Who | Western Illinois (0-5, 0-4) at Kansas City (3-1, 3-1)

When | Sunday, Feb. 14 and Monday, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m.

Where | Kansas City, Mo. (Swinney Center)

TV | Roos All-Access

Twitter | @WIUVolleyball
 

Quick Hits

• Western enjoyed the benefits of being on its home floor this past weekend but will once again have to pack up and travel for a Summit League series matchup. Next on the schedule = the Kansas City Roos.

• WIU will have another chance to achieve its first match victory of the season, following a competitive outing versus Oral Roberts on Feb. 8

• Kansas City sits at second in league standings this season, being 2-0 on their home court

• WIU has out-dug their opponent in three of the season's five matches
   

Previously…

Hosting ORU in a two-day series, the Leathernecks fell in three sets to the Golden Eagles during day one (23-25, 20-25, 15-25). Aubrey Putman reached double-figures in kills (10). Emma Norris added nine and Mariah Mitchell chipped in seven. Cassie Hunt finished with a match-high 27 assists, including three aces. Gabby DePersio's 14 digs tied for a match-high and helped WIU out-dig ORU, 43-42. Six service aces from the Leathernecks were a team season-high.

Day two was a much different story that resulted in a blow-to-blow, five-set contest. The decision ultimately landed in ORU's favor once again (25-17, 19-25, 25-14, 22-25, 13-25). The final two sets were mainly full of 'seesaw play' - seeing a combined 17 tied scores and seven lead changes. Hunt and Putman both finished with remarkable double-double performances and set new career-highs in two categories. Hunt had 47 assists and six kills, while Putman put up 14 kills and 24 digs. 

DePersio (23) and Moore (19) tied their career-highs in digs. Norris produced a line of 19 digs, seven kills, and two of the team's four service aces. Mitchell had 17 kills, a season-high, and Peyton Bowman chipped in 15 on an eye-popping .682 hitting percentage. For the second straight day, WIU out-dug ORU - 109-105. The Leathernecks also finished with more team assists, kills, and blocks while tying in points (69.0). WIU totaled 12 kills in the final set, compared to the Golden Eagles' eight.
 

(Still) On the Boards

In her first five games as a Leatherneck, Bowman has brought an efficient attacking game. The middle hitter currency has 38 kills on a .425 hitting percentage; good for second-best in league individuals. Mitchell remains a top-eight player in both kills (59) and points scored (63). Hunt and DePersio each stand in the sixth spot of assists (130) and digs (85), respectively.
 

Historical Glance

It has been a few years since these two programs faced each other. The last matchup happened on Sept. 4, 2015, where the Roos swept WIU in three. Kansas City is currently on a four-match winning streak. Western holds a 23-15 all-time series record.
 

The Scout

Kansas City has been most successful in service aces this season (1.61/set), ranking third in the league… libero Maddie Renn was selected as a Summit' player of the week' on Feb. 2 when she recorded a career-high 26 digs versus North Dakota State in the season opener… Melanie Brecka paces the Roos in kills (66) and points scored (74) - fourth-best in the league for both categories… Alex Ratzlaff's 13 service aces tops all Summit players… Alli Schomers has piled up 172 assists thus far.