OMAHA, Neb. -- The Omaha volleyball team continues conference action with a pair of matches this weekend. The Mavericks travel to Western Illinois for a showdown Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. Two days later, the team is back in action at home against Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m.
OPENING SERVE
• Omaha enters the weekend with a 9-9 overall record and a 2-2 Summit League mark.
• This weekend against Western Illinois, the Mavericks aim for their first road win of the season, as the team sits at 0-5.
• The Mavericks are led by the duo of
Isabella Sade and
Sadie Limback offensively. The two average 3.40 and 3.14 kills per set, respectively.
• Sade leads the league with .52 aces per set and ranks fourth in the league for kills pet set.
• Last Friday,
Anna Blaschko saw her streak of seven-straight double-digit kill matches snapped at South Dakota. The junior middle blocker also had seven-straight matches of hitting .300 or better.
•
Claire Mountjoy ranks second in the league with 4.61 digs per set and her 323 total digs lead the league.
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS
Western Illinois enters the weekend with a 4-13 overall record and a 1-3 mark in conference play. The Leathernecks' lone league win is a 3-2 victory over South Dakota State on the road Sept. 29.
WIU looks to snap a two-game skid after a 3-1 loss at North Dakota and a 3-0 loss at North Dakota State. The team also has a 3-0 loss to Purdue Fort Wayne on the road. Mackenzie Steckler leads the team with 1.39 blocks per set. Jessie Connell and Cassie Hunt rank second and fourth in the league with 0.45 and 0.40 aces per set.
Head coach Ben Staupe is in his second season at the helm of the Leatherneck volleyball program. Omaha leads the all-time series 10-4 over the Leathernecks. Last season, Omaha swept the Leathernecks 3-0 at home and followed up with a 3-2 victory on the road.
SCOUTING PURDUE FORT WAYNE
The Mastodons sit second in the league standings with a 9-9 overall record and a 3-1 conference mark. Purdue Fort Wayne opened the league season with a signature win over league-favorite Denver, 3-1 at home. The team also has wins over Western Illinois (3-0) and North Dakota (3-0). Purdue Fort Wayne's lone league loss is at North Dakota State (3-0).
Head coach Steven Florio is in his sixth season with the program. Omaha trails the all-time series 11-4 against the Mastodons and last season, both teams split a pair of five-set matches. At home, Omaha won 3-2 inside Sapp Fieldhouse. Later that year on the road, the Mavericks dropped a two-set lead and saw the Mastodons win three-straight sets to take the match.
Rachel Crucis ranks tied for second in the league with 4.61 digs per set and third overall with 295 total digs. Prior to the showdown with Omaha, the Mastodons take on Oral Roberts in a home match Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Mavericks volleyball program stays in-town with a match Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. inside Baxter Arena. Omaha faces off against Denver in the annual "Serve Pink" game. For more information, visit OMavs.com.
