Who | Western Illinois (1-10, 0-0) at Denver (9-1, 0-0)

When | Thursday, Sept. 23 (8 p.m. CT).

Where | Denver, Colo. (Hamilton Gymnasium)

Social Media | Twitter + Instagram + Facebook + #TRADITIONofTOUGH
 

Quick Hits

• Summit League competition has finally arrived for Western Illinois volleyball, and the team has a big, first test at Denver this Thursday

• WIU competed in four tournaments during the first portion of its fall season -- partaking in events hosted by Northern Illinois, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Eastern Kentucky, and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville

• Denver enters league play with a 9-1 overall clip -- the only loss happening versus Northern Colorado.

Most Recently | WIU participated as one of three teams in Southern Illinois-Edwardsville's Cougar Invitational last weekend. 

Matched up against Valparaiso in a Friday morning contest (Sept. 17), the Leathernecks were defeated in three sets (11-25, 19-25, 18-25). Isabella Biesterfeld reached a new single-match, career-high in kills (six) that also tied for a team-best (with Kennedy Davis). Maggie Craker's 22 assists led all players, and the first-year also chipped in eight digs. Kalynn Davis produced five kills, five digs, and six blocks. Defensively, Erika Moore had 14 digs, and Hailey Pollock added three blocks.

During day two (Sept. 18), Western was swept by the host team (16-25, 12-25, 21-25). Craker assisted on 16 of the Leathernecks' 22 kills while Moore registered her sixth game of the season with ten or more digs. Peyton Bowman finished the match with nine points (five kills and seven total blocks). Moore recorded 12 digs and Craker 10. 

Sophomore Star | A central bright spot on the roster has been the exceptional play of Kennedy Davis, who has again taken on a heavy starter role. She currently leads the team in kills (104), service aces (14), and total blocks (29.0). In three of the four tournaments that WIU played in, Davis was named as an all-tournament performer.

A Brief History | Denver is undefeated in the all-time series, 14-0. Last season, the Pioneers hosted Western in back-to-back meetings (Feb. 21-22, 2021), sweeping both matches.

Scouting the Opposition | Denver ended the 2020-21 spring season with a 14-3 overall record as the regular-season champions. Punching its ticket to the Summit League championship, the team fell to South Dakota in an intense five-set battle. The Pioneers brought back four 2020-21 All-Summit League first-teamers: Lydia Bartalo, Tina Boe, Ellie Anderson, and Brianna Green. Back in April, Boe was also recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) as a Midwest All-Region Honorable Mention selection. Bartalo currently leads the team in kills (101) and service aces (21). She is also second in digs (74). Anderson is the primary setter (179 assists), and Boe steadies the defense with 40.0 total blocks. Denver has posted a .273 team hitting percentage.

What's Next? | Western concludes its road stretch this week at Omaha on Saturday (Sept. 25).