Who | Belmont | North Dakota | Belmont

Where | Grand Forks, ND.

When | Friday (Sept. 13), Saturday (Sept. 14) | 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM & 10:00 AM

Social Media | @WIUVolleyball (Twitter) + wiu_volleyball (Instagram) + WIU Volleyball (Facebook) 
 

Macomb, IL - The Western Illinois Volleyball team starts their second road trip of the season as they head to the North Dakota Classic in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Leathernecks will play a total of three matches, with two being played on Friday and one game being played on Saturday. WIU will play at 12 and 6 p.m. on Friday, September 13 against Belmont and North Dakota. On Saturday, they will face Belmont for a second time at 10 a.m.. 

There are three Leathernecks that lead the OVC in both offensive and defensive statistical categories. Karli Wenzel ranks first in the conference in digs per set (5.29) and ranks third in total digs (111). Wenzel has had 20 or more digs in four of the first five games played this season, with her season-high being 31 against South Dakota State. Wenzel has also led WIU in digs every year she has been a Leatherneck. 

Maggie Craker is first in the OVC in assists per set (10.57) and is second in total assists (222). Craker has had 40 or more assists in four of the first five games played this season. She is 44 assists shy from being number 7 all-time in assists in Leatherneck Volleyball history. 
 

Keyana Cruse is first in the OVC in total points (123.5) and kills (111). Cruse has had 20 or more kills in four of five games played this season. She has won back-to-back OVC player of the week awards, winning defensive player of the week on September 2 and winning offensive player of the week on September 9. 

About Belmont

Belmont comes into the North Dakota Classic with a record of 4-2. The Bruins started off the season 4-0 including a win over Butler in the Belmont/Lipscomb tournament. Last season, Belmont finished with a record of 14-20, with half of their wins coming in conference play. The Bruins return 11 players from last season's team, similar to the Leathernecks who return 13 players from a season ago. 

Belmont is led offensively by Junior Outside Hitter Brooke Gilleland, who has 87 kills in 23 sets played. She averages just under 4 kills per set (3.78) and is second on the team in service aces with 7. 

About UND

Western Illinois will be facing another former Summit League opponent this weekend in North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks have won six of the last 10 matchups against the Leathernecks with the most recent one being on October 22, 2022 in which North Dakota swept WIU in three sets. Last season, UND went 7-21 with four of their wins coming in conference play. UND is currently 3-3 in 2024 with wins over Tulane, SIUE, and West Virginia. 

The Fighting Hawks are led offensively by Junior Outside Hitter Paige Barber. Barber is  averaging 2.62 kills per set with a total of 72 points on the season through 26 sets played. 

A Look Ahead

The Leatherneck volleyball team will head to Charleston, South Carolina for the Charleston Southern tournament on Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21. They will play two games on Friday as they will take on Charleston Southern and Norfolk State, followed by one game on Saturday morning against Sacred Heart.