OMAHA, Neb - After two-straight weeks of road matches, the Mavericks are finally back home this week to host a pair of Summit League matches as they close out September against Western Illinois University on Thursday before opening up October against The University of St. Thomas on Saturday.

This Week's Slate

• Thursday, September 29, vs. Western Illinois at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, October 1, vs. St. Thomas at 12:30 p.m.

Quick Hits

• The Mavericks return home after opening conference play on the road in South Dakota. On September 22, they faced the reigning Summit League Champs South Dakota and took them to five sets, ultimately falling just short of victory at 14-16 in the fifth. Then, on September 24, they went five sets with South Dakota State, again coming up short 12-15 in set five.

• McKenna Ruch added another 17 blocks last week, keeping her in first place in the Summit League with 80 total blocks and 1.60 blocks per set. Her blocks per set also rank third in all of NCAA Division I, while her total blocks also break into the top five at fourth overall.

• Marriah Buss led the Mavericks with 42 kills last week, having notched 21 kills in both matches. This gives her four matches this year with at least 20 kills after having just one such match in her first two seasons. 

• Shayla McCormick added two more double-doubles vs. USD and SDSU, giving her eight on the season. In total she recorded 30 kills and 22 digs across both matches, giving her the third most kills in the league with 185 and the 10th most digs with 145. 

• Sami Clarkson picked up her second double-double of the season at SDSU by earning 57 assists and 10 digs. She remains atop the leader board with 10.88 assists per set while being third in total assists with 544. 

Scouting Western Illinois
The Leathernecks come to Omaha sporting a 4-11 record and a 0-3 mark in league play. After kicking off Summit League play last weekend with a pair of home losses to North Dakota and North Dakota State, they began their current three-game road trip by falling 1-3 to Kansas City on Tuesday.

Sophomore Brittany Wulf is the top offensive player on the team, leading all members in kills (148), kills per set (2.90), and points (180.5). She also leads the entire summit league in service aces with 28. Freshman Elizabeth Ziegler leads the Leathernecks with 35 total blocks, including 33 block assists. Offensively, her 139 kills, 2.67 kills per set, and 157.5 points are all second on the team. Senior Aubrey Putman ranks in the top five on the team in kills (125), kills per set (2.36), digs (146), digs per set (2.75), and aces (7).

Series History
This will be the 21st meeting between these two teams, with Omaha holding the edge at 16-4. The Mavericks were perfect against the Leathernecks in 2021, sweeping both matches 3-0.

Scouting St. Thomas
The Tommies enter the weekend at 2-13 on the year and 0-3 in the Summit League after suffering two home losses to North Dakota and North Dakota State last weekend, and a 0-3 loss to Oral Roberts on Tuesday. They will also play one more match before heading to Omaha as they are set to take on Denver on Thursday, September 29.

Sophomore Lauren Galvin is building off of her 2021 All-Freshman Team selection by leading the Tommies in kills (161), kills per set (3.04), points (179.5), and digs (116). She also has 14 blocks and 11 service aces so far this year. Freshman Emma Goerger is the team's top blocker, leading the pack with seven block solos, 41 block assists, and 48 total blocks. She's also second on the team with 15 aces. Goerger's 81 kills and 1.59 kills per set are both top five on the team as well. Freshman Allie Kopp is St. Thomas' top setter with a team-high 221 assists. She also leads the team with 16 service aces, as well as ranking fourth on the team with 84 digs.

Series History
As this is only the second season St. Thomas is competing in Division I, this will be just the third match between both schools. Omaha swept the Tommies 3-0 in both of their meetings last year.