Who | Western Illinois vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
When | Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.
Where | Fort Wayne, Ind.
Watch | YouTube
Live Stats | Here
Social Media | Twitter #TRADITIONofTOUGH

FIRST SERVE | Western Illinois women's volleyball will participate in their first game of league play Tuesday (Sept. 24) on the road in Fort Wayne, Ind. as they take on the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons.

STAUPE SAYS | "We're gonna have to serve tough, hold the ball, and be efficient," said Coach Ben Staupe. "Starting conference is a fresh start for everyone, every team is 0-0 at this point we just need to go out there and play consistent volleyball." 

LAST TIME OUT | This past weekend, WIU traveled to Cookeville, Tenn. where they took on Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee, and Southern Illinois. They saw great individual success despite going 0-3 on the weekend.

In the first game against TTU, there were three freshmen with career-high performances. The freshman libero, Gabby DePersio, had a career-high of 23 digs as well as notching two kills taking aggressive opportunities on out of system balls for a career-first and a career-high. Freshman outside hitter, Aubrey Putman, joins in with a career performance of her own with a career-high 10 kills, her first double-double, and a career-high 13 digs for the second time. Along with Elle Shult with a career-high 7 blocks and 9 kills.

The second day the Leathernecks took on Southern Illinois and Middle Tennessee where Mariah Mitchell led the offensive efforts for the day with a total of 20 kills and Mackenzie Steckler led the team in blocks with 15 total.

STOPPED BY STECKLER | The Leathernecks have only been out-blocked by three of their opponents thus far in the 2019 season. With a total of 66 blocks on the season so far, a season-high for the team came against Mississippi State were the team totaled 28 blocks, Seckler alone, out blocking the opponent with 12. Steckler sits at first in the league for total blocks this season with 70 blocks as well as solo blocks with 12.

TWO LEATHERNECKS TO WATCH | The Summit League released a list of Preseason Players to Watch along with preseason rankings Wednesday (Aug. 21). Two WIU players, Steckler and Mitchell, found their names on the list. Last season, Steckler played in 27 matches to notch 155 kills, 104 blocks, and nine aces. Mitchell is a middle hitter for WIU, coming off of a freshman season where she achieved great success playing in 27 out of 29 total matches, notched 112 kills and 35 blocks.

ROCKY'S ROOKIES | Western Illinois has added five new players to its volleyball roster this year with four freshmen and one transfer. JoJo Kruize joining the team for her final season has made a huge impact leading the Leathernecks with 118 kills thus far. Another two rookies leading the way for WIU are DePersio with 168 digs and Connell with 245 assists as well as 23 aces. Making an impact both Shult and Putman have seen success so far this season. Putman with 112 digs (second on the team) and 57 kills. Shult with 58 kills and 26 blocks.

DEPERSIO DOES IT ALL | In her first year for the Leathernecks the McHenry, Ill. native has made a large impact on Western's squad. As a Libero, she is expected to run the back row so, with no surprise she leads the team in digs. Stepping in on out of system balls, within the normal rolls as a libero, she has 41 assists. This past weekend, DePersio has started to use these out of system balls as an opportunity to stack her offensive stats as well. With 11 attempts she was able to find the floor 5 times and has a hitting percentage of .250.

SCOUTING THE MASTODONS | The Mastodons are led by head coach Steve Florio in his sixth season. Purdue Fort Wayne is currently 6-8 this season coming off a successful weekend in Edwardsville, Ill. where they won the Cougar Challenge defeating Presbyterian, Central Arkansas, and Southern Illinois - Edwardsville. Leading the team with 171 kills is junior outside hitter, Katie Crowe. A part of the summit league since 2007, Purdue Fort Wayne leads the series against the Leathernecks.

LOOKING AHEAD | Following their Tuesday night game the Leathernecks will head to Brookings, S.D. on Sunday (Sep. 29) to take on South Dakota State. Western volleyball will be on the road for the next four matches and will return home Oct. 11 to face Omaha.