Volleyball Goes On The Road For EIU Panther Invitational

Western will play Chicago State Sept. 8, Alabama A&M and EIU Sept. 9

MATCH EIGHT
Volleyball: WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS vs. Chicago State
September 8, 2017 • 6 pm • Charleston, Ill. • Lantz Arena

LIVE STATS: HERE
2017 QUICK FACTS

MATCH NINE
Volleyball: WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS vs. Alabama A&M
September 9, 2017 • 10 am • Charleston, Ill. • Lantz Arena

LIVE STATS: HERE
HOMEPAGE

MATCH TEN
Volleyball: WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS at Eastern Illinois
September 9, 2017 • 7 pm • Charleston, Ill. • Lantz Arena

LIVE STATS: HERE
2017 QUICK FACTS

MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois Volleyball team will complete its early-season seven game road trip on Sept. 8-9 in Charleston, Ill. for the EIU Panther Invite. Western Illinois competes against Chicago State, Alabama A&M and Eastern Illinois. Western plays Chicago State Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. and Alabama A&M and Eastern Illinois at 10 a.m and 7 p.m.

A LOOK AT YOUR LEATHERNECKS:
Western travels to Charleston, Ill. from Birmingham, Ala. where the Leathernecks went 1-2 with a win over Charleston Southern before falling to Austin Peay and host UAB. The Purple and Gold beat Charleston Southern in five sets, with Mackenzie Steckler, Shalyn Greenhaw and Shiah Sanders each recording 12 kills in the match. Jaime Johnson logged 48 digs in the match. After the UAB Blazer Invitational, the Leathernecks traveled to Cape Girardeau, Mo. for a bout against Southeast Missouri State, a contest the Leathernecks fell in five sets. The Purple and Gold were led by 15 Emma Norris kills and 46 Johnson assists.

AMONG THE TOP:
The Leathernecks have a host of players among the top performers in the Summit League thus far. Claire Grove leads the league with 126 digs and third in the league in digs per set at 4.34. Norris rounds out the top five in digs with 86 and is also fourth among Summit League players in kills with 80. Steckler is fifth in hitting percentage touting a .323 clip and Johnson is fourth in assists per set at 8.62.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS:
Western handed the Cougars one of their three losses already this season, as Chicago State comes into Panther Invitational with a 4-3 record. Chicago State comes back from the Call State Fullerton/ UC-Riverside tournament, in which they went 2-1. On Sept. 5, the Cougars traveled to Bradley University and won a five-set match. Offensively, the Cougars are led by Lauryn Dela Cruz with 114 kills (4.22 k/set) and Carmen Carvajal recording 105 (3.89 k/set) on the season. Western leads the all-time series 38-5, with the most recent victory Aug. 26 in straight sets.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:
Alabama A&M comes into the EIU Panther Invite with an 0-4 record. The Bulldogs competed against North Carolina A&T, Savannah State and Mercer, twice. Terra Brooks leads the Bulldogs in kills with 26 and Cierra Davis leads the way with 27 digs. This will be the first meeting between the schools all-time.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS:
The Panthers come into the tournament with a 3-3 record claiming victories over Memphis, Bradley and UC Davis. This will be the second and final tournament hosted by Eastern Illinois this year. EIU Illinois leads the all-time series 28-14, with the most recent meeting on Sept. 6, 2016 with EIU winning 3-1.

LOOKING AHEAD:
The Leathernecks return home after the EIU Panther Invitational to play host to Saint Louis on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. in Western Hall. The weekend of Sept. 15-16, Western plays host to its second and final tournament of the season. Valparaiso, Drake and McNeese will compete in Western Hall for the Buffalo Wild Wings Invitational.

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Players Mentioned

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

#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

#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

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

#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