26-24. The Purple and Gold took the next two sets in the match, 25-23 and 25-20, but eventually fell in the decisive fifth set, 15-13. In the Buffalo Wild Wings Invitational, the second and final tournament hosted by the Leathernecks, Shiah Sanders was named to the All-Tournament team.

AMONG THE TOP:
Claire Grove continues her dominance in the back row, as she is second in the league in digs with 236, and fourth in digs per set (4.37). Mackenzie Steckler's hitting percentage of .332 is good for third best in the league and Jaime Johnson is fifth in the Summit League with 9.13 assists per set.

SERIES HISTORY:
The Leathernecks and Coyotes are familiar foes, playing 13 times since the 2011 season. South Dakota leads the series, 10-3, and also winning the most recent match on Nov. 5, 2016, a five set affair the Coyotes won 3-2.

SCOUTING THE COYOTES:
South Dakota comes into the match with a .500 record at 6-6, with its most recent match being a 3-2 victory against Air Force Academy. The bout against Western will also be South Dakota's league opener. Rachel Schmidt leads the Coyotes on the offensive end with 142 kills and Brittany Jessen, the league-leader in assists per set with 9.89. Anne Rasmussen anchors the Coyotes defensively, with 203 digs (fifth in the Summit League) and 4.61 digs per set (second in the Summit League).

UP NEXT:
The Leathernecks continue their road slate against Oral Roberts on Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. before returning to Western Hall for three straight matches against Omaha (Sept. 29), IUPUI (Oct. 1) and South Dakota State (Oct. 6).

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Players Mentioned

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

#3 Shiah Sanders: RS; 6' 0"; Junior; Osseo

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

#3 Shiah Sanders
: 6' 0"; Junior; Osseo
: RS

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

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