WHO | Western Illinois at South Dakota and Denver

WHEN | Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 20 at. 1 p.m.

WHERE | Vermillion, S.D. and Denver, Colo. 

WATCH | South Dakota, Denver

LIVE STATS |South Dakota, Denver

SOCIAL MEDIA | Twitter #TRADITIONofTOUGH

FIRST SERVE | Western Illinois women's volleyball will head to Vermillion, S.D. this Friday (Oct. 18) to take on the South Dakota Cayotes followed by a trip to the Mile-High City Sunday (Oct. 20) to take on the Denver Pioneers. 

STAUPE SAYS | "We are playing two of the top teams in our conference this weekend," said head coach Ben Staupe. "They will be very solid in all aspects of the game. We must continue to execute and decrease our unforced errors."

LAST TIME OUT | Sunday in Western Hall the Leathernecks had a historic performance against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles as they beat them for the first since the 2007 season and swept them for the first time in program history. The Leathernecks had four players that executed extremely well on offense including; Madeline Dieter, JoJo Kruize, Mackenzie Steckler and Mariah Mitchell all hitting above .300. Dieter led the pack with a .500 hitting percentage and Kruize had 12 kills.

STOPPED BY STECKLER | As a team, the Leathernecks have only been out-blocked by three of their opponents thus far in the 2019 season. With a total of 143 blocks on the season so far, a season-high for the team came against Mississippi State were the team totaled 28 blocks, Steckler, alone, out-blocking the opponent with 12. Steckler currently sits at first in the league for total blocks this season with 91 blocks as well as placing third for blocks per set.

Steckler continued her stellar blocking performance to be tied for 14th in total blocks and tied for 27th in blocks per set among NCAA Division I players. 

ROCKY'S ROOKIES | Western Illinois has added five new players to its volleyball roster this 2109 season with four freshmen and one transfer. Two rookies leading the way for WIU are Gabby DePersio with 232 digs and Connell with 361 assists as well as 29 aces. Kruize joining the team for her final season has made major impact for the Leathernecks with 159 kills thus far. Also making an impact both Elle Shult and Aubrey Putman have seen success so far this season. Putman with 158 digs (second on the team) and 87 kills and Shult with 81 kills and 40 blocks.

SETTERS BACK TO SERVE | Aside from both racking up assists in their 6-2 offensive system, Western's setters have found a way to score additional points for the Leathernecks behind the service line. Against North Dakota State on Oct. 6, both setters were able to rack up two additional aces aiding the team in out-serving the Bison. Connell leading the team and is second in the league in service aces this season with 29. Hunt follows close behind with 21 aces falling at seventh in the league. 

SCOUTING THE CAYOTES | The Cayotes are led by head coach Leanne Williamson entering her fifth season as the head coach after leading the team to a Summit League Championship in 2018. The team currently has impressive 17-1 record boasting wins against Iowa and Northern Ill. only dropping one match to Iowa State. Leading the team was Elizabeth Juhnke with 266 kills, Madison Jurgens with 752, and Anne Rasmussen with 315 digs. This past week South Dakota's Rasmussen also received defensive player of the week honors from the Summit League.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS | The Pioneers are led by head coach Tom Hogan in his fifth season with Denver. They are currently 12-6 overall and 4-2 in the conference. Their roster is highlighted by performances by Lydia Bartalo with 202 kills, Ellie Anderson with 322 assists, and Macy Carrabine with 243 digs.

THINK PINK | October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; Western Illinois volleyball will be collecting throughout October for the Linda's Fund here in Macomb. Think Pink T-shirts and ribbons will be available for sale at all home games in October at the marketing promotions table.

LOOKING AHEAD | Following the weekend matches, WIU will return home two consecutive weekends. First, taking on Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday Oct. 22 followed by South Dakota State Oct. 27 on Friday followed by a second weekend in Western Hall where they will take on North Dakota No. 1 and North Dakota State and Nov. 3.