Who | Western Illinois (2-13, 2-12) vs. South Dakota (11-6, 10-3)

When | March 26 (1 p.m.) and March 27 (4 p.m.)

Where | Macomb, Ill. (Western Hall)

Twitter | @WIUVolleyball

Quick Hits

• The final week of Summit League regular-season action has arrived, and Western Illinois volleyball gets to take over its home floor one final time. South Dakota is coming to town for a week eight series March 26-27

• Saturday's match is 'Senior Day' for the Leathernecks, as Cassie Hunt, Abby Knoop, Mariah Mitchell, and Emma Norris will all be celebrated as a group of four

• WIU achieved its first two wins of the season last weekend in home matches over North Dakota

• The victories over North Dakota were also a first for Western in program history against the Fighting Hawks

Most Recently…

This past Friday, WIU played heady to finish on top with a 3-1 decision (25-19, 25-10, 15-25, 25-18). Norris tallied a new season-high in kills (13), while Peyton Bowman and Mitchell added ten apiece. Hunt racked up her fifth double-double of the season - 20 assists and 18 digs. Jessie Connell contributed 18 assists, and her classmate Aubrey Putman poured in six kills and 13 digs. Gabby DePersio made several big defensive plays, finishing with 17 digs. As a team, the Leathernecks had more kills, assists, aces, and blocks than UND.

Completing the series sweep on Saturday, WIU took a five-set win (23-25, 25-9, 19-25, 25-21, 15-12) and essentially outdueled UND in every major category - points, kills, aces, blocks, assists, and digs. Five Leathernecks achieved new season-highs during the match: DePersio (24), Connell (14), Kennedy Davis (7), and Bowman (5), all in digs, while Putman had three aces. Hunt posted a second double-double in as many days, with 21 assists and 14 digs. Connell's 20 assists also gave her a double-double. Bowman produced 14 kills. Putman and Mitchell added 13 and 11, respectively.

League Leaps Once Again

Bowman's recent stellar play has helped her climb back in individual league rankings. The junior is third in hitting percentage (.335), on 203 attacks, and sixth in blocks (0.89/set). 

Hunt and DePersio have stayed in the top ten for assists (6.62/set) and digs (3.78/set) all season long.

A Brief History

South Dakota is up 16-3 in the all-time series. Western's last win against the Coyotes happened on Sept. 25, 2015, in a barnburner of five sets (32-30, 29-27, 10-25, 13-25, 15-11). 

Scouting the Opposition

South Dakota comes in at third within league standings… as a team, the Coyotes are second in blocks (2.49/set), digs (16.85/set), and hitting percentage (.226)… Madison Harms' 84 blocks rank best in the Summit… Elizabeth Juhnke has delivered 258 kills, and Sami Slaughter lands behind her at 185… Lolo Weideman averages 4.47 digs per set… Sami Slaughter and Maddie Wiedenfield have rejected 60 blocks - tied for seventh amongst league individuals… Madison Jurgens handles the setter position, having tossed out 669 assists.