WHO| Western Illinois at Oral Roberts and Omaha

WHEN| Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. 

WHERE| Tulsa, Okla. and Omaha, Neb. 

WATCH| Oral Roberts, Omaha  

LIVE STATS| Here

SOCIAL MEDIA| Twitter #TRADITIONofTOUGH

FIRST SERVE | Western Illinois women's volleyball heads on the road this weekend to take on Oral Roberts and Omaha Friday (Nov. 8) and Monday (Nov. 11) in their second to last weekend of the regular season.

LAST TIME OUT | The Leathernecks hosted North Dakota to kick off their home weekend Friday (Nov. 1), taking the team to five. An exciting match with the score remaining close throughout its entirety. In their second close match of the weekend, the Western Illinois volleyball team hosted North Dakota State in Western Hall on Sunday (Nov. 3), falling in four. Gabby DePersio had a standout performance with 22 digs in the four-set match to combat the aggressive Bison offense.

STOPPED BY STECKLER | As a team, the Leathernecks have only been out-blocked by five of their opponents in the 2019 season. With a total of 178.5 blocks on the season so far, a season-high for the team came against Mississippi State were the team totaled 28 blocks, Mackenzie Steckler, alone, out-blocking the opponent with 12.After the sweep over SDSU, she is number one in every blocking category, including rising to first in the Summit League for blocks per set (1.43), solo blocks (23), and total blocks (129). Nationally Steckler's blocking performance places her at 10th in total blocks and 13th 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 DePersio with 305 digs and Jessie Connell with 458 assists as well as 33 aces. Jo Jo Kruize joining the team for her final season, has made a significant impact for the Leathernecks with 232 kills thus far. Also making an impact, both Elle Shult and Putman have seen success so far this season. Putman with 188 digs (second on the team) and 131 kills and Shult with 104 kills and 55 blocks.

DOUBLE THE WINS | With the victory Sunday, WIU volleyball doubled its win total from last year. The six wins highlighted by Evansville, South Dakota State, and Oral Roberts. Four out of the six matches taken in three sets. The other two victories were both battled out to five. With three weekends remaining in regular season play, the Leathernecks will look to extend the margin from the 2018 season.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES | The Golden Eagles are led by head coach Sheera Sirola in her 16th season with Oral Roberts. They are currently 6-20 this season, 2-10 in league play, unable to pick up a win since the last WIU western faced them in October. Their roster highlighted by performances by CeCe Madison with 407 kills, Sarah Thiessen 356, and Sylvia Lawson 913 assists. In their last meeting, WIU was able to sweep the Golden Eagles for the first time in program history.

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS | The Mavericks are led by head coach Matt Buttermore in his first year at Omaha. The team is 14-12 overall and 7-5 in league play, Omaha's latest match against South Dakota, resulting in a 3-1 loss. Leading in statistics for Omaha volleyball is Isabella Sade with 352 kills, Claire Mountjoy with 467 digs, and Sami Clarkson with 848 assists. Historically, Western has a 4-9 record against Omaha.

LOOKING AHEAD | After the two road matches, the Leathernecks will head home to take on the final weekend of Summit League play at home. Taking on South Dakota Friday (Nov. 15) and Denver (Nov. 17) for senior night.